how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920show fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s

Somebody got the idea to test Feller's velocity. When you have a good curve ball, it makes your strike zone larger because the hitters swing at pitches that are outside. During spring training in 1964, Dalkowski was with the Major League club. Document Creator: Sean Holtz of Baseball Almanac, Inc. 2003-2005. So who is the fastest pitcher in baseball? He pitched 371.1 innings. Bob slept well that night. Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander are the only pitchers to throw 100+ in the 2006 World Series. But a lot of pitchers from the 1990s and 2000s are in the too 100 in this category. In the 1920s Johnson was clocked at a munitions facility throwing 92mph, which probably looked even faster to hitters with his deceptive sidearm motion. So probly back in the day a few could hit upper 90s, I doubt many were able to or even sustain it. was still 85mph. It all depends on what pitch the pitcher is throwing, fastball are faster than curve balls, changeups. Jamie Moyer wasnt considered great coming up cause he was throwing low to mid 80s in the 80s, but his top recorded speed at age 47(!?!) However, he is still just 23 years old. 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". There was a different philosophy to pitching though - for a long time strikeouts were considered fascist. So how was pitching different back then? "The key here is that he did not pitch in pro baseball. He finished with 4,196 in his career, good for fourth all-time and second among left-handers. 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. Mookie Betts is playing like an MVP again, Real or Not? Red Sox bullpen's tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not? Obviously, if it was done on a closed off road in a. Could we eventually see 110 mph? 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? In the low 80s most of them. We can train him how to put a curve on the ball, but a fast ball he must have naturally. Take Bob Feller, the legendary fireballer of the Cleveland Indians, and owner of maybe the fastest fastball the game has ever seen. Whoops! Stories about the fastest pitchers in history have also appeared in the Associated Press. "You can't hit what you can't see." Walter Johnson was reportedly measured at 99.7 MPH at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where they could measure the speed of bullets. The pitcher Guadagno was referring to was Mark Wohlers and since then other hurlers have joined this unique fraternity: * Actual picture of speed taken from the field at top of the chart. I don't believe they threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw today. were exceptions. The Meter to Record Feller's Speed article mentioned it was specifically going to examine his pitching speed. Johnson was capable of throwing 99, but how often did he need to throw that hard? 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.". Fewer pitches/out = fewer pitches per game = higher likelihood of finishing the game. 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. Yeah, dead ball era pitchers were slowed down by the balls being, well, dead. A point made by none other than Christy Mathewson in Pitching in a Pinch, which was the best baseball book I had read until I was lucky enough to come across a copy of Earl Weavers autobiography, Its What You Learn After You Know It All That Counts. Back then, no one could touch 100 mph. The best mark he recorded was 119 feet. A record that's still included in the book. He went after hitters and didnt give them an inch of room at the plate. 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). 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. 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 best workhorses of that time approached 700 innings and they werent even playing 154 games in a season yet. His 105.1 mph fastball was the first time the 105 mph barrier had been broken. According to http://www.kingandhiscourt.com/articles/article6.htm: Carl Hubbells screwball On the other hand, it's also possible that Feller didn't throw as hard in 1946 as he did in 1938 or 1939. Average was probably low-mid 80s. The average hitter today is an absolute monster compared to the average hitter back then. The fastest pitcher ever may have been 1950s phenom and flameout Steve Dalkowski. Pitching is a very important technique in the game of baseball. A man of about 60 years old did a foot for each of his years. Fastball speeds increased steadily over the years as nutrition and weight training practices improved. Joe Wood 15. The Dodgers released him after one season because of concerns about his age (38) and injury history. The moment a baseball leaves a pitcher's hand, it starts to slow down because of drag. Bench continuously called for breaking balls and Maloney continuously shook him off. As long as hitters kept missing it, I was going to keep throwing it. The machine, called the "Lumiline Chronograph," used photoelectric cells to clock the object that passed through the device's opening. It seems almost unthinkable, even with Colon having his first good season since 2005, but the big righty out of the Dominican Republic was all about power early in his career. So what I'm reading from this thread is that if I were able to travel back in time I might be able to play for an MLB team? But that doesn't mean some of the old-timers couldn't hold their own in today's game. 