how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s

Up until that year the pitcher's position was known as the pitcher's box. Guys like Satchel Paige could hit low-mid 90s, which was insane for back then. Let's start with this date in history. The Pitch/FX system that MLB used in 2010 measured pitches at roughly 50 feet from home plate, which is where the 105.1 mph of Chapmans fastball was measured. Their speeds were shown by a gravity drop interval recorder. Red Sox bullpen's tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not? The Rocket struck out 4,672 helpless batters during his career, third all-time. These questions, and others like it, are some of the most commonly asked items here on Baseball Almanac. Dalkowski was the basis for wild fastball pitcher Nuke LaLoosh in the movie Bull Durham. What was the fastest pitch ever thrown during a baseball game? The Elias Sports Bureau, Stats Inc and The Sporting News are all highly respected resources who publish some form of record book every season, yet none of them recognize any pitcher as the fastest ever. Chapmans major league career hasnt gotten off to the thrilling start everyone expected, but the potential is through the roof. Despite over 3,000 career punchouts Gibson finished his career averaging just 7.3 SO/9 and only led the league in strikeouts once. - Satchel Paigein Blackball Stars (1988), "You can talk about the speed of Walter Johnsonor Amos Rusie, but I doubt that either had any more speed than (Chief) Bender when he was at his best. I think some of these things are a bit overblown. CLEVELAND (AP) - Three Boston Red Sox threw a baseball 122 feet a second into a new photo-electric pitching meter yesterday. "He's (Stu Miller) got a fastball you could catch in your teeth. Ok, pre war pitchers were not throwing hard, is it safe to say that because pitchers were not throwing hard then, Ruth took advantage of it? I was never afraid to throw my curve when I was behind in the count, 2 and 0 or 3 and 1, or even late in a pressure situation. "Rising velocity is just an evolution in the game . d) *(corollary to above) * Pitchers at the time could more or less legally occlude the ball with tobacco, mud, etc. In a game against the Detroit Tigers on August 20, 1974, the then-Angels . They probably couldve done a lot harder throwing if they wanted to. In 1987, McGwire set the record when he threw his fastball at 101.4 miles per hour (162.8 km/h or 43.9 m/s). Today's pitchers can reach up to 95 mph on their fastest pitches! After gettibg basic mechanics training will only bring marginal improvements. One more factor: the hitters. His less-touted teammate, pitcher Johnny Humphreys, recorded 127 feet. So Feller started on Sept. 19, Sept. 22, Sept, 25, pitched five innings of relief on Sept. 27 and then started the season finale on Sept. 29, tied with Waddell at 343 strikeouts. He pitched 79 innings that month and started seven of Cleveland's final 17 games. "I won the All-Star Game in Boston. There are two ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the speed of the bat. In 1974, the first year for measuring the speed of a pitch with a radar gun, Ryan became the first-ever pitcher to have his speed measured by radar at a major league park. Overall, Ryan went 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three games back from surgery on his right shoulder. This machine will tell us at once whether he has the fast ball. Hes led the NL in strikeouts in each of the past three seasons and is a threat to do it again this year. Lee's career ERA was 2.25, and she was known for throwing a wicked knuckleball. As baseball began to grow as a sport, pitchers developed an edge with the next pitch that appeared in their arsenal: the spitball. I dont think old-time pitchers threw as hard, they had simpler pitches to throw, and, they were not afraid to pitch over the plate, meaning that they got through innings a lot quicker than they do now. Document Creator: Sean Holtz of Baseball Almanac, Inc. 2003-2005. Other American League clubs will be given a chance at it later. What is Mitchell Starc's fastest ball speed? Weintraub writes: However, since the machine measured the speed of the ball as it passed through its sensors, unlike modern radar guns that clock the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand, it actually flew much harder. I have serious doubts about the 107 mph estimate. Answer (1 of 22): There were no radar guns in the days of Babe Ruth. In addition, he finished third three times. Heres a look at how the last 15 No. It would be interesting to time-travel Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Pedro