House replied, "Others will throw harder, but no one will throw harder for longer.". 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. ", If this is your first visit, be sure to Thus the ball in play was never bright white often it was straight up brown. Modern pitchers however exert themselves on every pitch. He was sometimes called the fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph (160 km/h). Source: The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, 1997. Real or Not? 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. The guys that last the longest have learned to "hold back" and only pump it up when it absolutely necessary. Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. (June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher. Ich-i-ro!' I would guess that he saved his best fastball and used it maybe a dozen times a game. I thought I might give Bob Feller something to worry about. At least thats what the Indians keep telling themselves. In his book, "Now Pitching, Bob Feller," Feller writes about that chase: As the strikeouts continued to mount in '46, I stayed with the pitch that brought me there. He once threw a ball at least 450 feet on a bet. However, Major League Baseball officially considers that pitch to be a 105.8 mph fastball. I almost missed Matt Kilroy 513Ks in 1886!. "To understand how Dalkowski, a chunky little man with thick glasses and a perpetually dazed expression, became a legend in his own time". Oh, that's not what we were talking about? Could we eventually see 110 mph? Spitballs and Sliders: 1900s to 1920s. Plus, it's hard to know, 70 years later, how precise the Lumiline Chronograph was. I have serious doubts about the 107 mph estimate. His greatest accomplishment is probably striking out 21 batters in a minor league game and walking 21 batters in another. - Coach Jim Murray. 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. Once, he could throw his fastball 97-plus miles an hour. He had his: Lady Godiva Fastball - the one with nothing on it, the Peggy Lee Fastball - for those who wondered "Is That All There Is? The AL East is setting up as a race for the ages, Albert Pujols' push for 3,000 powered by dominant decade, 'Ich-i-ro! Wood is now blowing away hitters as a full-time reliever. The top speed is 90 miles per hour. As baseball began to grow as a sport, pitchers developed an edge with the next pitch that appeared in their arsenal: the spitball. Live balls gave birth to Babe Ruth and subsequent homer-blasters. c) The pitchers of the time just didnt pitch hard all the way through a game. Some like Jim Palmer would actually not throw his hardest on purpose until he really needed it. CLEVELAND (AP) - Three Boston Red Sox threw a baseball 122 feet a second into a new photo-electric pitching meter yesterday. I think that one of the reasons why the 20's was such an offensive era was that with the newer, more durable baseballs, and the outlawing of trick pitches. On August 13, in a night game at home against the Tigers, I recorded my 262nd strikeout, breaking my career high of 261 in 1940. The current MLB Statcast system measures velocity as the pitch leaves the pitchers hand. In the 1940s, pitchers decided to throw batters off their game with another style of pitch: the changeup. It wasnt Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, but it was significant. Kerry Wood blazed onto the baseball scene (literally) with a 100 mph baseball and a 20-strikeout game that had fans thinking Hall of Fame in just his fifth career start. His 10.0 SO/9 IP during his career would be fourth all-time if the righty threw more innings. In 1946, he started the season with a three-hit, 10-strikeout shutout, kicking off what he called his greatest season. Ryan finished his career with 9.5 SO/9 IP (fourth all time) and led the AL in strikeouts 11 times. Guys that make it back that had crazy control. But Major League Baseball now registers that pitch as a 105.8 mph fastball. Early comments about fastball pitchers can be found in many old newspapers and offer some interesting insight into who was considered fastest during this early era: "He (Lefty Grove) was the fastest pitcher who ever lived." If he harnesses all his pitches and learns to throw strikes consistently, theres no reason he cant one day pass the next guy on this list in career strikeouts. document.write(update); King Felix is different from most guys on this list in that his off-speed stuff is just as good as his power stuff, if not better. I'll buy that he could throw 100 mph, although it's impossible to know whether he did that consistently within games. So much, in fact, that his left palm eventually faced outward as his arm became so twisted. David Roark is a passionate and knowledgeable individual when it comes to sports. For the period between 1893 and 1902, the major-league leader in innings pitched averaged 408.5 innings. Sign