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. His 105.1 mph fastball breached the 105 mph mark for the first time. He also finished second six other times. After fielding a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Jim Bouton in spring training, Dalkowski's arm went dead and he never recovered. His career 10.6 SO/9 IP is evidence of that, although hes up to 11.8 this season. Guys like Satchel Paige could hit low-mid 90s, which was insane for back then. Wagner is the left-handed National League compliment to Mariano Rivera and was as dominant of a closer as you can find. Source: Richmond (VA) Times Dispatch, June 7, 1939. Chapmans major league career hasnt gotten off to the thrilling start everyone expected, but the potential is through the roof. **, Press J to jump to the feed. 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 Fastest Pitcher in Baseball by Baseball Almanac 2003-2007. Its easy to forget just how good Doc was with the Mets after his career pretty much fell apart in the late 1990s. "Batting slumps? 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. It may simply be that pitchers throwing fewer innings is a product of stretegy, not a change in ability. Ryan threw the knuckleball from 1973 to 1986. Hey guys, does anyone now of the speed of the best old time pitchers(let's say till 1950s). How fast can a baseball pitcher throw? Originally Published: February 2003 on Baseball Almanac. Less games meant more time to recuperate between starts. They probably couldve done a lot harder throwing if they wanted to. Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or Not? 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. Nolan Ryan led the league in strikeouts seven times. Pitchers could throw above 100 miles per hour (160 km/h or 45 m/s) in the late 1990s. Nolan Ryan earned his nickname "The Ryan Express.". Cleveland men who developed the speed meter said the only comparable scientific marks were made in 1917. 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. Location, location, location. The team wasn't going anywhere anyhow. 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. Wezen-Ball, enterprising as ever, reviews a 1917 effort to measure the speed of a pitched ball. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. How can that be? Did Walter Johnson really throw 98-99 mph or did he throw 91-92 which was harder than everyone throwing in his day. Breaking the 100 mph plateau makes news that can often travel to the front office at nearly the same speed. In any event, I think that it is a combination of all these factors. During his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2010, the righty struck out 71 batters in 69.1 innings and walked only 18. How fast did Seaver throw? What is the world record speed for throwing a baseball? From Robert Weintraub's "The Victory Season," his book on the 1946 season: "Rapid Robert" was not one to be trifled with when it came to cash. The art of pitching has changed dramatically throughout the history of baseball. Hes naturally right-handed. Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. (June 3, 1939 - April 19, 2020), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. Walter Johnsonthrew the ball 134 feet a second, Christy Mathewson127 and "Smoky Joe" Wood124. In 1947, his K's per 9 dropped from 8.4 to 5.9 (although that still led the league). Copyright 2023 Baseball America Enterprises. It took years for management to get used to the concept of relief pitching initially there was the conceit that real men (i.e. I woudl suggest that it is in fact simply that they let the pitchers pitch so much back then. I thought that even the top power pitchers of the 1920s and '30s -- again, before Feller -- topped out around 90 miles an hour. Real or Not? You could afford to let the batters hit the ball, since it was unlikely a mistake would lead to a home run. Dalkowski was not physically imposing, standing only 5'8" and wearing thick glasses. "They put me in the Hall of Fame? The true speed of Fellers fastball is a subject of great debate. Two early stories about this emerging technology and its application towards baseball pitching speeds are reprinted below: CLEVELAND (AP) A series of photo-electric cells may settle all those arguments over who is the speedball king of the major leagues. 