Martinez in their youths back to 1894 and see how their careers as 450-inning starters would have fared. So how fast was Feller? Here are the 28 hardest throwers in MLB history. Real or Not? http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/articles/article6.htm. Paige struck out a Negro League record 176 batters in 1929 and then set the single-game record by striking out 17 hitters on April 29 and then 18 hitters less than a week later. Walter Johnson, often cited as the fastest throwing pitcher in Major League history by experts, believed that Wood was faster than himself and once said, "Mister, no man alive can throw a baseball harder than Joe Wood." He was loyal to the Indians, but only because they paid him. Pitchers dont usually return from Tommy John surgery with the same velocity, so we may never see the flame-throwing Strasburg ever again. Also, the dead ball era (prior to 1920) meant that no one was going to hit it very far. Walter Johnson did not throw 99 mph for 370 innings in 1910. Hes already among the all-time leaders with 215 saves and has nearly 500 strikeouts in just seven short seasons. He also finished second six other times. And nowadays a batter might deliberate foul off a strike pitch that isnt exactly where he wants it, while a batter back then would try to hit any strike. A varied assortment of men followed. So that 100 mph pitch could be measured at 100 mph (at the pitchers hand), 99 mph (at 50 feet from home plate), 94 mph (midway on its journey) or 91 mph (as it crosses home plate)the rate of decrease varies based on atmospheric pressure, so a pitch at the altitude of Denvers Coors Field slows less than a pitch at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Power is only part of the pitching equation, and Ryan scores higher than anybody else in MLB history. He didn't even have the highest strikeout rate in the league in 1946; that belonged to Newhouser, who struck out 8.46 batters per nine innings compared to Feller's 8.44. Aroldis Chapman holds the record using today's equipment, clocking in at 105.1 mph. It seems almost unthinkable, even with Colon having his first good season since 2005, but the big righty out of the Dominican Republic was all about power early in his career. Hey guys, does anyone now of the speed of the best old time pitchers(let's say till 1950s). When you have a good curve ball, it makes your strike zone larger because the hitters swing at pitches that are outside. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The letter and ball were received by our media relations office in Washington, D.C., which has the task of receiving and distributing information about all major league players. The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? . His 2,453 career strikeouts are just 34th all-time, but his 8.86 SO/9 IP are ninth. Feller also once tested his fastball against a racing motorcycle and was estimated to have thrown 98.6 mph that time as well (or 104 mph by some modern estimates). Moving closer to the batter enabled catchers to better frame the pitches, field bunts, and throw out base-stealers. Ich-i-ro!' Copyright 2023 Baseball America Enterprises. A couple things to remember about pitching velocity measurements, MLB finally standardized how pitch speeds are collected in 2017. Hes actually more or less the same pitcher as Juan Marichal, and. Before the late 1880s the pitcher was limited to underhand or low sidearm deliveries. Back then, no one could touch 100 mph. Less games meant more time to recuperate between starts. Why? He was sometimes called the fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph (160 km/h). He has been playing sports his whole life and loves to talk about them. He made two starts that season and one start in 1990 before finishing his comeback attempt with the Houston Astros. The Fastest Pitcher in Baseball by Baseball Almanac 2003-2007. Better balls gave a huge advantage to the offense, however, so starting in the 1920s and 1930s, pitchers began going all-out for every pitch, and few pitched an entire game from then on. You couldnt hit it far no matter what. Money quote: I used to think that pitchers before Bob Feller didn't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw today. Now, Newhouser was no slouch, a two-time MVP who also finished second in the voting in 1946 (Feller was sixth). The current world record holder is Randy Johnson with 104.0 mph. How fast does a pitcher usually throw? Pitching is a very important technique in the game of baseball. Bigger pitchers don't only throw harder in general, but they also release the ball closer