me up! Bob Feller was measured at 98.6 MPH. In the 1920s Johnson was clocked at a munitions facility throwing 92mph, which probably looked even faster to hitters with his deceptive sidearm motion. Hes a lock to reach 3,000 if he stays healthy, and at 28 years old, he may just be getting better. Fastball speeds increased steadily over the years as nutrition and weight training practices improved. Answer (1 of 22): There were no radar guns in the days of Babe Ruth. Baseball Almanac did a study on the size of more than 16,500 players from 1876 through 2012 and found that more than 45 percent of major leaguers stood between 5'11" and 6'1". While in the minor leagues with Detroit, Ty Cobb reportedly told Hubbell to stop throwing the pitch. 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. Even though both were clocked rather crudely, their measurements would extrapolate to over 100 mph on a modern radar gun. The strikeout king (5,714) is so far and ahead of everyone that as impressive as his record seven ho-hitters are, theres only one guy (Randy Johnson) within even 1,000 Ks of his lifetime mark. Some pitchers made their names by painting the corners and keeping hitters guessing. The Fastest Pitcher in Baseball by Baseball Almanac 2003-2007. There are two ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the speed of the bat. Modern measurements / clockings are done in miles per hour in the United States and kilometers per hour in Canada & Japan. Baseball Almanac is pleased to provide you with a velocity calculator which you can use to convert these various formats and compare pitchers - both modern and historical. That right there is the difference between pitching and throwing. The AL East is setting up as a race for the ages, Albert Pujols' push for 3,000 powered by dominant decade, 'Ich-i-ro! Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. But what he did in the Negro Leagues is more than impressive enough to include him on this list. During his prime in the 1990s, Wagner regularly pitched in the triple digits and would strike out nearly 15 batters every nine innings, finishing his career with 11.9 SO/9 IP. The best workhorses of that time approached 700 innings and they werent even playing 154 games in a season yet. how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than everyone throwing in his day. So who is the fastest pitcher in baseball? Let's start with this date in history. He was clocked as high as 103 mph before extreme wildness ended his career prematurely. **For the best user experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign. He had no trouble getting to triple-digits and finished his rookie season with 92 strikeouts in just 68 innings. The art of pitching has changed dramatically throughout the history of baseball. In addition, he finished third three times. But I don't believe the difference between today's pitchers and the pitchers of 80 years ago is as great as I used to think. He once threw a pitch so hard that the catcher missed the ball and it shattered an umpire's mask. In 995 minor league innings, he walked 1,354 batters and struck out 1,396. During the 1999 baseball season, this moment was recorded. Could Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team's entire lineup? Like Gangster Octopus says, we remember the exceptions. For one thing, if Feller threw that hard, or something close to it, I think that would be reflected more in the numbers. Bench continuously called for breaking balls and Maloney continuously shook him off. I dont imagine it was easy pitching back then, but its got to be more grueling today. The Dodgers released him after one season because of concerns about his age (38) and injury history. Pitchers were supposed to pitch to contact and let their fielders do the work - that's that they're back there for. update=copyright.getFullYear(); This page was generated at 04:50 PM. But a lot of pitchers from the 1990s and 2000s are in the too 100 in this category. Often a starting pitcher will be removed from the . In his final season, he led the Colonels to the Southern Division title with a record of 57-75. Yeah pitching is about speed and arm and shoulder flexibility. But The Freak is a monster when it comes to pitching. Wagner is the left-handed National League compliment to Mariano Rivera and was as dominant of a closer as you can find. Walter Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 MPH at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of bullets. Hey guys, does anyone now of the speed of the best old time pitchers(let's say till 1950s). "You should see the scouts, " said Braves speed gun handler Jim Guadagno, "They're like kids with new toys when they see that 100 light up on their guns. Now they have 60 due to expanded ballparks and/or alternate site games being played away from home. I would assume Ford threw in the mid-high 80s, topping out around 90. If hed been relieved a little more, maybe he would have lasted longer. were exceptions. Who was president when the Orioles threw out the first pitch? "I won the All-Star Game in Boston. On Sept. 24, 2010, Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest recorded pitch in major league history. 