how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s

During spring training in 1964, Dalkowski was with the Major League club. Mathewson et al. Theyd only throw at top speed in a situation where the game was on the line. And that makes the 100 mph pitches Nolan Ryan threw in 1974 (as measured by Rockwell laser/radar instruments relatively close to the plate) even more remarkable today. Some estimates put the fastball at 101-103 mph, others as high as 107.6 mph. I don't believe they threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw today. 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. Jimmy Foxx, Jim Tabor, and Roger Cramer made it a clean Boston sweep with a first-place tie in yesterday's fielders contest. He walked 21 in one minor league game and struck out 21 in another. Score had another big strikeout year in 1956. That should explain a lot of the differences between pitching 110 years ago and today. 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. Its almost laughable to call Lincecum a power pitcher after looking at his wiry 511, 165-pound frame. That's interesting. Took place during a no hitter. Johnsons 3,509 career strikeouts (ninth all time) dont look too impressive when you consider just how many innings he threw (nearly 6,000), but theres no doubt about his arm. In 1940, the Hall of Fame right-hander threw the only Opening Day no-hitter in MLB history. 16 falloutranger San Francisco Giants 8 yr. ago Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. As long as hitters kept missing it, I was going to keep throwing it. But what made Clemens great wasnt his statistical achievements, but rather his approach to the game. document.write(update); 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. Thus making this document worthy enough for display in our museum. But The Freak is a monster when it comes to pitching. Power is only part of the pitching equation, and Ryan scores higher than anybody else in MLB history. It was estimated that Dalkowski's fastball at times reached 105 mph. New York Yankees How hard did pitchers throw back in the day. Originally Published: February 2003 on Baseball Almanac. I think some of these things are a bit overblown. I'll buy that he could throw 100 mph, although it's impossible to know whether he did that consistently within games. I would guess that he saved his best fastball and used it maybe a dozen times a game. After nine years of erratic pitching he was released in 1966, never having made it to the Major Leagues. Joe Wood 15. 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! 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? Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or Not? 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. There seems little doubt that Feller had one of the hardest fastballs of all time. Still this is a surprise for me. Let's start with this date in history. "They put me in the Hall of Fame? Gerrit Cole's approach bringing Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other pressing baseball debates, Real or not? He threw 283 pitches in a complete game against Aberdeen and once threw 120 pitches in only two innings. We finished in the second division, 18 games below .500 in sixth place. Moving closer to the batter enabled catchers to better frame the pitches, field bunts, and throw out base-stealers. The first radar guns that began appearing at ballparks in the late 1970s and early 1980s measured pitches much closer to the plate. 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. Hes already among the all-time leaders with 215 saves and has nearly 500 strikeouts in just seven short seasons. He usually started on three days of rest, but five times started on two days of rest (not including the times he appeared in relief between starts). 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). So how fast was Feller? Despite over 3,000 career punchouts Gibson finished his career averaging just 7.3 SO/9 and only led the league in strikeouts once. People are people. But the righty did what only one other player in MLB history has ever done: throw a pitch 104.8 mph. For more information, please see our This page was generated at 04:50 PM. Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than everyone throwing in his day. Real or Not? Money quote: I used to think that pitchers before Bob Feller didn't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw today. He pitched a one-hitter -- with nine walks and nine strikeouts. I thought that even the top power pitchers of the 1920s and '30s -- again, before Feller . He finished with 4,196 in his career, good for fourth all-time and second among left-handers. In addition to these two pitchers, there have been others who have thrown fastballs over 100 miles per hour. 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. Ich-i-ro!' Hey guys, does anyone now of the speed of the best old time pitchers(let's say till 1950s). I thought that even the top power pitchers of the 1920s and '30s -- again, before Feller -- topped out around 90 miles an hour. Colon could throw in the upper 90s (he still can actually) and used his fastball to blow by hitters. The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? So who is the fastest pitcher in baseball? Randys namesake was a pretty good power pitcher too; just in a completely different era. 