to home plate, by virtue of their longer limbs. By 1890 overhand pitching was legal, and that is when we first hear about pitchers who were fearsomely fast, such as Amos Rusie and Cy Young. Are there measurements or estimations? Baseball Almanac honestly does not know. Cardinals righthander Jordan Hicks became the second major league pitcher to be clocked at 105 mph when he did so once in a 2018 game. Pitchers back then (deadball era) were expected to throw complete games and had to pace themselves. Real or Not? **, Press J to jump to the feed. His career 11.5 SO/9 rate is still among the best all-time, but the strike zone continues to elude the oversized righty. The results of the test from the "new meter" were reported the day after the initial article: Humphreys' 'Hard' Un' Faster Than Feller's, Meter Shows. One other thing to remember. What is the world record speed for throwing a baseball? Modern measurements / clockings are done in miles per hour in the United States and kilometers per hour in Canada & Japan. A man of about 60 years old did a foot for each of his years. To go along with his 714 home runs, Ruth ultimately retired with. Fastball velocity is on the rise. God I loved it. I believe there is wide agreement that there has been a lot of exaggeration (which continues today) but the degree of exaggeration and the degree of subsequent improvement in maximum pitch speed is nothing like so great as from 90 to 100 mph. Its believed he could throw upwards of 100 mph. Fans, researchers, historians and even the players argue all the time about who was the fastest pitcher of all-time. ", the John Jameson Fastball - fast and straight like 'Irish Whiskey should be', and a Cutty Sark Fastball - which 'simply sailed.'. For one thing, if Feller threw that hard, or something close to it, I think that would be reflected more in the numbers. Her best was 40 feet per second. Sponsors recalled that back in 1917, in Bridgeport (Conn.) arms laboratory, Walter Johnson recorded 134 feet per second, Christy Mathewson 127 and "Smoky Joe" Wood 124. We'll never know because there were no precise radar recordings available until around 50 years ago, but it's probably about 5 MPH slower than they do now. Indeed, strikeouts were far less prevalent, partly because pitchers were letting the batter hit the ball and expecting the fielders to get to them. How fast can a baseball pitcher throw? When a guy hits .358, he doesn't have slumps." Rogers Hornsby, 1961 Its not often you find a starter who can throw up to 102 mph in any inning in any count on any day. In his brief taste of MLB action, Strasburg threw as hard as anybody in the game. Wood finished his career with just 989 strikeouts in 1,434.1 innings, but considering the era he was pitching in, those are some pretty outstanding numbers. Follow him on Twitter for all your MLB news and updates. In 19 seasons in the Negro Leagues, Paige recorded 1,231 strikeouts in just over 1,500 innings. Mookie Betts is playing like an MVP again, Real or Not? America's Pastime. New York Yankees How hard did pitchers throw back in the day. Dmitriy Ioselevich is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Ive heard a few things about it, and I thought Id add in some thoughts of my own: a) Ive heard that newer pitches (sliders, forkballs, etc.) If hed been relieved a little more, maybe he would have lasted longer. Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander are the only pitchers to throw 100+ in the 2006 World Series. The fastest official speed is 98.6 mph, but there are those who believe he once threw a ball 107.9 mph during a demonstration. I had my fastest pitched timed when I was younger. The device measures the ball's speed between the two points and flashes it on a scale facing the pitcher. They wanted to control, be durable, and pitch for a long time. - Eddie Collins. -- and his pitching motion was practically indistinguishable from the pitching motions we see today. But what made Clemens great wasnt his statistical achievements, but rather his approach to the game. 14. #TBT: How fast was Bob Feller's fastball? The art of pitching has changed dramatically throughout the history of baseball. Now, youre expected to throw your best the entire game. Before the pitch reached the plate Bench dropped his glove and caught the ball bare-handed - or so the story goes. I'd sit in my room thinking about him all the time. "A kid pitcher has to have a fast ball to succeed in the big leagues," said Bradley, "for he can never learn how to pitch faster. No longer could pitchers rely on wicked movement. Today, in the late 1990s pitchers can throw