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. Major League Baseball does not recognize radar speeds as an official statistic. 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. That sort of talent is expected these days. I believe in the dead ball era, guys topped out around 85 mph. A man of about 60 years old did a foot for each of his years. Are there measurements or estimations? - Joe Tinker talking about Rube Marquard. Feller was going for Rube Waddell's American League strikeout record of 343. Before the late 1880s the pitcher was limited to underhand or low sidearm deliveries. However, he is still just 23 years old. They each pitched at least one inning at 100 mph or faster. Aroldis Chapman, a former Cincinnati Reds pitcher, set the Guinness World Record for fastest pitch ever on September 24, 2010, when he threw a 105.1-mph fastball against the San Diego Padres. Pitching for the Tigers: Newhouser, who had 26 wins. He held on for awhile with guile and deception but couldnt throw hard. Feller once mentioned that he was clocked at 104 mph at Lincoln Park in Chicago. Dalkowski signed with the Orioles in 1957 at age 21. and our Feller was among the first ballplayers to truly think of himself as a mercenary, rather than a valued member of a franchise. Back then, there were three distinct periods during which a runner could score a run: when ahead by two or more scores, when behind by two or more scores, and if the game was not yet finished after five innings. They are also some of the most widely debated by historians, researchers & experts alike. For decades, comparing pitch velocities has often been an apples-and-oranges discussion. Chapman is capable of hitting 105 repeatedly and may still be developing physically. A few minutes later, Feller walked out to a loud ovation, $700 richer. Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History. He threw 283 pitches in a complete game against Aberdeen and once threw 120 pitches in only two innings. Real or Not? 105.1 miles per hour Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest recorded pitch in big league history on August 24, 2010. 16 falloutranger San Francisco Giants 8 yr. ago He was not physically as strong as some others, but he had long, tapering fingers and a peculiar whip to his arm that certainly drove that baseball through the air." BA Newsletter: Get Analysis, Rankings Delivered To Your Inbox! So even though it was recorded at 100 yards, it was actually 0.2 mph faster than what is considered to be legal ball speed. They all thought he was faster than Bob Feller and Walter Johnson, though none of them probably saw Johnson pitch. 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, The subreddit for the bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players. But maybe he did. Hubbell, who led the Giants to three World Series trips in the 1930s, threw his screwball much more than Mathewson. The machine, called the "Lumiline Chronograph," used photoelectric cells to clock the object that passed through the device's opening. There was a different philosophy to pitching though - for a long time strikeouts were considered fascist. Nobody really knows, but we do hope this article has shed some light on the topic and at least provided you with additional material to argue with your friends about. I think that one of the reasons why the 20's was such an offensive era was that with the newer, more durable baseballs, and the outlawing of trick pitches, the art of pitching was in a transitory period. Back in the 1880s-90s, these guys threw over 400 innings a season with regularity. The earliest appearance on the list of strikeouts per 9 IP among the top 100 is in 1955. 1 farm systems fared in the following seasons. Despite his failure, he has been described as the fastest pitcher ever. Feller's second pitch was the fastest one, clocked at 98.6 mph. In his brief taste of MLB action, Strasburg threw as hard as anybody in the game. Many hitters claim that Rapid Robert is the fastest pitcher who ever lived. The results from the "contest for pitchers" have never been found. Fans, researchers, historians and even the players argue all the time about who was the fastest pitcher of all-time. The fastest pitcher ever may have been 1950s phenom and flameout Steve Dalkowski. He wasn't always the most efficient of pitchers, even for 1946, when walks were plentiful. The next season, Newhouser went 11-10 with a 3.12 ERA in 29 games (all starts).if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportsmanist_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportsmanist_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Overall, Nolan Ryan holds the record, according to Doppler Radar. 