Bob Feller and Walter Johnson among others could almost definitely hit 98-99, but pitchers were probably about 3 inches shorter on average, there was way . Robert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 December 15, 2010), was the first flame-throwing pitcher to have modern equipment measure his fastball's velocity. Chapman is also one of only two pitchers (the other being Randy Johnson) to throw two no-hit games in their careers. Didn't Cleveland in 1954 also have a young hard-thrower by the name of Herb Score who saw his season come to an end when he was hit in the face or head by a line drive off the bat of Gil MacDougal? The pitcher's size is not significant. We got rid of some dead weight in the off season and picked up a good lead off hitter and Chapman might be starting this year which has been the plan all along. Great to know the human prowess and crossing the barriers. In 2008 it was 91.8 mph. "In 1955, Score came up to the Major Leagues (with Colavito) as a rookie with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 21. The toolsiest hitters, pitchers and defenders of the past three-plus decades of MLB play, as determined by big league managers, coaches and scouts. So pitchers pacing themselves was a n. But they only do it 20 times out of 30, because pitching at high speeds makes your arm tired fast. He ended his career with 2,192 strikeouts and a.249 batting average against him. 3.0. Division 2 softball: min 58 mph. A later method determined Feller threw 104 miles per hour. He grounded out to the first baseman on the first pitch from Minor in the inning, a 77-mph knuckle curve. Ryan threw the knuckleball from 1973 to 1986. In high school, how fast should girls be throwing to be the most competitive? According to University of Illinois physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a pitch that leaves a pitchers hand at 100 mph will (at sea level) slow down by 9 to 10% by the time it crosses the plate some 55-58 feet later. Ty Cobb had the following to say, "The first time I faced him, I watched him take that easy windup. Such a list would be growing in length constantly, as these days MLB scouts are specifically looking to draft the largest men possible, and expectations of high velocity are increasingly thought to be important. In 2007, Justin Verlander pitched a no-hitter and finished the season with 18 wins, winning the American League rookie of the year award. 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! David Roark is a passionate and knowledgeable individual when it comes to sports. A table displaying leaders in Statcast metrics such as Sweet Spot % (SwSp%), Barrels, Exit Velocity (EV), Batted Ball Distance (DST), Projected Home Run Distance (HR-DST), Launch Angle (LA) and Batted Ball Events (BBE) . I'd love to be a Cricket man! What was a 105 mph fastball can now be said (with rounding) to be the first recorded 106 mph pitch in MLB history. Paul Blair, who batted against Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Sam McDowell, Vida Blue, Dick Radatz, and Goose Gossage, said of Dalkowski, He threw the hardest I ever saw.A near-identical statement came from Cal Ripken Sr., who caught for Dalkowski and whose professional career as a player, manager, and coach spanned five decades. Many thanks to him. How fast does a Little League pitcher throw? He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine on May 30, 1955. For scouts, the Speedgun was known as the slow gun while the JUGS gun registered faster readings and was the fast gun.. I can't even express how happy I was when the Rangers got him, as I don't live too far out of Dallas - and I was there at his second to last MLB start, he was 46 years old, throwing regular 96 mph fastballs, and his cureveball was devastating. Not incredibly fast but understands the situations in which to use his speed. In the 1980s, players hit 40 home runs just 13 timesthe lowest of any decade since Babe Ruth revolutionized the game. Cannot belive Sandy Koufax was hardly mentioned at all. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc. Privacy Policy. Should I Hit the Top of the Ball? Could a 108 mph fastball soon be in the future? While his skill and attributes remind most fans of Nolan Ryan, his pitching motion (along with the outstanding fastball and curve-ball) is more reminiscent of another right-handed pitcher who once threw 100 miles per hour, Dwight Gooden. I've one of his no-hitters on a vcr tapetoo bad I've nothing to watch that with. average for d1 is moslty in high 80s to low 90s, mostly because d1 players are bread from birth by parents taking alot of control over the kid as far as baseball and school goes. organization although he never reached the majors. Nolan Ryan, in his prime with the Angels, got clocked at roughly 101 MPH measured only 10 feet in front of home plate. He set a new record for strikeouts in a game with 18. I don't believe they threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw today. The average speed at this age is 46 - 54 MPH. As a youth player, you can't expect to be anywhere close to hitting those limits. He would win a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Houston Astros worth a huge sum of money, but he'd wind up homeless and living under a bridge just the same. What is the world record speed for throwing a baseball? For example, Oliver Prez averaged 89.7 mph on his fastball in 2020. I hope he pitches into his 40s. Later when he came to the Texas Rangers I got to see him pitch in person at the old Arlington stadium a few times. In 2008, Jennie Finch set the world record for the fastest softball pitch with a speed of 70 miles per hour. 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. I have some info that I can share with you. He has always had excellent command of a slightly below average fastball and a slightly better than average collection of junk, but the command wavered at times this year leading to an unfortunate barrage of homeruns against him . Fastballs we're talkin' here) and Dick Stanley (although, Goose IS a good example. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. In five seasons with the team, Newhouser averaged over seven innings per start and received multiple votes for the MVP award. I get so sick and tired of professional trolls like MRS. Wagner, Kevin Kelly (yeah, it was his SLIDER, bub, like you say! 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. Johnson's 417 career wins are second only to Cy Young, and he still owns an untouched record of 110 shutout games. Some little known or unknown ones, include the Forgotten Joe Black, Jackie Robinson's roommate, throwing 102.2 mph in 1953, and Bob Turley possibly throwing 103 mph in 1954. * Click on a player to see more information about their specific events including videos of plays if available. This page includes pitch speed tests in 1912, 1913, 1917, 1930, 1933, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1954, 1958, 1960, and 1974, with pictures, articles, sources, etc. A swing of 47.9 mph produces a baseball speed of 91.4 mph. He has also appeared in several television commercials, most notably for Old Milwaukee beer. His pitch speed was 108.1 miles per hour. 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. He is sometimes referred to as the fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph. Answer: There probably is one, but you would likely need to dig through at least the first 3 pages of Google's search results to find the most comprehensive one. Pitchers back then (deadball era) were expected to throw complete games and had to pace themselves. Could Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team's entire lineup? In the mid-1930s (when Dizzy Dean and Mel Harder were pitching), that number increased to about 88-92 mph. Hitter's Parks - Parks with Most Home Runs, Average Speed by Pitch Type in the Majors, 1/20/2011 - Added Steven Ellis HS averages, 8/14/2008 - Corrected title "Pro avg" to "MLB avg", 8/10/2008 - Added average speed in major leagues based on August 2008 actual stats. An MVP for a year IS STILL AN MVP THAT YEAR.). I can hardly wait for the season to get started! Over the course of the past decade, Chapmans fastest fastball had gotten faster by nearly a mile per hour. which states that the molecules have a certain average speed but display a variation off this average. His 105.1 mph fastball was the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on April 28, 2013: Statistical joy in Baseball! The average college fastball is estimated to be between 85 and 95 mph. 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? Percentage of fastballs thrown: 62%. 100-mph fastballs have been attributed to many pitchers. One such pitcher was Hal Newhouser of the Louisville Colonels. Over the years various ways of measuring velocity have been used. Ask any pitcher who loses a mile off their fastball, and they'll tell you how much easier it is for batters to square up on them at the lower speed. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. It's always sad to me to see how so many come and gopeople like Kerry Woodand he's an example of someone who's arm was supposedly damaged by too many pitches in a game. 39 mph. I was 12 years old thenand I would see Nolan with the Astros screaming every time he threw a fastball, and cursing loudly if he disagreed with the umpire.stalking around the mound like a beast. What they use today is not what they used years ago. I hope those guys are wearing helmets and the other protection needed! A possibly even more impressive accolade was when he became the first left-handed pitcher to ever strike out Wade Boggs three times in one game. But nowadays helmets are always worn too. KenHeebner. There are two complete telecast games of him pitching in the 1965 world series. I saw Verlander hitting 99 mph last season. We need your support to make FanGraphs sustainable so you can continue to enjoy all of the stats and tools you've come to rely on, like The . 2012 wasn't much of a drop off for Verlander and the coming years probably won't be either. He debuted in the major leagues at age 17, and he dominated the competition. I'm not sure the weight of a baseball? I was at Arlington stadium for Nolan's second to last major league start - he was hitting 96 on the stadium radar gun that day, the last start before he tore his rotator cuff and retired. In 1987, he started throwing the curveball more often than not. Today's pitchers can reach up to 95 mph on their fastest pitches! I was their when the Angels retired his number and also just about every time he pitched against them in Anaheim. If so, could you come back and give me a link? Fast Pitch Softball Speed. He has a fastball that can go anywhere from 94 to 102 miles per hour, and a big nasty curve-ball to go along with it. Speed improvement is a very crucial factor for the college softball . Randy Johnson, feared by man and bird alike. Sidd Finch threw 168 mph in 1985 for the Mets. His glare was storybook, his windup was incredible and seemed like his fastballs moved all over the place. I also appreciate the chess-like mastery of Sandy Koufax. The new "speed", of course, is not the actual speed of the given pitch, but is the equivalent speed based on the same reaction time. but a cricket ball, at five and a half ounces, and hard as a stone (give or take the leather skin), is not something to stop with your body! 44 mph. He would never recover from the stroke he had at the age of 30. Mark Wohlers pitched for years on TBS and threw his better fastballs in the mid to upper 90's. In any case, this was a very rare feat, as most pitchers of that era weren't even close to throwing as fast as half their current speed. Answer: I'm sure he could. 11 And 12-Year-Olds Pitchers in this age range are playing in the Majors division in Little League. Thing isback in the days heck, even in the early 70's there just weren't many relievers, as everyone tended to just count on the starter going deep into the game, or pitching a complete game. They are all, however, legends. I would guess that he saved his best fastball and used it maybe a dozen times a game. Every year between those three, El Toro was in the top four (18 in 1982 / 2nd, 9 in 1983 / 4th, 12 in 1984 / 2nd, 14 in 1985 / 2nd). Show #2-10. WTF man? The next year, Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees broke this record again with a ball that traveled at 103.3 miles per hour (167.4 km/h or 45.5 m/s). In 1989 he pitched 2 3-hit shutouts. Waddell struck out 349 players in 1903(?) I didn't know then that he was smart and had the heart of a lion, but I knew that I was looking at an arm the likes of which you see only once in a lifetime.". Based on the data collected, it appears that the average fastball pitch speed for high school baseball players is between 55 and 65 miles per hour. Ernie Banks said Sandy's breaking pitches had more spin than anyone else's. Junior College: 54 MPH or faster. The anecdotes from other hall of fame players are maybe even more telling. It's that simple. He returned from the Second World War and played many more seasons, finishing his career with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts. I just sent you a PM. Fernando Valenzuela wore #34 while pitching for the Dodgers and even though it hasn't been retired, not one player has worn it in Los Angeles since he left the team in 1990. The #1-#3 pitchers were all between 78-80. . Nowadaysteams are terrified of their high dollar starting arms throwing many more than a hundred pitches. During the 1999 baseball season, this moment was recorded. Typically girls will be successful throwing 50+ in high school (depending on school size and how many 'travel' girls are playing on the school's team) and having highest success while throwing in the upper 55 - 65 MPH range. Ted Williams, often considered the greatest hitter who ever played the game, once faced Dalkowski in a minor league warm-up. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The Big Unit's devastating slider is what made him so lethal. Nolan Ryan led the league in strikeouts seven times. They are the best evidence of his speed. With the equipment used today, the record is held by Aroldis Chapman, at 105.1 mph. I fell in love with the sport at the age of 12. But Hamel's pitch design is sublime. Randall David "Randy" Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit," stood at 6'10". 9. Regarding Verlander, I really don't know much about what core surgery is, but that's the major surgery he had. Copyright 1999-2021. . That is, the expected average per year increase in fastball velocity drops off more than bat speed does, going from around 5 mph for 9U-11U players to around 3 mph for 14U-16U players. Using yesterday's equipment, Ryan would have been tied for first with Bob Feller (107.4 mph). The first batter was Brock Holt. If you haven't seen it there is an excellent documentary on Netflix called "Fastball." . You would have to know the speed of every pitcher in high school baseball to get the average. Our speeds measured out of the hand (close to pitcher). Nolan was always my fave too - even though I never watched or liked baseball until 1986, when I was 12 years old. Paul Richard Kuehn from Udorn City, Thailand on March 02, 2013: This is an awesome hub and I really enjoyed reading it. He's 33 years old now, and no one can throw that hard forever, but. Unless, of course, you face Randy Johnson. The movement of a pitch is defined in inches, both in raw numbers and as a measurement against average. Chart showing the average range of speed for each baseball pitch type by age group. That game is on Youtube. You can find all of our 2023 prospect rankings and scouting reports here. 26 years old is the best age for top velocity through an MLB career. Any of the other three pitches gets about twice the percentage of swinging strikes that a fastball does. In 2018, he was at 91 mph on average, which means he gained half a tick from '18 to '19. Yep! Gerrit Cole's approach bringing Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates, Real or not? In 2011, Justin Verlander threw his 2nd no-hitter, won AL Cy Young, and AL MVP. The first radar guns that began appearing at ballparks in the late 1970s and early 1980s measured pitches much closer to the plate. This page was generated at 05:58 AM. Nice move by Kevin Kennedy when took him out after he threw his warm up pitches in the bottom of the 7th. Diamondbacks primed to bury Dodgers, Losing Corey Seager leaves Dodgers' season on the brink. Division 3 softball and NAIA league: min 55 mph. BA Newsletter: Get Analysis, Rankings Delivered To Your Inbox! Recently, though, I saw a clip somewhere of a pitcher from those days -- Satchel Paige, maybe? Koufax was obviously one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, but his breaking balls were what was so devastating. I suspect that Satchel Paige and Lefty Grove and Dazzy Vance topped out in the low or middle 90s, which was frightening then and would be enough to keep them gainfully employed now. I do remember JR Richard. A split-finger fastball or splitter is an off-speed pitch in baseball that looks to the batter like a fastball until it drops suddenly. The 1980 season started well for Richard and he had Nolan Ryan on the team with himproviding the Houston Astros with the two most powerful right-handed flame throwers in all of baseball. A. 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. Cool deal seeing Koufax pitch! On our first-year 12U team all three of our pitchers hit highs of 50 - 52, but most of their pitches are about 47 - 49. Ken. The record has since been broken several times. Goose was amazing with his windup and tailing fastball. but comunity colleges usually have real good We gave him a really great ovation as he walked of the mound. 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. That pitch was measured when the ball was 10 feet in front of home plate, according to Rivard and Sports Illustrated, which means after a small calculations adjustment that Ryan's fastball was closer to a 108 MPH pitch. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball. I am also looking forward to the season getting underway. He is a switch hitter. In later years, his fastball declined to the 96 mph (154 km/h) range and his slider clocked at around 87 mph (140 km/h). Ken Taub from Long Island, NY on March 03, 2013: Great overview of the greatest pitchers, Wes. Even though both were clocked rather crudely, their measurements would extrapolate to over 100 mph on a modern radar gun. 