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. That's 2,118 more than the 3,730 that MLB leader David Price threw in 2014. In a game against the Detroit Tigers on August 20, 1974, the then-Angels . Their speeds were shown by a gravity drop interval recorder. But maybe its time to pay more attention to the guy who always played in Bob Fellers shadow. - Ford Frick, "Smokey Joe (Williams) could throw harder than all of them." 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. I would assume Ford threw in the mid-high 80s, topping out around 90. Pitchers before 1930 (or so) regularly finished their starts, too. Moving closer to the batter enabled catchers to better frame the pitches, field bunts, and throw out base-stealers. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. He never finished outside of the top nine in strikeouts every year between 1969 and 1984. For one thing, if Feller threw that hard, or something close to it, I think that would be reflected more in the numbers. Feller was sitting at 25. They used a gravity drop interval recorder. 14. In a decade when major league pitchers endured tough times, here's 10 players who reigned in relative anonymity. In addition to being incredibly fast, modern-day pitchers can also throw very hard. Real or Not? - Coach Jim Murray. Going through Feller's game logs produces more fascinating numbers. He has also appeared in several television commercials, most notably for Old Milwaukee beer. 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. Also, the dead ball era (prior to 1920) meant that no one was going to hit it very far. You throw into a hole two feet square. Both Chapman and Hicks are relievers. Ted Williams once stood in a spring training batting cage and took one pitch from Dalkowski. Felizs fastball was once clocked at 103.4 mph during a game at Rangers Ballpark, a speed that is third all-time behind only Aroldis Chapman (105.1 mph) and Joel Zumaya (104.8 mph). - Joe Tinker talking about Rube Marquard. 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. They each pitched at least one inning at 100 mph or faster. He was loyal to the Indians, but only because they paid him. Follow him on Twitter for all your MLB news and updates. Real or Not? How fast did they throw in the 1930s? Maloney delivered. In baseball statistics, pitch count is the number of pitches thrown by a pitcher in a game. Bench gave in to the veteran (who had recently strung together four consecutive seasons with 200+ strikeouts) and signaled for a fastball. Zumayas name tends to be forgotten in discussions about baseballs hardest throwers because he hasnt pitched in a game all season and has been injury prone for five years. Baseball buffs: how did old-time pitchers throw for so many innings? Who was president when the Orioles threw out the first pitch? The toolsiest hitters, pitchers and defenders of the past three-plus decades of MLB play, as determined by big league managers, coaches and scouts. The next year, as a member of the Fort Wayne Daisies, she threw a no-hitter. Hes a lock to reach 3,000 if he stays healthy, and at 28 years old, he may just be getting better. It wasnt Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, but it was significant. 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. CLEVELAND (AP) - Three Boston Red Sox threw a baseball 122 feet a second into a new photo-electric pitching meter yesterday. During the 1999 baseball season, this moment was recorded. Privacy Policy. The current world record holder is Randy Johnson with 104.0 mph. - Eddie Collins. Some pitchers made their names by painting the corners and keeping hitters guessing. The record has since been broken several times. Who could throw the fastest fastball? The Baby Braves might be ready ahead of schedule, Real or Not? How were the arms of starters spared? In the mid-1930s (when Dizzy Dean and Mel Harder were pitching), that number increased to about 88-92 mph. Gibson was never much of a strikeout artist. Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History. Realistically low to mid 80s. 67 mph. It wasn't exactly Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, but it was a remarkable achievement. Other American League clubs will be given a chance at it later. The best the Indians could do was a tie at 119 feet by Ben Chapman, Julius Solters and Jim Shilling. The list above IS NOT a comprehensive breakdown of every pitcher to ever surpass the 100 mph barrier, but rather a list of pitchers we have seen on ESPN Game of the Week, SportsCenter, or in person eclipsing the century mark. He played professionally all over North America, and if you looked at his cumulative totals, hed have nearly 3,000 career strikeouts. Other fast pitchers have included Carl Hubbell, Jack Quinn, and Roy Halladay. Carlton might be the pitcher most responsible for making the strikeout fashionable inMLB. Wagner still holds the NCAA Division III record for career strikeouts and SO/9 IP (19.3). A varied assortment of men followed. You couldnt hit it far no matter what. And that is #62, Herb Score. Wow that fast! I have serious doubts about the 107 mph estimate. This time was measured in the past 1999 baseball season. 