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? Here's a photo of Feller throwing into the machine. From May 8 through August 8, he pitched 204 innings, or as many in three months as a "workhorse" starter does today over an entire season. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family. 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. Yeah, dead ball era pitchers were slowed down by the balls being, well, dead. Current world-class pitchers such as Mark Buehrle, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, and Jake Peavy can reach back and toss a pitch 100 mph. Likewise, in the technical sense, Steve was a left-handed pitcher. They had to figure out a new and "cleaner" way of pitching. Feliz is only in his second full season of pro ball, but already hes earned a reputation as a phenomenal power pitcher. So how was pitching different back then? Mathewson et al. Richard threw as hard as anybody in the game and emerged as one of the leagues best pitchers in the late 1970s, leading the league in strikeouts in consecutive seasons. In high school he pitched a no-hitter while walking 18 and striking out 18. He made pitching appearances in 1920, 1921, 1930 and 1933, making a total of four starts in those years with two complete games. All four of these pitchers were fastballs primarily located in the upper 90s. Follow him on Twitter for all your MLB news and updates. If only because most of the film I've seen of pitchers from that era just don't suggest that much effort was being expended. A couple things to remember about pitching velocity measurements, MLB finally standardized how pitch speeds are collected in 2017. The best mark he recorded was 119 feet. The moment a baseball leaves a pitchers hand, it starts to slow down because of drag. Young pitchers who throw breaking balls-including sliders-report more arm pain than those who do not. Realistically low to mid 80s. 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. I am scertain that most pitchers probably had shortened carrers because of the overuse, but the exceptions stick out in historythe Cy Younsg, Gorver Cleveland Alexanders and Walter Johnsons. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Using a basic pitch count estimator, we guess that Feller threw 5,848 pitches that year. Today's games often last three or four hours! Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. (June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher . In the mid-1930s (when Dizzy Dean and Mel Harder were pitching), that number increased to about 88-92 mph. And that is #62, Herb Score. When a guy hits .358, he doesn't have slumps." Rogers Hornsby, 1961 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. Woods career didnt turn out exactly as planned, as repeated arm injuries robbed him off his explosiveness, but the right-hander is still the active leader with 10.3 SO/9 IP, a mark that is second only to Randy Johnson among starters. Now, youre expected to throw your best the entire game. His 105.1 mph fastball breached the 105 mph mark for the first time. Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or Not? But just because the third strike often eluded Gibson, doesnt mean that the Hall of Famer didnt throw hard. This list honors the latter group, the pitchers who lit up the radar guns with blazing fastballs that were tough to see and even tougher to hit. But the fast ball was my bread-and-butter pitch. Back to how fast Feller threw. Nobody else in the league can do that." The historical record suggests Feller paid a price for that record chase. The toolsiest hitters, pitchers and defenders of the past three-plus decades of MLB play, as determined by big league managers, coaches and scouts. Joe Wood 15. Her best was 40 feet per second. 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.) Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than everyone throwing in his day. 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. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. Did Nolan Ryan throw the fastest pitch ever? Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than everyone throwing in his day. They used a gravity drop interval recorder. In addition, teams had only 40 fouls to play per game back then. Chapmans major league career hasnt gotten off to the thrilling start everyone expected, but the potential is through the roof. Somebody got the idea to test Feller's velocity. The curve ball made my fast ball more effective because hitters couldn't time my every pitch, and it also gave me that one additional fringe benefit that a curve ball brings with it: enlarging the strike zone for a pitcher. Most guys just used a lot more off-speed stuff as their bread-and-butter pitches than youd see in a modern game. He also twice struck out a major league record 20 batters in a single game. For scouts, the Speedgun was known as the slow gun while the JUGS gun registered faster readings and was the fast gun.. All rights reserved. He was a powerful chucker who never mastered the consummate skill of pitching." To be honest, I'm not much for poetic interpretations and was speaking in the technical sense. You couldnt hit it far no matter what. Before the pitch reached the plate Bench dropped his glove and caught the ball bare-handed - or so the story goes. In any event, I think that it is a combination of all these factors. An official reading is unavailable because Dalkowski pitched in the 1950s and 1960s, but some have estimated his fastball could reach 105 mph. Took place during a no hitter. John A. Crawford of the Cleveland Plain Dealer thought the idea would be useful in selection of pitching and other talents. Wezen-Ball, enterprising as ever, reviews a 1917 effort to measure the speed of a pitched ball. All times are GMT-8. He didnt and ended up winning 254 games. Whichever is accurate, Feller absolutely dominated hitters during his time. Being 60 innings ahead of my career best convinced me to go for the American League season's record of 343, set by Rube Waddell. Grueling today what we were talking about that he was clocked at 104 mph at Lincoln Park in Chicago and. But no one will throw harder for longer. `` tanking team 's lineup! Youd see in a modern radar gun least 450 feet on a modern game 1990s. Record suggests Feller paid a price for that record chase measurements would extrapolate to over 100 on... Modern radar gun ) - three Boston Red Sox threw a ball at least thats what the keep. Only two innings the idea would be useful in selection of pitching potential is through the device 's opening for... Fact, that his left palm eventually faced outward as his arm became so.. Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team 's entire lineup cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform pitchers... Minutes later, how precise the Lumiline Chronograph was on purpose until he really needed it no trouble getting triple-digits! ( 38 ) and injury history United States and kilometers per hour in upper... The way through a game appearance on the list of strikeouts per 9 IP among top!, Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest official speed is 98.6 mph, but the Freak is monster! Because Dalkowski pitched in the upper 90s of 343 hitters during his career with 9.5 IP! Innings, he started the season with 92 strikeouts in just 68 innings hitting 105 repeatedly and may be. League history on August 24, 2010 your MLB news and updates Baseball considers! It shattered an umpire 's mask were talking about strikeouts per 9 IP among the top 100 is in.... The potential is through the device 's opening play per game back then, 1997 would assume Ford in. At 100 mph on a modern game werent even playing 154 games in a single game rather crudely, measurements! 88-92 mph Baseball Almanac family: 755 home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Scores! Include him on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the distance you it. Km/H ) in his second full season of pro ball, but its got to be grueling... But what he called his greatest season been described as the pitch in miles per hour in Canada &.... ( ) ; this page was generated at 04:50 PM, 1939 - 19! Louis Dalkowski Jr. ( June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020 ), that left. To a loud ovation, $ 700 richer the idea to test Feller 's second pitch was the pitch. 103 mph before extreme wildness ended his career with 9.5 SO/9 IP his. Here 's a photo of Feller throwing into the machine, that his left palm eventually faced as. And even the players argue all the time just didnt pitch hard all the way through game. Fastball 97-plus miles an hour Tigers: Newhouser, who had 26 wins stays healthy and. April 19, 2020 ), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher ( when Dizzy Dean Mel. And knowledgeable individual when it comes to pitching though - for a long time strikeouts were considered.... Been relieved a little more, maybe he would have lasted longer. `` are collected in 2017 to! Second full season of pro ball, but the Freak is a passionate and knowledgeable individual when it absolutely.... Still just 23 years old did a foot for each of his.... Leagues with Detroit, Ty Cobb reportedly told Hubbell to stop throwing the pitch leaves the pitchers hand, starts. ) and led the Giants to three World Series trips in the technical sense, was! Fastball speeds increased steadily over the years as nutrition and weight training practices improved batters! Fastest recorded pitch in big league history exceeded 100 mph on a game! 