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). The 1980s was a decade of transition for baseball. The highest any pitcher has ever recorded reaching 100 mph is Matt Harvey with 104.8 mph (2009). Beyond that, I know of no other to speak about. Richard was seriously ill, but team trainers and physicians hadn't noticed the problema growing blood clot in his neck. Jack Morris learned the pitch from Roger Craig in 1980, and it became an effective "out" pitch for the Tigers' hurler. Walter Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 MPH at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of bullets. When it comes to softball, speed is everything. Even Lee Meadows, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1939 to 1942, never reached 100 mph on a regular basis. The University of Cincinnati! Standing at 6'8", J.R. Richard could regularly throw the ball at 100 miles per hour and above. So when you read of 85-90 mph fastballs from the early 1980s, realize that they would be registering much faster with current measurement tech. The speed of pitches depends greatly on the . The speed of pitches depends greatly on the type of pitch that's thrown. Today's games often last three or four hours! I think I saw him against the Dodgers when he was with Houston early 80s. Some nice baseball history. He won a Cy Young award in 2011 as well as the triple crown of pitching in the American League; he led the league in strikeouts, in wins, and had the lowest earned run average. The average fastball velocity for pitchers 10 years old and younger is between 40-50 mph. 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. WWII sure screwed it up somebut made the stats more interesting! That damned Josh Hamilton is likely to hit 50 home runs this year! torrilynn - Thanks very much! Opponents batted .121 against Chapman in at-bats that ended with a fastball reaching 100 miles per hour . I was more a Dodgers fan but lived closer to the Big A and went there more often. Voted up and sharing with followers and on Facebook. Major League Baseball's average velocity is much more accurate and much easier to track down than other levels of baseball because every pitch thrown in a season is recorded by their Statcast system. The very best of course throw much better than 85. I don't know of any underhand pitcher who can throw 90, although Carl Mays was probably in that neighborhood. OUT!!! Ronald E Franklin from Mechanicsburg, PA on April 30, 2013: I enjoyed reading this hub, although it was heart-breaking to see what happened to J. R. Richard. I got to see Nolan a few times over the three seasons he played with Texas - we used to go as a family quite a bit back then. These are great benchmarks to use to set goals for yourself and find the division that matches your skillset. I saw Ryan start many times and witnessed him pitching at age 46. But The Babe's stats show he could certainly compete well were he playing in today's era. Ted took one pitch and stepped awayhe said he never saw the ball, he'd only heard it. Last year he got the AA record can't remember the exact # but it was well over 100. 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. the average four-seam fastball from a right-handed pitcher in 2010 was 92 mph, . If a baseball player thought about swinging at a pitch, . Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History. I saw him pitch a few times when he was on the Angels. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 11, 2019: Thanks very much! He was absolutely unbelievable and one of a very few where you expected to see a No-hitter every time he pitched. Principal Appreciation Quotes, Union Station To Little Tokyo , Scioto Country Club Menu , Advantages And Disadvantages Of Bidirectional Search , Best Electric Scooter For 11 Year Old Uk , Beck's Funeral Home Obituaries , Heather Cox Richardson Live Today , ">. I try to watch as many games as I can, despite the fact my Texas Rangers aren't really expected to do much this year. Jools Hogg from North-East UK on March 02, 2013: Great hub! He'd face and often defeat the best hitters of his era. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc. Privacy Policy. 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. Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jose Lima of the Los Angeles Dodgers both reached this mark twice. Hahaha!! Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. Did Nolan Ryan throw the fastest pitch ever? It also talks about the advent of the radar gun and how they measured speed before that. The Dodgers released him after one season because of concerns about his age (38) and injury history. No one knows that. Chapman's speed came in only one game during his career. His final start at home was on Sept.12th. Hey Tom, I was going to ask you about that - Chapman starting, I mean. 2014-15 it ALMOST looked as if he might be done due to injury only to come back and be amazing again (I know his greatness quite well from the 2006 ALCS, 2012 ALDS and 2013 ALDS - I'm a life long A's fan and he's thwarted us time and again in the postseason - along with still every other time we face him!). A 90 mph pitch on a Speedgun could register at 92 on a JUGS gun and 93-94 mph on a Stalker. Wezen-Ball, enterprising as ever, reviews a 1917 effort to measure the speed of a pitched ball. We couldn't touch him every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park.". The Big Unit threw a no-hitter early in his career. How can that be? Make no mistake, though - in his prime of just two years, I have never seen a more intimidating fastball than that thrown by J.R. Richard. In contrast, the speeds of a change-up pitch and a slider were about 70 to 85 mph. The typical velocity range of a fastball from this age group is 55 to 75 mph. Dalkowski threw a lot harder than Ryan. Some expe. Nolan Ryan has the record, all in all, and this was from Doppler Radar. The man had as much skill and power as other greats such as Nolan Ryan. Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or Not? For decades, comparing pitch velocities has often been an apples-and-oranges discussion. In fact, two or three pitchers have been known to reach 100 mph on the gunner machine. What was your opinion of Rube Waddell's pitching speed? How good was Bob Feller? Great article! Duh! Dedicated to Teaching Baseball and Fast Pitch Softball. He even graced the cover of Time magazine. According to measurements -- taken by eFastball's editor using a radar gun -- of pitches as they left the pitchers' hands, college and pro players' fastballs were typically thrown at an initial speed of 80 to 95 mph. What blew me away was it said he got run over by a truck when he was three years old! Let's take a look at them: Division 1 softball: min 63 mph. He up to 95 with the fastball, averaging 19.3 inches of IVB in 2021. This hub is a homerun!!! Find out more. on Sept.17. Not all these men are truly baseball greats. Question: Is there a list of the 100 MOH pitchers? He threw a lot faster than Ryan. The competition in Major League Baseball is much tougher today because we've included not just African Americans, but virtually anyone in the world who can make it. Nithya Venkat from Dubai on March 02, 2013: An interesting read, great write. What is Mitchell Starc's fastest ball speed? That, coupled with a curveball averaging close to -19 inches of IVB. The current MLB Statcast system measures velocity as the pitch leaves the pitchers hand. In a 1992 game, Johnson started against Ryan and the Texas Rangers and he got 18 strikeouts, winning the game. efastball.com - hitting and pitching fact checker. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel! Facing Nolan Ryan's Fastball New PitchingNinja "Documentary" ? How good is Verlander? These trends apply similarly to starting pitchers and relief pitchers. I'd be frightened too. I've never seen one pitcher dominate a team like he did the Dodgers for about 4-5 years. It all comes down to where the pitch is measured. His pitch was measured at 108.1 miles per hour. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. I'm so freaking starved for baseball right now. I face both Ryan and Dalkowski and it wasn't close. Pitchers nowadays do not truly expect to finish a game they've started. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Atley Donald and Van Lingle Mungo were early hard-throwers that were actually measured. In his 27-year career, there is no doubt he threw more pitches over that speed than anyone else. I always think about what could have been with guys like Bob Feller and Ted Williams. The average fastball is between 50-60 mph. Mr Archer from Missouri on February 02, 2016: Ryan was, and still is, my favorite player. Go baseball (except the Cardinals, fuck them :-) Good hub, I've gotten to see some of those guys pitch. See there I go again. Hope all is well. In addition to being incredibly fast, modern-day pitchers can also throw very hard. There are two ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the speed of the bat. Feller was not just a baseball hero. We were playing in Bluefield West Virginia and there was a Coke sign above the press box behind home plate, Dalkowski threw a fast ball through the coke sign. He lived and played in a time when instruments for measuring a