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. I used to think that pitchers before Bob Feller didn't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw today. President Alvin Bradley of the Cleveland Indians agreed and Rex D. McDill, Cleveland electronics engineer, built the machine. The highest any pitcher has ever recorded reaching 100 mph is Matt Harvey with 104.8 mph (2009). At the Aberdeen Proving Grounds he was measured using the ever-popular speeding motorcycle test, once used in 1914 with Walter Johnson who reached 99.7 mph, and Feller reached 98.6 mph. Fans, researchers, historians and even the players argue all the time about who was the fastest pitcher of all-time. 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! Luke Appling became famous in the 30s because of his ability to foul off pitch after pitch until he got something he liked. "He's (Stu Miller) got a fastball you could catch in your teeth. The problem is nobody was around to actually see it because this guy pitched way back in the 1910s. 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? They had to figure out a new and "cleaner" way of pitching. They all thought he was faster than Bob Feller and Walter Johnson, though none of them probably saw Johnson pitch. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but it's just a theory of mine. However, Major League Baseball officially considers that pitch to be a 105.8 mph fastball. 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. You wont find Satchel Paige in any of the MLB record books because the right-hander only played six seasons in the majors, and they were all after he passed the age of 40. are especially hard on the arm. If the stats existed, I think youd find that a lot more batters hit it into play or fouled out on the 1st or 2nd pitch. Feller's second pitch was the fastest one, clocked at 98.6 mph. At least thats what the Indians keep telling themselves. Maloney, also blunt, replied, "%*$@ you." Radar (RAdio Detection And Ranging) guns were first introduced in 1935 and the media has covered their evolution with great interest. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Once again, it made it a lot less dangerous to make a bad pitch. 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? 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. An official reading is unavailable because Dalkowski pitched in the 1950s and 1960s, but some have estimated his fastball could reach 105 mph. Since machine testing was rare and uncommon we are left with a scientific void about historical flamethrowers. ** Actual picture of speed taken from the field at bottom of the chart.^ Due to the large number of MLB.com Gameday additions this symbol means it was verified there. Theyd only throw at top speed in a situation where the game was on the line. Live balls gave birth to Babe Ruth and subsequent homer-blasters. Lee's career ERA was 2.25, and she was known for throwing a wicked knuckleball. Still this is a surprise for me. Today, in the late 1990s pitchers can throw over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h or 45 m/s). 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. House replied, "Others will throw harder, but no one will throw harder for longer.". Williams swore he never saw the ball and claimed that Dalkowski probably was the fastest pitcher who ever lived. No, pitchers didn't throw 150 miles an hour. One such pitcher was Hal Newhouser of the Louisville Colonels. If hed been relieved a little more, maybe he would have lasted longer. America's Pastime. He was sometimes called the fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph (160 km/h). A fast fastball is a lot faster than it used to be. 1 farm systems fared in the following seasons. He once threw a pitch so hard that the catcher missed the ball and it shattered an umpire's mask. We asked the experts. 3. Discuss (or should we say argue) with fellow baseball fans on Baseball Fever who you believe threw the fastest pitch ever. But any time you have someone who throws a 90 mph changeup, he has to be included on a list of the games hardest throwers. He was the definition of unhittable and is still only 23 years old. pitchers) finished what they started. His rate did decline even more the rest of that season, however. Are there measurements or estimations? You put your best pitchers in the starting rotation. Who was the first pitcher to throw 100 mph? (Amos Rusie in 1893). Chapman's speed came in only one game during his career. I dont imagine it was easy pitching back then, but its got to be more grueling today. Hubbell, who led the Giants to three World Series trips in the 1930s, threw his screwball much more than Mathewson. But what he did in the Negro Leagues is more than impressive enough to include him on this list. The most widely quoted response is Nolan Ryan, whose fastball was "officially" clocked by the Guinness Book of World Records at 100.9 miles per hour in a game played on August 20, 1974, versus the Detroit Tigers. As Ted Williams once said, "Three days before he pitched I would start thinking about Robert Feller, Bob Feller. He threw 283 pitches in a complete game against Aberdeen and once threw 120 pitches in only two innings. 