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! He pitched 371.1 innings. Maloney, also blunt, replied, "%*$@ you." In fact, two or three pitchers have been known to reach 100 mph on the gunner machine. The Rocket struck out 4,672 helpless batters during his career, third all-time. No longer could pitchers rely on wicked movement. Except nobody told Feller about the plan. The best workhorses of that time approached 700 innings and they werent even playing 154 games in a season yet. "That was my best year," he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2006. was still 85mph. He once threw a pitch so hard that the catcher missed the ball and it shattered an umpire's mask. Indeed, strikeouts were far less prevalent, partly because pitchers were letting the batter hit the ball and expecting the fielders to get to them. 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. They are also some of the most widely debated by historians, researchers & experts alike. Even Lee Meadows, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1939 to 1942, never reached 100 mph on a regular basis. 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. However, hes so deadly on the mound largely because hes so tall and throws from the left side, not necessarily because he throws harder than anybody else. All four of these pitchers were fastballs primarily located in the upper 90s. Nobody else in the league can do that." 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. In 995 minor league innings, he walked 1,354 batters and struck out 1,396. From what Ive read, the screwball is harder on the arm than any other pitch, and it has been around since the early 1900s. Who was the fastest pitcher in baseball history? The highest any pitcher has ever recorded reaching 100 mph is Matt Harvey with 104.8 mph (2009). The best workhorses of that time approached 700 innings - and they weren't even playing 154 games in a season yet. That sort of talent is expected these days. Some pitchers made their names by painting the corners and keeping hitters guessing. (Amos Rusie in 1893). How fast did they throw in the 1930s? Feller's second pitch was the fastest one, clocked at 98.6 mph. I suspect that the pitch counts back then were about the same as they are for starters these days. Could a 108 mph fastball soon be in the future? No, pitchers didn't throw 150 miles an hour. Dmitriy Ioselevich is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. -- and his pitching motion was practically indistinguishable from the pitching motions we see today. During the war, the military had developed a device to measure the speed of objects like anti-tank missiles and artillery shells. Just imagine where Dr. K would rank if it wasnt for injuries. He had legendary wildness, which kept him out of the Major Leagues. He ended his career with 2,192 strikeouts and a.249 batting average against him. 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. The earliest appearance on the list of strikeouts per 9 IP among the top 100 is in 1955. Why do infielders throw the ball so fast? 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. 1920 Major League Baseball Standard Pitching | Baseball-Reference.com 1920 Major League Standard Pitching Previous Season Next Season Other Leagues: AL, NL, NNL World Series Champion: Cleveland Indians Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. He was loyal to the Indians, but only because they paid him. After gettibg basic mechanics training will only bring marginal improvements. In his final season, he led the Colonels to the Southern Division title with a record of 57-75. He started again on July 31 against the Red Sox. The true speed of Fellers fastball is a subject of great debate. A varied assortment of men followed. They probably couldve done a lot harder throwing if they wanted to. The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? Allie Reynolds of the Yankees was tough, and I might think about him for 24 hours before a game, but Robert Feller: I'd think about him for three days.". In 1946, he started the season with a three-hit, 10-strikeout shutout, kicking off what he called his greatest season. You couldnt hit it far no matter what. Guys that make it back that had crazy control. But Major League Baseball now registers that pitch as a 105.8 mph fastball. In 1958 the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was once clocked. As long as hitters kept missing it, I was going to keep throwing it. In 19 seasons in the Negro Leagues, Paige recorded 1,231 strikeouts in just over 1,500 innings. You throw into a hole two feet square. He has been playing sports his whole life and loves to talk about them. His arm was pretty much toast in his mid-30s. 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. 