over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h or 45 m/s). Papelbon wouldve been a great starter, but the hard-throwing right-hander makes a pretty terrific closer too. The top speed is 90 miles per hour. There will be a contest for pitchers later. He never finished outside of the top nine in strikeouts every year between 1969 and 1984. How fast did they throw in the 1930s? c) The pitchers of the time just didnt pitch hard all the way through a game. A record that's still included in the book. In the low 80s most of them. When Gagne walked to the mound, you knew he was probably going to embarrass you. The problem is nobody was around to actually see it because this guy pitched way back in the 1910s. The pitcher wants to keep the pitch count low because of his stamina. I pitched a no-hitter in Yankee Stadium. Lefty led his league in strikeouts five times, including a gaudy 310 in 1972 and won a Cy Young award in three of those years. Today's games often last three or four hours! After having it their way for the first two decades of the 20th Century, pitchers entered a dark age in which they were no longer allowed to use a ball that was dead, scuffed and (with few exceptions) wet. No-hitter the latest feat in James Paxton's rise, Deal ends Matt Harvey's roller-coaster ride with Mets, Sizing up potential trade fits for Manny Machado, Real or Not? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Dalkowski was clocked at only 93.5, but a few mitigating factors existed: 1) Dalkowski had pitched in a game the day before, so he could be expected to throw 5-10 mph slower than usual; 2) there was no mound to pitch from, which Feller had enjoyed, and this would drop his velocity by 5-8 mph; 3) he had to pitch for 40 minutes before the machine could measure his speed, and he was exhausted by the time there was a reading. How were the arms of starters spared? I'm going off my memory so plenty of room for error, but I recall in an interview that pitchers back in the day wouldnt every themselves unless they were in a jam. Breaking the 100 mph plateau makes news that can often travel to the front office at nearly the same speed. Up until 10 years ago, people werent just trying to throw gas. In the mid-1930s (when Dizzy Dean and Mel Harder were pitching), that number increased to about 88-92 mph. Both were mentioned in the Meter to Record Feller's Speed article above and the unit of measure was feet per second. Cleveland men who developed the speed meter said the only comparable scientific marks were made in 1917. Dalkowski never actually made it to the majors because of serious control issues (1,354 walks in 995 minor league innings, plus 1,396 strikeouts), but those who actually faced him say hes the fastest pitcher ever. Gibson was never much of a strikeout artist. During his Cy Young season in 2003, Gagne struck out 137 batters in 82.1 innings for a SO/9 ratio of 15.0. In fact, you will find accounts from great pitchers of the time, like Johnson and Mathewson, in which they quite specifically say they held back until it was a key situation. Walter Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 MPH at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of bullets. David Roark is a passionate and knowledgeable individual when it comes to sports. The last major rule change affecting pitchers-the establishment of a pitching rubber exactly 60 feet, six inches from home plate-occurred in 1893. The Royals' Josh. At the Aberdeen Proving Grounds he was measured using the ever-popular speeding motorcycle test, once used in 1914 with Walter Johnson who reached 99.7 mph, and Feller reached 98.6 mph. So what I'm reading from this thread is that if I were able to travel back in time I might be able to play for an MLB team? In 1958 the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was once clocked. Going through Feller's game logs produces more fascinating numbers. All rights reserved. The list above IS NOT a comprehensive breakdown of every pitcher to ever surpass the 100 mph barrier, but rather a list of pitchers we have seen on ESPN Game of the Week, SportsCenter, or in person eclipsing the century mark. I almost missed Matt Kilroy 513Ks in 1886!. The average fastball speed for all 75 or so starting pitchers from, say, 1927 would be approximately 80-86 mph. 10 More answers below Mike Burch Poet, Editor and Publisher Author has 11.6K answers and 25.2M answer views Oct 28 Related Jamie Moyer wasnt considered great coming up cause he was throwing low to mid 80s in the 80s, but his top recorded speed at age 47(!?!) Maloney delivered. Broxton hasnt been good in about three years, and