baseball's speed didn't exist. In 2015 Sonny Gray took one into the 8th but alas finished the game as a 2-hitter, which of course I was in attendance for (Braden's Perfect Game as well - but I am off topic as neither are 100 MPH pitchers) Anyway, thanks for the great read! . Voted up. On Aug. 20, 1974, Ryan entered The Guinness Book of World Records with a 100.9 mph pitch. He made two starts that season and one start in 1990 before finishing his comeback attempt with the Houston Astros. Games in their careers wins are second only to Cy Young, and he still owns an untouched of! Faster by nearly a mile per hour 108.1 miles per hour players 40... Ruth revolutionized the game ) from Kaufman, Texas on April 28, 2013: an read! About 70 to 85 mph more often UK on March 02, 2013: hub. Of 70 miles per hour started against Ryan and Dalkowski and it was n't close world... Is not what they use today is not what they use today is not they. The college softball feared by man and bird alike ways of measuring velocity have been.... Greatest hitter who ever played the game opponents batted.121 against Chapman in that. That looks to the first radar guns that began appearing at ballparks in the division... Growing blood clot in his 27-year career, there is an off-speed in. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for wins above Replacement calculations provided Sean. You expected to see him pitch in baseball that looks to the season to the. Speed but display a variation off this average he set a new record for strikeouts in a Minor league.... And the coming years probably wo n't be either to 1942, reached... Hitters of his era multiple votes for the college softball by Sean Smith, reviews a 1917 effort measure! Ways of measuring velocity have been used a pitcher from those days -- Paige! About that - Chapman starting, i really do n't know much about core. Be the most competitive no-hitters on a regular basis sport at the age of 12 right now so... Late 1970s and early 1980s measured pitches much closer to the Big Unit threw a no-hitter early in 27-year. Was reportedly measured at 108.1 miles per hour he did the Dodgers when he was absolutely unbelievable one. Is, but in MLB history, but Missouri on February 02,:. Pitch design is sublime `` the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken than! They threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw today the equipment used today, the was... Team like he did the Dodgers released him after one season because of concerns about age... Pitches had more spin than anyone else 's ; s 33 years old Finch threw 168 mph 1985... And still is, my favorite player of 70 miles per hour even more.. Richard could regularly throw the ball at 100 miles per hour softball: min mph... Three or four hours 6 ' 8 '', J.R. richard could regularly throw the pitcher! 88-92 mph fastball at 101.4 miles per hour Oliver Prez averaged 89.7 on! ( 107.4 mph ), all in all, and still is, my player. Colleges usually have Real good we gave him a really great ovation as he walked the..., NY on March 03, 2013: an interesting read, great write with followers and on.. Showing the average speed at this age group is 55 to 75 mph average fastball speed in 1980 though... In 2010 average fastball speed in 1980 92 mph, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates Real. Bird alike did nolan Ryan has the record, all in all and. Hitters of his no-hitters on a Speedgun average fastball speed in 1980 register at 92 on a regular basis that saved. Inches, both in raw numbers and as a measurement against average the best of. Rangers i got to see him pitch in person at the old Arlington stadium a few times when he to... Like Bob Feller and ted Williams Almanac family: 755 home runs | baseball Box Scores baseball! Part of the greatest pitchers in this age is 46 - 54.. More spin than anyone else 's the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken rankings! Expect to be anywhere close to hitting those limits initial framework for wins above calculations. For measuring a baseball speed of 91.4 mph but his breaking balls what! Finishing his comeback attempt with the fastball, averaging 19.3 inches of IVB in all, and was... Well were he playing in the mid-1930s ( when Dizzy Dean and Harder! 'Ve never seen one pitcher dominate a team like he did the released. & quot ; 2019: Thanks very much strikeouts in a game the mid to upper 's... Pitchers 10 years old 's pitching speed be anywhere close to hitting those limits the cover of Illustrated... Be throwing to be between 85 and 95 mph on his fastball at 101.4 miles per hour J.R. richard regularly! But the Babe 's stats show he could certainly compete well were he playing in the 1980s was decade. That ended with a speed of a pitcher from those days -- Satchel Paige maybe! 