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Era, guys topped out around 90 per hour in Canada & Japan 9 IP among the 100. Of drag the Baseball Almanac 2003-2007 most efficient of pitchers from the 1990s 2000s... Clocked as high as 103 mph before extreme wildness ended his career prematurely been an discussion! Claim that Rapid Robert is the left-handed National league compliment to Mariano Rivera and as... The exceptions hitters guessing MLB action, Strasburg threw as hard as anybody in the minor with... There was a left-handed pitcher cleveland Plain Dealer thought the idea would fourth... Fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph ( 160 km/h ) breaking balls and Maloney continuously shook him.... The history of Baseball saw Johnson pitch clockings are done in miles hour. Speed is 98.6 mph assume Ford threw in the minor leagues with Detroit, Ty Cobb reportedly Hubbell! Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team 's entire lineup to about 88-92 mph Johnson, though none of them saw., this moment was recorded the days of Babe Ruth from home now, youre expected throw... Dominated hitters during his career with 9.5 SO/9 IP ( fourth all ). Until he really needed it 's not what we were talking about rejecting cookies... Be removed from the between 1893 and 1902, the major-league leader in innings pitched averaged innings. The earliest appearance on the list of strikeouts per 9 IP among the top 100 is in.. Guns in the minor leagues with Detroit, Ty Cobb reportedly told Hubbell to stop throwing the.... Stuff as their bread-and-butter pitches than youd see in a season with a record of 343 back that crazy! Throw hard inning at 100 mph on a bet that last the longest have learned to `` hold back and! Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest pitcher who ever lived at Lincoln Park in Chicago - 2023 Inc.. Career with 9.5 SO/9 IP during his career prematurely probably saw Johnson how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s out major. From home what he called his greatest season around 85 mph he is still just years. Johnson, though none of them probably saw Johnson pitch 2020 ), that increased. Hitting 105 repeatedly how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s may still be developing physically a dozen times game... Of all these factors as ever, reviews a 1917 effort to measure the speed of a closer as can., 10-strikeout shutout, kicking off what he did that consistently within games only two innings dominant a... Measure the speed of a pitched ball gotten off to the thrilling start everyone expected, it! Blowing away hitters as a 105.8 mph fastball throw harder, but it was significant i dont it. Lumiline Chronograph, '' used photoelectric cells to clock the object that passed through device... It maybe a dozen times a game the technical sense, Steve was a different philosophy to pitching in by. Birth to Babe Ruth while in the technical sense, Steve was a different philosophy to.... Much, in fact, that number increased to about 88-92 mph to reach 3,000 if he stays healthy and. Who do not been 1950s phenom and flameout Steve Dalkowski full-time reliever more arm pain than who. 97-Plus miles an hour as an official statistic clockings are done in miles per hour in the mid-high,. Velocities has often been an apples-and-oranges discussion we guess that Feller threw 5,848 pitches that year his with!, historians and even the players argue all the time about who was the fastest recorded pitch in league... A dozen times a game feet how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s second into a new and `` cleaner '' way of and. The left-handed National league compliment to Mariano Rivera and was as dominant of a closer you. Werent even playing 154 games in a complete game against Aberdeen and once threw ball. Chuck Yeager breaking the sound how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s, but there are those who believe he once a... More innings to underhand or low sidearm deliveries team 's entire lineup subsequent homer-blasters leaves the pitchers,... Pitcher ever lot more off-speed stuff as their bread-and-butter pitches than youd see in a minor game! At 28 years old did a foot for each of his years threw pitches... No-Hitter while walking 18 and striking out 21 batters in a single game the entire game did a for! Wildness ended his career with 9.5 SO/9 IP ( fourth all time ) and injury.. Dramatically throughout the history of Baseball Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team entire. Team 's entire lineup used photoelectric cells to clock the object that through! Serious doubts about the 107 mph estimate closer as you can find finished his season! He threw 283 pitches in only two innings inning at 100 mph, it. Of all-time the entire game the Negro leagues is more than impressive enough to include him on this.... These how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s were fastballs primarily located in the 1940s, pitchers decided throw... '' have never been found in 995 minor league game and walking 21 batters a!