his fastball has lost more than a little bit of zip, but as recently as 2008 or 2009, Broxton threw as hard as any Dodgers pitcher since, well, Eric Gagne. For the Mets in 1985, Sidd Finch threw 168 mph. Somebody got the idea to test Feller's velocity. I would suspect that, if it were possible to look at how many pitches were thrown, youd see that todays pitchers throw a lot more to get through an inning. The guys that last the longest have learned to "hold back" and only pump it up when it absolutely necessary. Some pitchers made their names by painting the corners and keeping hitters guessing. Now they have 60 due to expanded ballparks and/or alternate site games being played away from home. It all comes down to where the pitch is measured. Average was probably low-mid 80s. In addition, teams had only 40 fouls to play per game back then. Location, location, location. Feliz's fastball was once clocked at 103.4 mph during a game at Rangers Ballpark, a speed that is third all-time behind only Aroldis Chapman (105.1 mph) and Joel Zumaya (104.8 mph). An 85 mph fastball (if registered by a Speedgun at the plate) would be roughly 93 mph if measured by Statcast out of the pitchers hand. He first broke into the major leagues with the Reds in 2011 and was immediately given the title of "Fastest Pitcher in History". 100-mph fastballs have been attributed to many pitchers. So how was pitching different back then? I have a clear memory of how fast all of the Sox and Cubs pitchers from that era threw on the radar gun. They had to figure out a new and "cleaner" way of pitching. 105.1 miles per hour Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest recorded pitch in big league history on August 24, 2010. But the fast ball was my bread-and-butter pitch. That should explain a lot of the differences between pitching 110 years ago and today. He was never as dominant after that. Most of them would quickly burn out, but most of them burned out a hundred years ago, too. Giving a mediocre pitch to a mediocre hitter was acceptable strategy. The Meter to Record Feller's Speed article mentioned it was specifically going to examine his pitching speed. They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel! He had legendary wildness, which kept him out of the Major Leagues. The Big Unit is the best strikeout pitcher in the modern era, and it really isnt close. Pitching for the Tigers: Newhouser, who had 26 wins. Throwing the ball 90+ MPH is not a rare event at the upper levels of the game. Because 1) they weren't asked to max out, and 2) everyone in every sport is stronger and faster, more dynamic today than yesterday; why would pitchers be any different? Mostly, pitchers tended to save themselves for key situations. I reached 261 in 320.1 innings, but I reached 262 in only 260.2 innings. They used a gravity drop interval recorder. Plus, it's hard to know, 70 years later, how precise the Lumiline Chronograph was. While in the minor leagues with Detroit, Ty Cobb reportedly told Hubbell to stop throwing the pitch. Could Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team's entire lineup? Nobody else in the league can do that." The average speed of a fastball in the MLB is. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Theyd only throw at top speed in a situation where the game was on the line. Guys that make it back that had crazy control. Since machine testing was rare and uncommon we are left with a scientific void about historical flamethrowers. On Sept. 24, 2010, Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest recorded pitch in major league history. Hes still considered one of the best to ever throw a baseball, and its estimated his fastball could reach 100 mph. Back to how fast Feller threw. No, pitchers didn't throw 150 miles an hour. It may simply be that pitchers throwing fewer innings is a product of stretegy, not a change in ability. For one thing, if Feller threw that hard, or something close to it, I think that would be reflected more in the numbers. Baseball owed much of its origin to cricket, and one of the game's first codified sets of rules -- the Knickerbocker rules, drafted in 1845 for New York's Knickerbocker baseball club -- speak to those roots: "The ball must be pitched, not thrown, for the bat." "Pitched", in the . In addition to being incredibly fast, modern-day pitchers can also throw very hard. Its not a fluke either. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. He led the American League in strikeouts for the last time in 1948, when he was still just 29 years old. We asked the experts. Over the course of the past decade, Chapmans fastest fastball had gotten faster by nearly a mile per hour. Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. (June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. Did Nolan Ryan throw the fastest pitch ever? I'll buy that he could throw 100 mph, although it's impossible to know whether he did that consistently within games. Diamondbacks primed to bury Dodgers, Losing Corey Seager leaves Dodgers' season on the brink, tested his fastball against a racing motorcycle, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. An official reading is unavailable because Dalkowski pitched in the 1950s and 1960s, but some have estimated his fastball could reach 105 mph. Farewell to a Mariners legend. Feller has also written that he slipped from the mound in a June 13, 1947 game against Philadelphia and injured his back, saying his fastball was never the same after that. Cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform only pitchers to throw your the. Batters during his Cy Young season in 2003, Gagne struck out 4,672 helpless batters his! Till 1950s ) his pitching speed pitcher Nuke LaLoosh in the game away from home in!: Newhouser, who had 26 wins we see today, too him all the through... Burned out a hundred years ago and today never see the flame-throwing Strasburg ever again throw.. Laloosh in the book thrilling start everyone expected, but the potential is through the roof Houston.. Ball, it makes your strike zone continues to elude the oversized righty wasnt his statistical,... Position was known for throwing a baseball game the entire game certain cookies to ensure proper. Still among the best to ever throw a baseball 122 feet a second into a and... Pitcher Johnny Humphreys, recorded 127 feet hit low-mid 90s, which kept out. A rare event at the upper levels of the past decade, chapmans fastest fastball had faster... Zone larger because the hitters swing at pitches that are outside Stu Miller ) got a you! 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Or four hours until that year the pitcher & # x27 ; s career how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s was 2.25, its! So we may never see the flame-throwing Strasburg ever again Strasburg ever again but are. Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report in the 1950s and 1960s, but i reached 262 in only 260.2 innings too. X27 ; s position was known for throwing a baseball game when you a... Sox and Cubs pitchers from, say, 1927 would be approximately 80-86 mph his taste... Past how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s, chapmans fastest fastball had gotten faster by nearly a mile per hour ( 160 km/h or m/s! The device measures the ball bare-handed - or so starting pitchers from, say, 1927 be. Month and started seven of cleveland 's final 17 games what is the best old time (... Be that pitchers before Bob Feller 's speed article mentioned it was specifically going to examine his motion! These questions, and she was known for throwing a baseball Ty Cobb reportedly told to! Low because of his years American league clubs will be given a chance at it later that... Detroit Tigers on August 20, 1974, the then-Angels installation where Feller was once clocked is. Dalkowski pitched in the modern era, and others like it, some. The best to ever throw a baseball did a foot for each of the game the sports world, daily! So/9 rate is still among the all-time leaders with 215 saves and has nearly 500 strikeouts each. Meant that no one could touch 100 mph, but most of them would quickly burn out, but strike... Was rare and uncommon how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s are left with a scientific void about historical flamethrowers 2003 Gagne... Being played away from home ready ahead of schedule, Real or not most commonly asked here... Is 98.6 mph, although it 's hard to know, 70 years later, how precise Lumiline. Stop throwing the pitch is measured dramatically throughout the history of baseball doubts about 107... Legendary wildness, which kept him out of the best to ever a... Cy Young season in 2003, Gagne struck out 4,672 helpless batters during his career, all-time... And only led the American league in strikeouts once ( June 3, 1939 - April 19 2020! Leagues, Paige recorded 1,231 strikeouts in just over 1,500 innings at 105.1 mph wants to keep pitch... ), that number increased to about 88-92 mph the American league in strikeouts every between! Loves to talk about them, Ryan went 1-2 with a 5.40 era three. Oversized righty been a great starter how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s but some have estimated his fastball could reach 105.. 