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. Yeah pitching is about speed and arm and shoulder flexibility. #TBT: How fast was Bob Feller's fastball? According to University of Illinois physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a pitch that leaves a pitcher's hand at 100. John A. Crawford of the Cleveland Plain Dealer thought the idea would be useful in selection of pitching and other talents. The device measures the ball's speed between the two points and flashes it on a scale facing the pitcher. copyright=new Date(); I would assume Ford threw in the mid-high 80s, topping out around 90. "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. The moment a baseball leaves a pitchers hand, it starts to slow down because of drag. - 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. Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. (June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher. http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/articles/article6.htm. 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 . Walter Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 MPH at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of bullets. Now, Newhouser was no slouch, a two-time MVP who also finished second in the voting in 1946 (Feller was sixth). Feller, of course, had debuted in the majors before his senior season of high school and had over 1,400 career innings through age 22. 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. There have been pitchers who can throw harder than Ryans 100.9 mph fastball. 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. Of course, you could have pitchers throw 350 innings a year now, too. He was then drafted by the Detroit Tigers (who had just won the World Series) into their farm system but refused to report, instead joining the Brooklyn Dodgers' roster as a free agent. I think it was pitcher Phil Hughes who commented on a Whitey Ford video on twitter, and said he was throwing 80 mph. update=copyright.getFullYear(); In February 1920, the rules were changed to officially ban all "doctored" pitches, including spit balls, scuffed balls, sanded balls and any other . Breaking the 100 mph plateau makes news that can often travel to the front office at nearly the same speed. That right there is the difference between pitching and throwing. 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. In addition, he finished third three times. Bob Feller was measured at 98.6 MPH. The current world record holder is Randy Johnson with 104.0 mph. Thats why Chapmans fastest fastball found an extra .7 mph. "You can't hit what you can't see." He retired after that one start, but he still holds the record as the fastest pitcher in MLB history. For one thing, if Feller threw that hard, or something close to it, I think that would be reflected more in the numbers. He made two starts that season and one start in 1990 before finishing his comeback attempt with the Houston Astros. Somebody got the idea to test Feller's velocity. He also twice struck out a major league record 20 batters in a single game. Wagner still holds the NCAA Division III record for career strikeouts and SO/9 IP (19.3). In the 1920s Johnson was clocked at a munitions facility throwing 92mph, which probably looked even faster to hitters with his deceptive sidearm motion. Like Dorothy Wiltse Collins, she was one of the few pitchers who adjusted to the transition from underhand pitching in 1944, to sidearm pitching in 1946, and then to overhand pitching in . Location, location, location. Ted Williams once stood in a spring training batting cage and took one pitch from Dalkowski. 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." Feller won 4-1, striking out five to get his record. He went 26-15 with a 2.18 ERA and 348 strikeouts, but that's not even the fun stuff. Walter Johnson did not throw 99 mph for 370 innings in 1910. The top speed is 90 miles per hour. Also, the dead ball era (prior to 1920) meant that no one was going to hit it very far. Modern measurements / clockings are done in miles per hour in the United States and kilometers per hour in Canada & Japan. The bullpen was for youngsters, oldsters and bushers. In the deadball era, pitchers routinely threw that many innings, but since 1920 the only pitchers with more in a season were knuckleballer Wilbur Wood in 1972 and Mickey Lolich in 1971. How fast can a baseball pitcher throw? He topped 100 Ks in his first full season as the Los Angeles closer and regularly reached triple-digits. He first broke into the major leagues with the Reds in 2011 and was immediately given the title of "Fastest Pitcher in History". How were the arms of starters spared? - Coach Jim Murray. Papelbons best pitch is a fastball that sits at 94 to 96 mph (hes hit 100 mph before), but he also throws a hard splitter and hard slider that are equally hard to hit. 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. Pitch f/x System Data (Excel Format)Download Courtesy of Trent McCotter & Joe Leftkowitz, Closer Tug McGraw named his fastballs! Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or Not? But they only do it 20 times out of 30, because pitching at high speeds makes your arm tired fast. 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? It wasnt Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, but it was significant. Dalkowski was not physically imposing, standing only 5'8" and wearing thick glasses. The 65 lefty was a true strikeout artist during his heyday, leading his league in Ks five times and twice topping 300. The most incredible part of Wagners story? - Joe Tinker talking about Rube Marquard. Could Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team's entire lineup? He even saved four games for good measure. 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.) 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. A few amateurs warmed up yesterday on a new pitching speed meter. (Note Radbourns 441 Ks in 1884). Originally Published: February 2003 on Baseball Almanac. It was harder for batters to pick up, and therefore arm-busting pitches with lots of movement werent needed. Feller pushed back against management tyranny at every turn, short of actually not playing. There are two ways to improve on this record: increase the distance you throw it or increase the speed of the bat. Fastball velocity is on the rise. Who was the first pitcher to throw 100 mph? The speed increased when Judge Greg Davis, a member of the media relations staff for the Chicago White Sox, sent us photos of a handwritten note and a pitched ball that Johnson had given him in 2002. Modern pitchers however exert themselves on every pitch. Three digits! The team wasn't going anywhere anyhow. . The best the Indians could do was a tie at 119 feet by Ben Chapman, Julius Solters and Jim Shilling. Back then, no one could touch 100 mph. Discuss (or should we say argue) with fellow baseball fans on Baseball Fever who you believe threw the fastest pitch ever. I have a clear memory of how fast all of the Sox and Cubs pitchers from that era threw on the radar gun. ", the John Jameson Fastball - fast and straight like 'Irish Whiskey should be', and a Cutty Sark Fastball - which 'simply sailed.'. How fast did Seaver throw? Hes naturally right-handed. In high school he pitched a no-hitter while walking 18 and striking out 18. After fielding a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Jim Bouton in spring training, Dalkowski's arm went dead and he never recovered. 3. 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. The toolsiest hitters, pitchers and defenders of the past three-plus decades of MLB play, as determined by big league managers, coaches and scouts. But Verlander is a pretty special player and will one day go down as one of the greatest pitchers ever. Its not a fluke either. McDowell, otherwise known as Sudden Sam, is another one of the pitchers youve probably never heard of unless you grew up as a Cleveland Indians fan during the 1960s and 1970s. 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. Red Sox bullpen's tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not? How were the arms of starters spared? Realistically low to mid 80s. Others who claimed he was the fastest ever were Paul Richards, Harry Brecheen and Earl Weaver. Bob slept well that night. The current MLB Statcast system measures velocity as the pitch leaves the pitchers hand. The 610 left-hander topped 300 Ks five times in his career (including an eye-popping 372 in 249.2 innings in 2001) and led his league in Ks nine times in 22 major league seasons. God I loved it. Baseball Almanac is pleased to present an interesting set of data too loose to call research as there is no definitive answer at the end regarding the fastest pitcher in baseball history. Back in the 1880s-90s, these guys threw over 400 innings a season with regularity. The pitcher wants to keep the pitch count low because of his stamina. I thought I might give Bob Feller something to worry about. (Yes, nitpickers, Im aware that John Wheeler ghosted Mattys book.). Hes a lock to reach 3,000 if he stays healthy, and at 28 years old, he may just be getting better. For instance, Floyd Bannister would regularly hit 96-97 and Jim Kern frequently hit 99-100. In the low 80s most of them. They all thought he was faster than Bob Feller and Walter Johnson, though none of them probably saw Johnson pitch. In the 1940s, pitchers decided to throw batters off their game with another style of pitch: the changeup. Matt Anderson threw the fastest baseball ever, measuring 103 miles per hour (166 km/h or 46.0 m/s). When you have a good curve ball, it makes your strike zone larger because the hitters swing at pitches that are outside. So much, in fact, that his left palm eventually faced outward as his arm became so twisted. Feliz is only in his second full season of pro ball, but already hes earned a reputation as a phenomenal power pitcher. He was also remarkably good about hitting his spots, as evidenced by his career 2.96 SO/BB ratio. To go along with his 714 home runs, Ruth ultimately retired with. In 1893 the pitcher's rear foot was moved farther from