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 . Last but certainly not least, there is Neftali Feliz, who was clocked more recently in 2010 at 103.4, at the Ballpark in Arlington. Sprint Speed. He started well and strong but left in the fourth inning due to complaints of blurry vision and numbness in his fingers. I don't believe they threw, on average, as hard as pitchers throw today. You can find all of our 2023 prospect rankings and scouting reports here. In the 1980s, players hit 40 home runs just 13 timesthe lowest of any decade since Babe Ruth revolutionized the game. There are a lot of pitchers in it like Nolan Ryan, etc. A swing of 47.9 mph produces a baseball speed of 91.4 mph. 39 mph. Johnson's five Cy Young awards are second only to Roger Clemens in major league history. We couldn't touch him every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park.". It is no longer news that all form of measurement in softball is taken regarding players' age and the level of the league they play in, The same goes for The fastball velocity. He quickly became one of the top power pitchers in the American League, no small feat on a team that still included Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and other top pitchers, going 1610 with a 2.85 Earned Run Average (ERA) in his first year. He consistently led the league in strikeouts (a then record 382 in 1965), He did have a devastating curve but I think he also threw at least as fast as anyone else in the 1960's. Pitchers could throw above 100 miles per hour (160 km/h or 45 m/s) in the late 1990s. The average college fastball is estimated to be between 85 and 95 mph. Of the 1,158 pitches he threw last season, 336 of them reached at least 100 miles per hour. A swing of 20.5 mph produces a baseball speed of 62.0 mph. When Johnson first made it to the big leagues, he had a wild and long mullet, a big burly mustache, and he stomped around on the mound in a very angry manner. No one knows that. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on March 30, 2014: Not sure I agree entirely, Mark. . 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. Jack Morris learned the pitch from Roger Craig in 1980, and it became an effective "out" pitch for the Tigers' hurler. The average fastball speed for a 21-22 year old is between 88-92 mph. I was more a Dodgers fan but lived closer to the Big A and went there more often. Besides his legendary fastball, known as "The Ryan Express," he also had one of the best curve-balls in the history of the sport. In 2018, he was at 91 mph on average, which means he gained half a tick from '18 to '19. 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. He was a left-handed pitcher who played in the Baltimore Orioles. known pitch speed tests from 1912 through 1974, http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthocking-intents, http://www.baseball-fever.com/showth-They-Do-Today, If this is your first visit, be sure to . Then, Gorkys Hernndez grounded out to the shortstop on the first pitch he saw. 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 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. . The Fb velocity is the average fastball velocity for a player by age. As for other hard numbers for those days: two hours and 15 minutes was considered an ordinary game back then. Sidd Finch threw 168 mph in 1985 for the Mets. The speed of pitches depends greatly on the type of pitch that's thrown. 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. Jennifer Halligan from NorCal on June 21, 2019: I enjoyed this and loved that you included players from the past as well as current. Enthralling! Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Jose Lima of the Los Angeles Dodgers both reached this mark twice. In 2007, Justin Verlander pitched a no-hitter and finished the season with 18 wins, winning the American League rookie of the year award. 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. 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? Answer (1 of 9): Nothing pleases me more than coming here expecting to see some of the dozens of high 80s tossing pitchers and seeing unanimous answers pointing to Tim Wakefield. I saw Verlander hitting 99 mph last season. These new "speeds" are not technically accurate (because of speed averages, stride length and other factors - see Reaction Time page), but they are the speeds generally mentioned on TV, and they are pretty close. Walter Johnson, the only pitcher to record over 400 wins and 3,500 strikeouts. Randy Johnson, feared by man and bird alike. 30 years and up is when pitching velocity takes a sharp decline. The thing just hissed with danger. An 85 mph fastball (if registered by a Speedgun at the plate) would be roughly 93 mph if measured by Statcast out of the pitcher's hand. He struck out more than 300 batters in a season on two occasions and in 1979 he led the National League with the lowest earned run average. Tom Seaver had an incredible fastball that his pitching contemporaries all talked about. James Rodney Richard (born March 7, 1950) played his entire career with the Houston Astros. Nobody on my team has hit 100 miles per hour yet this season, but we've got a couple guys who could do it, and I plan to be watching when it happens :). Paul Kuehn - thanks very much! Fastballs we're talkin' here) and Dick Stanley (although, Goose IS a good example. But Nolan Ryan had seen Johnson pitch and he knew the potential he had. With the equipment used today, the record is held by Aroldis Chapman, at 105.1 mph. 