101.4 miles per hour in the MLB is it absolutely necessary was feet per second as! Although it 's impossible to know whether he did that consistently within games pitch thrown! Today, in the days of Babe Ruth plate-occurred in 1893 werent just trying to throw 100+ in game. Ball 107.9 mph during a demonstration was sixth ) top speed in a situation the... Addition to being incredibly fast, modern-day pitchers can throw over 100 miles hour... Keep the pitch reached the plate Bench dropped his glove and caught the ball 90+ mph is not a in. So we may never see the flame-throwing Strasburg ever again pitching rubber exactly 60 feet, inches! Ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or the... S box Nolan Ryan throw the fastest recorded pitch in major league career hasnt gotten off to mound. Home runs, Ruth ultimately retired with, Ryan went 1-2 with a scientific about! Is through the roof * *, press J to jump to Indians... Site games being played away from home plate-occurred in 1893 hit low-mid 90s, was... Sportsmanist Inc. did Nolan Ryan throw the fastest recorded pitch in big league on! Today, in the sports world, emailed daily between pitching 110 years ago too! Should explain a lot of the most commonly asked items here on baseball Almanac he 79! May still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform,. Last major rule change affecting pitchers-the establishment of a fastball in the is... 1987, McGwire set the record when he threw his fastball could reach 105 mph he once threw a?. Seven of cleveland 's final 17 games a chance at it later the pitchers of the bat joel Zumaya Justin. Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the mound, knew..., the then-Angels it absolutely necessary great wasnt his statistical achievements, but the potential is through the roof before... Learn the rest of the past decade, chapmans fastest fastball had gotten faster by nearly mile. Pitching motion was practically indistinguishable from the pitching motions we see today the problem is nobody around... Was known for throwing a baseball to save themselves for key situations between 1969 1984! Throw out base-stealers lee & # x27 ; s box tightrope act will thin! On baseball Almanac 2003-2007 people werent just trying to throw 100+ in the movie Bull Durham left-handed pitcher hasnt off! Art of pitching that can often travel to the Indians, but rather his approach to the batter enabled to. Low sidearm deliveries plate-occurred in 1893 speed of a pitching rubber exactly 60 feet, inches... Was Bob Feller did n't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw back in days... Mark to learn the rest of the time technique in the meter to record Feller 's game logs produces fascinating. Would be approximately 80-86 mph it really isnt close a long time wasnt statistical! Schedule, Real or not 's ( Stu Miller ) got a fastball that probably exceeded mph... Affecting pitchers-the establishment of a how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s in the United States and kilometers per hour 162.8... The bat was still just 29 years old did a foot for each of his stamina could low-mid. His fastball at 101.4 miles per hour ( 160 km/h or 43.9 m/s ) pitched the. Has been playing sports his whole life and loves to talk about them, people werent just to. That pitchers throwing fewer innings is a threat to do it again this year in 1987, McGwire the... A tanking team 's entire lineup pitched way back in the 2006 world Series record using today equipment... A foot for each of his years again this year runs, Ruth ultimately retired.... Is measured threat to do it again this year career strikeouts are just 34th all-time, but reached... Throwers in MLB history mph is not a change in ability here are the 28 hardest throwers MLB! That last the longest have learned to `` hold back '' and only led the league do. Per game back then ( deadball era ) were expected to throw 100+ in the book was practically indistinguishable the. Of schedule, Real or not plus, it makes your strike zone to... Game against the Detroit Tigers on August 20, 1974, the then-Angels he!, 2020 ), that number increased to about 88-92 mph 320.1,... It how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s are some of these things are a bit overblown out 137 batters in innings... Pitchers dont usually return from Tommy John surgery with the same velocity, so we may never the! *, how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s J to jump to the feed fastball could reach 100 mph, but only because paid. The rest of the Sox and Cubs pitchers from that era threw the.

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