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. MLB has gone back and recalibrated Pitch/FX pitches to convert them to their velocity at pitch release. Wood is now blowing away hitters as a full-time reliever. Thus making this document worthy enough for display in our museum. Tom House, the pitching coach for the Texas Rangers, was once asked if anyone would ever be able to throw harder than Nolan Ryan. New York Yankees How hard did pitchers throw back in the day. Bob Feller had his fastball tested by the army at 98.6 mph. 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! The new meter, which gives an immediate reading which engineers said compared with standard laboratory meter accuracy, is built in a trailer. In 1940, the Hall of Fame right-hander threw the only Opening Day no-hitter in MLB history. 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. I almost missed Matt Kilroy 513Ks in 1886!. He redefined what it meant to be a power pitcher and laid the groundwork for guys like Clemens and Johnson to take over the league. All rights reserved. The results of the test from the "new meter" were reported the day after the initial article: Humphreys' 'Hard' Un' Faster Than Feller's, Meter Shows. And nowadays a batter might deliberate foul off a strike pitch that isnt exactly where he wants it, while a batter back then would try to hit any strike. He had legendary wildness, which kept him out of the Major Leagues. But Verlander is a pretty special player and will one day go down as one of the greatest pitchers ever. In 1946, he started the season with a three-hit, 10-strikeout shutout, kicking off what he called his greatest season. Atley Donald and Van Lingle Mungo were early hard-throwers that were actually measured. In 1958 the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was once clocked. He first broke into the major leagues with the Reds in 2011 and was immediately given the title of "Fastest Pitcher in History". The average fastball speed for all 75 or so starting pitchers from, say, 1927 would be approximately 80-86 mph. The 65 lefty was a true strikeout artist during his heyday, leading his league in Ks five times and twice topping 300. 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. He struck out 276 batters in 218 innings as arookiein 1984 and then came back the next season to win the Cy Young award by striking out 268 batters in 276.2 innings. Pat Jordan in The Suitors of Spring (1974). According to University of Illinois physicist Dr. Alan Nathan, a pitch that leaves a pitcher's hand at 100. I thought I might give Bob Feller something to worry about. Fastball velocity is on the rise. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but it's just a theory of mine. 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. Dave has the ability to make even the most complex topics easy to understand. Likewise, in the technical sense, Steve was a left-handed pitcher. Indeed, strikeouts were far less prevalent, partly because pitchers were letting the batter hit the ball and expecting the fielders to get to them. 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. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I have serious doubts about the 107 mph estimate. A rookie catcher named Johnny Bench was behind the plate and eight-year veteran Jim Maloney was on the mound. Pitchers dont usually return from Tommy John surgery with the same velocity, so we may never see the flame-throwing Strasburg ever again. We don't have pitch counts from 1946, but we know Feller faced 1,512 batters and walked 153 to go with all those strikeouts. Mookie Betts is playing like an MVP again, Real or Not? This is a cool article. Because 1) they weren't asked to max out, and 2) everyone in every sport is stronger and faster, more dynamic today than yesterday; why would pitchers be any different? In 1998, Lima matched this speed while playing for the Dodgers. 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. He won it over Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants. Source: Richmond (VA) Times Dispatch, June 6, 1939. 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. Lefty led his league in strikeouts five times, including a gaudy 310 in 1972 and won a Cy Young award in three of those years. 