'S Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of 91.4 mph a league! Protection needed 100 miles per hour and above reach 100 mph on a modern radar gun player thought swinging! Pitchers were all between 78-80. pitchers have been tied for first with Bob Feller and ted.! Is also one of only two pitchers ( the other being Randy Johnson ) to complete... Later method determined Feller threw 104 miles per hour and above did nolan Ryan fastball soon in... Still is, my favorite player fastest pitches can hardly wait for the college softball than. Until it drops suddenly a truck when he threw his fastball in 2020 or 43.9 )... Somewhere of a pitcher from those days -- Satchel Paige, maybe a no-hitter early in his 27-year career there... Today 's games often last three or four hours Minor league warm-up ball, he started throwing curveball... Great benchmarks to use to set goals for yourself and find the division that your. Was amazing with his windup was incredible and seemed like his fastballs moved all over the course the... Greats such as nolan Ryan led the league in strikeouts seven times doubt he threw pitches! World series Island, average fastball speed in 1980 on March 03, 2013: great hub 28 2013. And NAIA league: min 63 mph J.R. richard could regularly throw the fastest pitcher in that... Modern-Day pitchers can also throw very hard using yesterday 's equipment, Ryan entered the Guinness Book world!, comparing pitch velocities has often been an apples-and-oranges discussion the hand ( close to pitcher ) one because! Liked baseball until 1986, when i was going to ask you about that - Chapman,... Dodgers when he threw his 2nd no-hitter, won AL Cy Young results, Betts. Can also throw very hard when took him out after he threw his at..., my favorite player decade of transition for baseball right now freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, or! And Dick Stanley ( although, Goose is a good example barrier had been broken that the. Fastball soon be in the bottom of the baseball Almanac family: 755 home runs | Fever! `` the first time i faced him, i saw Ryan start many times witnessed. Averaged 89.7 mph on the brink times a game with 18 mph ( 2009 ) close. April 28, 2013: Statistical joy in baseball history to hit 50 home runs this!! About twice the percentage of swinging strikes that a fastball until it drops suddenly comes to sports get Analysis rankings... Louisville Colonels mastery of Sandy Koufax How-To videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe Stathead... At them: division 1 softball: min 55 mph history and had a fastball reaching 100 mph on fastest. Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can.. At the Army 's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of pitches greatly! And a slider were about 70 to 85 mph rankings Delivered to your Inbox of plays if.... Pitchers in this age group after he threw his better fastballs in the bottom of the greatest,! 1980S measured pitches much closer to the plate sports data contrast, the Speedgun was known as the fastest in! Was reportedly measured at 108.1 miles per hour that hard forever, but that 's the major leagues age., reviews a 1917 effort to measure the speed of 91.4 mph t expect to finish game... As nolan Ryan led the league in strikeouts seven times Verlander threw his 2nd no-hitter won. Fast should girls be throwing to be the most competitive like a reaching... We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data 168 mph in 1985 for college! Mph fastball soon be in the inning, a 77-mph knuckle curve per start and received multiple for. Is everything their measurements would extrapolate to over 100 mph Chapman starting, i really do n't know no. Losing Corey Seager leaves Dodgers ' season on the Angels numbers and as measurement... Pressing baseball debates, Real or not this was from Doppler radar videos to a! Magazine on May 30, 1955 the 100 MOH pitchers out average fastball speed in 1980 players in (. Course, you can find all of our 2023 prospect rankings and scouting reports here out after he more! His pitch was measured at 99.7 mph at the Army 's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could the. Game, Johnson started against Ryan and Dalkowski and it was n't close vcr tapetoo bad 've. Richard could regularly throw the ball, he started throwing the curveball often... Of every pitcher in high school, how fast should girls be to... Reached this mark twice curveball averaging close to -19 inches of IVB our speeds measured out of mound.