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. 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. I fell in love with the sport at the age of 12. It doesn't matter if he's only throwing one inning or nine. Unless, of course, you face Randy Johnson. He returned from the Second World War and played many more seasons, finishing his career with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts. Chart showing the average range of speed for each baseball pitch type by age group. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? All rights reserved. Why did he, all of a sudden, start throwing pitches 103? average fastball speed in 1980. The first radar guns that began appearing at ballparks in the late 1970s and early 1980s measured pitches much closer to the plate. * Click on a player to see more information about their specific events including videos of plays if available. Copyright 1999-2021. I'm so freaking starved for baseball right now. The 1980s was a decade of transition for baseball. He would have easily won 100 more games and have 1000 more strikeouts had he not sacrificed years of his career for the war effort. Does Camera Blur Equal Increased Bat Speed? I voted this hub up. There is a lot of variation in the data, with some players throwing much faster or slower than this range. I always think about what could have been with guys like Bob Feller and Ted Williams. Fastball Velocity by Age Looking at fastball velocity, we see more curvature to the aging curve than we saw with bat speed. torrilynn - Thanks very much! 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. Aroldis Chapman holds the record using today's equipment, clocking in at 105.1 mph. All except below are based on radar readings by the editor. KenHeebner. I knew he was something special. Opponents batted .121 against Chapman in at-bats that ended with a fastball reaching 100 miles per hour . Red Sox bullpen's tightrope act will wear thin, Real or not? Overall, Ryan went 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three games back from surgery on his right shoulder. In addition to these two pitchers, there have been others who have thrown fastballs over 100 miles per hour. I've never got to meet a solitary player; but I sure enjoy the game! And then something went past me that made me flinch. The Houston television media apologized repeatedly for having questioned whether or not he was truly ill. Nolan Ryan's next to last start was not at home in Arlington Stadium. 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. The late, unbelievably great J.R. Richard, whose career ended after a 1980 stroke. Ted took one pitch and stepped awayhe said he never saw the ball, he'd only heard it. However, as a black man, he surely did suffer some discrimination down in Houston, Texas, a town where he ought to have been more loved and appreciated for what he brought there. He also finished second six other times. So how hard do these guys throw? Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on February 02, 2016: Thanks very much, Mr. Archer! Fastball speed for an average major-league pitcher starts at its lowest point in early April, rises by about 1.0-1.5 mph to a peak in the month of July, and declines gradually thereafter. All of the players you have listed were or are still very hard throwers. 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. Average Velocity Difference: 3.48 mph Standard Deviation: 1.67 mph Maximum: 6.8 mph - Shelby Miller Minimum: 0.6 mph - Kyle Hendricks Range: 6.2 mph As cutters are basically sliders that break. McGraw PHI. Should I Squish the bug with the back foot? Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on May 01, 2013: Yes of course! swinging strike, the fastball (on average) is the worst pitch for the job. I ran this calculation for every pitcher in baseball. It wasn't exactly Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, but it was a remarkable achievement. They were capable of launching pitches that batters never saw and only heard after it was too late. Pitchers have always "aired it out". The Big Unit threw a no-hitter early in his career. Great info on an amazing statistic - the 100 MPH pitch. His pitch speed was 108.1 miles per hour. Any of the other three pitches gets about twice the percentage of swinging strikes that a fastball does. But nowadays helmets are always worn too. I thought that even the top power pitchers of the 1920s and '30s -- again, before Feller -- topped out around 90 miles an hour. He was TALL, LEAN and MEAN. 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. He has been playing sports his whole life and loves to talk about them. In addition to being incredibly fast, modern-day pitchers can also throw very hard. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but it's just a theory of mine. I'm sure he could hit 100 any time he wanted to. We'll never know since there are no accurate radar records until ~50 years ago, but probably about 5 MPH less than they do now. Lori Gross from Nashville on August 17, 2016: Great article! Today's games often last three or four hours! 26 years old is the best age for top velocity through an MLB career. Compare that to the 91.7 mph average in 2008. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, but it's just a theory of mine. 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 . But Major League Baseball now registers that pitch as a 105.8 mph fastball. In the mid-1930s (when Dizzy Dean and Mel Harder were pitching), that number increased to about 88-92 mph. 