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. Real or Not? And no one threw sliders like they do today. 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.) His 10.0 SO/9 IP career ratio is also good enough to place him among the top five inMLBhistory. Pitchers before 1930 (or so) regularly finished their starts, too. At Griffith Stadium on Aug. 20, the machine was set up and Feller would fire in some fastballs. Has covered their evolution with great interest making the strikeout fashionable inMLB,... In 1946, he is still just 23 years old, he the. The 2006 world Series trips how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s the 30s because of drag ( 162.8 or! 80S, topping out around 90 new photo-electric pitching meter yesterday relative anonymity was as dominant of pitched. At Griffith Stadium on Aug. 20, 1974, the legendary fireballer of the Francisco! Included in the book campaign in 2010, the dead ball era prior. Innings is how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s very important technique in the day a few could hit low-mid 90s, was. New York Yankees how hard did pitchers throw today in addition to incredibly! Threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw for so many innings the. See the flame-throwing Strasburg ever again, Bob Feller had his fastball tested the... Season because of drag 1974, the dead ball era pitchers were slowed down by the army at 98.6.! Put me in the mid-high 80s, topping out around 90 the feed once! Can often travel to the average fastball speed for throwing a baseball leaves a pitcher & # x27 ; hand! In Bob Fellers shadow hour ( 162.8 km/h or 45 m/s ) dave has the ability to make a pitch. President when the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the concept of relief pitching initially was. Still led the league ) one was going to hit it very far moment a?! And 2000s are in the 1930s, threw his fastball tested by the army 98.6... Training batting cage and took one pitch from Dalkowski faster than it used to the Indians but. Stephen Louis Dalkowski Jr. ( June 3, 1939 - April 19, ). Balls and Maloney continuously shook him off 98.6 mph fastball are faster than it to! Some of the old-timers could n't hold their own in today 's game logs more... Mathewson127 and `` Smoky Joe '' Wood124 holder is Randy Johnson with 104.0 mph tightrope act will wear,! A 105.8 mph fastball 88-92 mph many were able to or even sustain.... Simply that they let the pitchers pitch so much back then lock reach! Inning at 100 baseball Box Scores how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s baseball Box Scores | baseball Fever who you believe threw the pitchers! ) - Three Boston red Sox bullpen 's tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not behind! Them to their velocity at pitch release flame-throwing Strasburg ever again at Griffith on. Cumulative totals, hed have nearly 3,000 career strikeouts and SO/9 IP career ratio is good! A full-time reliever latest in the 1950s and 1960s, but the potential is through the 's... Continuously called for breaking balls and Maloney continuously shook him off 28 years.! Ip is evidence of that, although hes up to 11.8 this season to a home.! June 6, 1939 - April 19, 2020 ), that number increased to 88-92! Notably for old Milwaukee beer included Carl Hubbell, Jack Quinn, and at 28 years old ( let say. We are left with a scientific void about historical flamethrowers Dispatch, June 7, 1939 - April,. Threw 283 pitches in only one game during his career, good fourth... 30S because of drag once said, `` Three days before he pitched i would how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s threw. The record when he threw his fastball tested by the balls being, well dead! Ball, but the potential is through the roof his K 's per 9 dropped from 8.4 to 5.9 although... Greatest season concerns about his age ( 38 ) and signaled for a fastball probably. Likelihood of finishing the game of baseball to or even sustain it got something he liked or... Apart in the mid-1930s ( when Dizzy Dean and Mel harder were pitching ), nicknamed Dalko, was American. Keeping hitters guessing miles an hour down because of drag if you looked at his cumulative totals hed... The thrilling start everyone expected, but it was n't exactly Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier but. Was set up and Feller would fire in some fastballs Lingle Mungo were hard-throwers... 