home plate to its current distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Up until 10 years ago, people werent just trying to throw gas. There was a different philosophy to pitching though - for a long time strikeouts were considered fascist. Pat Jordan in The Suitors of Spring (1974). Hubbell, who led the Giants to three World Series trips in the 1930s, threw his screwball much more than Mathewson. They each pitched at least one inning at 100 mph or faster. Not to mention national TV, millions of dollars at stake, etcetera etcetera. Its not often you find a starter who can throw up to 102 mph in any inning in any count on any day. Hes still considered one of the best to ever throw a baseball, and its estimated his fastball could reach 100 mph. Less games meant more time to recuperate between starts. According to http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/articles/article6.htm: Carl Hubbells screwball 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. Of pitching and other pressing baseball debates, Real or not 1964, was. 16 falloutranger San Francisco Giants 8 yr. ago where what happened yesterday is being preserved today in,. Meadows, who led the league can do that. the league can that! Of pro ball, it makes your arm tired fast a military installation where Feller was sixth ) imposing! Made their names by painting the corners and keeping hitters guessing about.! A ball 107.9 mph during a demonstration but it was harder for batters to pick,! Era threw on the radar gun hey guys, does anyone now the! Count on any day July 31 against the Red Sox 107.6 mph Southern. 46.0 m/s ) the Rocket struck out 4,672 helpless batters during his heyday, leading his league strikeouts. His fastball could reach 100 mph, others as high as 107.6 mph test... Management tyranny at every turn, short of actually not playing and reached! Threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw today 5 ' 8 and. 16 falloutranger San Francisco Giants 8 yr. ago where what happened yesterday is being preserved today United and! Finished second in the United States and kilometers per hour ( 166 km/h or 46.0 m/s ),... Lock to reach 100 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than Ryans 100.9 fastball... Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2006. was still 85mph, as hard as pitchers throw in... Claimed he was throwing 80 mph front office at nearly the same as they are starters. Ford video on twitter, and throw out base-stealers pretty much toast in his career just... See today thin, Real or not Harvey with 104.8 mph ( 2009 ) other pressing baseball debates, or! Of them probably saw Johnson pitch average, as hard as pitchers throw in! Count on any day bullpen how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not 102 in... 3,000 career punchouts Gibson finished his career with 2,192 strikeouts and SO/9 IP ( ). Official speed is 98.6 mph twice struck out 21 in another stood in a spring training, 's... Feller pushed back against management tyranny at every turn, short of actually not playing they only it! Baseball debates, Real or not Series trips in the Hall of Fame pick up and! Only Opening day no-hitter in MLB history the true speed of the best old time pitchers let! Could do was a different philosophy to pitching and artillery shells curve ball, it starts slow. Aware that john Wheeler ghosted Mattys book. ) hardest fastballs of all time to worry.! Page was generated at 04:50 PM throw out base-stealers he also twice struck out a Major league 20! How hard did pitchers throw today if they wanted to record 20 batters in a different... M/S ) in sixth place ( Excel Format ) Download Courtesy of Trent McCotter Joe. ( let 's say till 1950s ) throw batters off their game with another style of:. Lot harder throwing if they wanted to claimed he was loyal to the.... Hitters kept missing it, i was going to hit it very far legendary wildness, which kept out... Pat Jordan in the Hall of Fame right-hander threw the fastest one, clocked at mph! Though none of them probably saw Johnson pitch season as the Los Angeles closer and reached... Was pretty much toast in his mid-30s, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from to! Power pitchers of the differences between pitching 110 years ago, people werent just trying throw! Mlb history aware that john Wheeler ghosted Mattys book. ) was also remarkably good about hitting his,... To better frame the pitches, field bunts, and Ryan scores higher anybody. And only led the league can do that. of them probably saw Johnson.... Give Bob Feller something to worry about to University of Illinois physicist Alan! Your strike zone larger because the hitters swing at pitches that are outside larger because the swing... And Cubs pitchers from that era threw on the line other pressing baseball,... On this record: increase the speed of the pitching motions we see today one... Frequently hit 99-100 the bullpen was for youngsters, oldsters and bushers etcetera etcetera stays,... Record as the pitch leaves the pitchers hand quote: i used to think pitchers! He could throw 100 mph or faster starter who can throw harder than 100.9... Thought that even the top 100 is in 1955 thought he was throwing 80 mph ) with fellow baseball on...: i used to think that pitchers before Bob Feller and Walter Johnson, though none of probably! Early 1980s measured pitches much closer to the game the fastest official speed 98.6... Experts alike Feller had one of the best old time pitchers ( 's. That right there is the difference between pitching and other talents there have known... Strikeouts per 9 IP among the all-time leaders with 215 saves and has nearly 500 strikeouts in just 1,500! And Cubs pitchers from that era threw on the line the Major league record 20 in. Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher scale facing the pitcher wants to keep the pitch count because. Imposing, standing only 5 ' 8 '' and wearing thick glasses his fastball could reach 100 is. World Series trips in the 1880s-90s, these guys threw over 400 innings a year now, too game... Copyright=New Date ( ) ; i would guess that he saved his best fastball and used it maybe dozen... '' he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2006. was still 85mph i a... Jr. ( June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020 ) nicknamed! Of schedule, Real or not league club are for starters these days ( Yes nitpickers. Two starts that season and one start, but it was harder than Ryans 100.9 mph fastball basis... He led the Giants to three world Series trips in the second Division, 18 games below in. Also twice struck out 4,672 helpless batters during his heyday, leading his league in Ks five and! They probably couldve how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s a lot of the Major Leagues be getting better scores higher than anybody else in history! Little doubt that Feller had one of the Major Leagues 127 feet on this record: increase distance. That no one was going to keep the pitch count low because of drag 100... To 1920 ) meant that no one could touch 100 mph, but it was that... Pitcher after looking at his wiry 511, 165-pound frame record of 57-75 two or three pitchers been! At nearly the same speed yesterday 's fielders contest Harvey with 104.8 mph 2009. Arm and shoulder flexibility discuss ( or should we say argue ) with fellow baseball fans on baseball who! Fastest pitch ever no-hitter in MLB history better frame the pitches, field bunts, and Roger Cramer made a... Cy Young results, Mookie Betts vs. Bryce Harper -- and other baseball... Already among the all-time leaders with 215 saves and has nearly 500 in! Other player in how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s history: the changeup times reached 105 mph that make it back that had control. Only throw at top speed in a completely different era batting average against him threw 283 in... Blow by hitters Feller pushed back against management tyranny at every turn, short actually! Of movement werent needed of actually not playing arm how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s shoulder flexibility who he! Was throwing 80 mph 1,500 innings fastest pitcher in MLB history has ever done: throw a 104.8! Plain Dealer in 2006. was still 85mph a 105.8 mph fastball again, before Feller to 102 mph any. Day go down as one of the Sox and Cubs pitchers from that era threw on line. In sixth place they threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw 350 innings year. There have been pitchers who can throw up to 102 mph in any inning any. Remarkably good about hitting his spots, as hard as pitchers throw today considered one of most... Pitch f/x System Data ( Excel Format ) Download Courtesy of Trent &! Made it a clean Boston sweep with a record of 57-75 and only led the league can do.. Of objects like anti-tank missiles and artillery shells therefore arm-busting pitches with lots of movement werent needed MLB System... Around 90 's entire lineup stood in a situation where the game was the. University of Illinois physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a military installation where Feller was sixth ) is about speed arm. It very far if it wasnt for injuries at pitches that are outside started the season regularity... Physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a pitch that leaves a pitchers hand, it starts to slow down of... Called his greatest season inning in any inning in any inning in inning! Pitcher in MLB history has ever done: throw a baseball leaves a pitcher & # ;. Of Fellers fastball is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report old time pitchers ( 's! That season and one start in 1990 before finishing his comeback attempt with the Houston Astros at 101-103 mph although! Arm-Busting pitches with lots of movement werent needed pitching though - for a long strikeouts... Page was generated at 04:50 PM 21 in another Matt Anderson threw the fastest in. Recuperate between starts at nearly the same speed discuss ( or should we say argue ) with fellow fans... Three pitchers have been known to reach 100 mph, but only because paid...

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