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. Answer: While it is possible Koufax could hit 100 mph in his younger years, the fastest pitch he ever threw which was recorded was in the low 90s. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. http://ugoprobaseball.com/discount/ My Pitching Programhttp://www.maddenbaseball.com Join the Free NewsletterHere's a video I made on the average pitching . People forget that Champman was a starter still throwing 100 mph late in the games in Cuba. So pitchers pacing themselves was a n. He only stood 5'11" and weighed 175 pounds, yet people who saw large men like J.R. Richard and Randy Johnson pitch say Dalkowski threw much harder than those two. This speed was measured using a radar gun and a high-speed camera. He threw a lot faster than Ryan. Dave McClure from Worcester, UK on August 18, 2017: Hi Wesman - just revisiting this oldie over a beer. The record has since been broken several times. The average change-up speed for this age group is about 10 mph slower, making the velocity between 30-40 mph. The tech continued to improve. However, it wasn't long before J.R. would report to his staff that he wasn't feeling quite right. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on June 11, 2019: Thanks very much! The rise and fall of J.R. Richard is not a pretty tale. What is Mitchell Starc's fastest ball speed? In his 27-year career, there is no doubt he threw more pitches over that speed than anyone else. The average change-up speed for this age group is about 10 mph slower, making the velocity between 30-40 mph. Today's pitchers can reach up to 95 mph on their fastest pitches! Average Speed of Baseball Pitches by Age Group Average Speed of Baseball Pitches by Age Group Hitting Instruction Rotational Swing Rotational vs Linear Babe Ruth Towel Drill Bat Speed, Exit Speed Hitting Aids Compared Where to Place the Tee How to Bunt Duh! We asked the experts. Thus making this document worthy enough for display in our museum. Dave has the ability to make even the most complex topics easy to understand. As I'm near Dallas, Texas - we're all waiting to see what our Neftali Feliz can do when he returns from his surgery later this year! Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Voted up and sharing with followers and on Facebook. Ever heard of Steve Dalkowski? There are different average softball pitch speed limits for every division under college games. 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! It was against the Angels in Anaheim, CA. What was a 105 mph fastball can now be said (with rounding) to be the first recorded 106 mph pitch in MLB history. It is the fascinating power that these rare and gifted men hold that is so intriguing. How can that be? He was absolutely unbelievable and one of a very few where you expected to see a No-hitter every time he pitched. Copyright 2023 Baseball America Enterprises. Money quote: I used to think that pitchers before Bob Feller didn't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw today. Even Lee Meadows, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1939 to 1942, never reached 100 mph on a regular basis. Great read here, and I enjoyed it immensely. Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. This was achieved by Monica Abbott of the University of Tennessee in 2007. I thought the story of Dalkoswki was very poignant - to have that kind of heat and talent and never make it to the show! If so, could you come back and give me a link? Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on March 02, 2013: Jools99 - Thanks very very much! They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel! In 2008, Jennie Finch set the world record for the fastest softball pitch with a speed of 70 miles per hour. Ah baseball, I so love thee. The average fastball speed for all 75 or so starting pitchers from, say, 1927 would be approximately 80-86 mph. Great to know the human prowess and crossing the barriers. His fastball was fast and fuzzy; it didn't go in a straight line; it would wiggle and shoot around. Cool deal seeing Koufax pitch! Feller was not just a baseball hero. Longest tail on a fastball I ever saw. It takes immense athletic skill and determination to make it into the major leagues, but some people have skills that seem superhuman, and the ability to throw a ball at 100 mph is certainly an impressive one. Richard and Johnson have both officially clocked in at over 100 miles per hour on numerous occasions. Let's take a look at them: Division 1 softball: min 63 mph. This is great stuff. Strikeouts per 9 innings: 8.8. I think that one of the reasons why the 20's was such an offensive era was that with the newer, more durable baseballs, and the outlawing of trick pitches. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. 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. It also talks about the advent of the radar gun and how they measured speed before that. 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. He was unbelievable. A ** by the stat's value indicates the player had fewer than the required number of at bats or plate appearances for the BA, OBP, SLG or OPS title that year. Recently, though, I saw a clip somewhere of a pitcher from those days -- Satchel Paige, maybe? 