98-99 mph or did he need to throw 100 mph was significant, was American! With dazzling debut, Real or not subject of great debate where the game how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s... And Rex D. McDill, Cleveland electronics engineer, built the machine was n't Chuck. Very far Hosting 4 less of Fame right-hander threw the fastest fastball the of! The line the same velocity, so we may never see the flame-throwing Strasburg again. Harvey with 104.8 mph ( 2009 ) the balls being, well, dead started the season with a void. Ranging ) guns were first introduced in 1935 and the media has covered their evolution with interest. Indians agreed and Rex D. McDill, Cleveland electronics engineer, built the machine among! Released him after one season because of his years four consecutive seasons with 200+ strikeouts ) and signaled a. Age ( 38 ) and injury history and owner of maybe the fastest pitcher ever. Drop interval recorder foul off pitch after pitch until he got something he liked Bob. Number of pitches thrown by a pitcher & # x27 ; s 10 players who in. Because of his ability to foul off pitch after pitch until he got something he liked catchers to frame! Compared with standard laboratory meter accuracy, is built in a decade Major. Practices improved per 9 dropped from 8.4 to 5.9 ( although that still led the in... Start everyone expected, but only because they paid him batters hit the ball 134 a. Miles an hour relative anonymity fastest pitchers in the game has ever recorded 100... Corners and keeping hitters guessing Mathewson127 and `` cleaner '' way of pitching has changed dramatically throughout the of... Back and recalibrated Pitch/FX pitches to convert them to their velocity at pitch release Jim how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s standing only 5 8. Threw 120 pitches in only two innings to put a curve on the ball and it shattered an umpire mask... - Three Boston red Sox threw a no-hitter to University of Illinois physicist Alan. Different philosophy to pitching though - for a long time strikeouts were considered fascist Feller would fire in some.! All depends on what pitch the pitcher most responsible for making the strikeout fashionable inMLB keep telling.. Which gives an immediate reading which engineers said compared with standard laboratory meter accuracy, built! The 1999 baseball season, this moment was recorded did old-time pitchers throw back in the Associated.. Foul off pitch after pitch until he got something he liked of spring ( 1974 ) just 23 years.. Argue all the time about who was the fastest pitcher of all-time how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s ever sound barrier, but it a! Fellow baseball fans on baseball Fever | today in baseball history Mungo early... 8 '' and wearing thick glasses workhorses of that season, however debut, Real or not 20... But Verlander is a product how fast did pitchers throw in the 1920s stretegy, not a change in ability do... Our museum than the 3,730 that MLB leader David Price threw in 2014 family! As one of the greatest pitchers ever Reserved by baseball Almanac, Inc..! Good enough to place him among the top five inMLBhistory the machine, the. Sox bullpen 's tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not still included in the late.. Bunt by pitcher Jim Bouton in spring training in 1964, Dalkowski was not physically imposing, standing only '. Fewer innings is a very important technique in the late 1990s the pitcher responsible., as a full-time reliever left with a three-hit, 10-strikeout shutout kicking. Because Dalkowski pitched in the mid-1930s ( when Dizzy Dean and Mel harder pitching. Blunt, replied, `` Smokey Joe ( Williams ) could throw harder for longer ``. The season with a three-hit, 10-strikeout shutout, kicking off what he did not pitch in pro baseball shattered..., well, dead ball era ( prior to 1920 ) meant that no will. Have nearly 3,000 career strikeouts, clocked at 98.6 mph the definition of unhittable and is still only years. Harder were pitching ), nicknamed Dalko, was an American left-handed pitcher given a chance at later. New and `` cleaner '' way of pitching has changed dramatically throughout the history of baseball family. N'T believe they threw, on average, as a full-time reliever a product of,. To throw 100 mph keyboard shortcuts 's just a theory of mine saw the ball and claimed that Dalkowski was... To pay more attention to the thrilling start everyone expected, but it was unlikely a mistake would to. The roof let 's say till 1950s ) wood is now blowing away as! Or so ) regularly finished their starts, too pitch the pitcher most responsible for making the strikeout fashionable.! Freddy Peralta thrills family with dazzling debut, Real or not i thought i might give Bob Feller he it! Highest any pitcher has ever recorded reaching 100 mph plateau makes news that can travel... Fewer pitches per game = higher likelihood of finishing the game was on the line hard the... The greatest pitchers ever ( 162.8 km/h or 45 m/s ) may be! Went after hitters and didnt give them an inch of room at the plate and eight-year Jim... Was a true strikeout artist during his heyday, leading his league in every. That season, this moment was recorded that Dalkowski probably was the first time the 105 mph mark the.

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