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!). Out of all the men gifted with the talent of pitching at 100 miles per hour, Nolan Ryan was the man who kept it the longest and used it the most. Regarding Verlander, I really don't know much about what core surgery is, but that's the major surgery he had. Using yesterday's equipment, Ryan would have been tied for first with Bob Feller (107.4 mph). The very best of course throw much better than 85. At 15 years, it is obvious that a kid cannot throw the ball with the full throttle needed. The highest any pitcher has ever recorded reaching 100 mph is Matt Harvey with 104.8 mph (2009). Christian Hunter Greene (born August 6, 1999), nicknamed "Surge", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has nothing to do with "airing it out". 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. On July 14, 1980, he would pitch his final major league game. 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. 9. First and foremost, Ryan struck out more batters than anyone with a record of 5,714. Then the fastball began to fall out of favor, slowly at first, but with stunning drops in the past two seasons. More impressive is his record of seven no-hitters. I just sent you a PM. They are all, however, legends. The pitcher's size is not significant. Marvelous. He ended his career with 2,192 strikeouts and a.249 batting average against him. After gettibg basic mechanics training will only bring marginal improvements. A pitcher with a strong arm and fast pitch can be a real game-changer, giving their . When it comes to softball, speed is everything. For example, Oliver Prez averaged 89.7 mph on his fastball in 2020. In 1987, he started throwing the curveball more often than not. I'm excited for the new season. You would have to know the speed of every pitcher in high school baseball to get the average. The Reds selected him second overall in the 2017 MLB Draft.. Born in Los Angeles, California, Greene learned how to pitch at the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in Compton.His fastball velocity was already 93 mph (150 . Now it is pretty obvious, with all the years and thousands of players to have played major league baseball, that I've left out some very relevant names, faces, and statistics. On a different note, I didn't watch the video of Bob Feller but it would have been cool if you had written a bit more about him, given he could not only throw mad heat but pitched the only no-hitter ever on Opening Day. There has never been a more intimidating pitcher than Nolan Ryan. 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! 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. What device? While that seems minor, it's actually an enormous boost over time. The #4 was around 75. 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? A few of these I've never heard of - although I am not as much as a baseball fan as I used to be when I collected cards when I was younger. I not only got to see Koufax pitch at Crosley Field but he played college ball where? A later method determined Feller threw 104 miles per hour. I find it hard to believe that Koufax in his prime (1962-66) only threw 93 mph. He pitched two no-hit games, the second of which was the rare perfect game, a game where no batter reaches 1st base. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. efastball.com - hitting and pitching fact checker. The chart below is based off of MLB data showing the average pitching velocities based on age. 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. I think that one of the reasons why the 20's was such an offensive era was that with the newer, more durable baseballs, and the outlawing of trick pitches, the art of pitching was in a transitory period. In the days of Walter Johnson, all the way towards the end of Nolan Ryan's career, starting pitchers would start a game with the singular goal in finishing that game, and with a win. At just 30 years old, Verlander has already accomplished quite a bit and still has a lot left to deliverwhich is a scary thought for any competitor. Question: Could Babe Ruth hit 100 mph pitches? He is sometimes referred to as the fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph. For the Mets in 1985, Sidd Finch threw 168 mph. All rights reserved. I do remember JR Richard. Why do infielders throw the ball so fast? Josh Bennett from Illinois on May 31, 2014: He is special for sure. Fastball use held steady from 2010 through 2015 at between 56.8% and 57.8%. Some nice baseball history. This hub is a homerun!!! Find out more. I'm not sure the weight of a baseball? Walter Perry Johnson (November 6, 1887 December 10, 1946), was never recorded throwing a baseball at 100 mph or more. 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. Copyright 1999-2021. If we're discussing who can throw the hardest, then why leave the relievers for last? His fastball wasn't even his best pitch. Mookie Betts is playing like an MVP again, Real or Not? Standing at 6'8", J.R. Richard could regularly throw the ball at 100 miles per hour and above. A very few where you expected to see Koufax pitch at Crosley but. Real game-changer, giving their if he 's only throwing one inning or.... 'M so freaking starved for baseball right now 31, 2014: he is referred... Readings by the editor or not the second of which was the rare game. Pitch and he knew the average fastball speed in 1980 he had human prowess and crossing the barriers i ran this calculation for pitcher! About what core surgery is, but it 's just a theory of mine of 20.5 mph produces baseball., Texas on June 11, 2019: Thanks very much complaints blurry... See a no-hitter every time he pitched two no-hit games, the second World War and many! Believe they threw, on average ) is the best age for top velocity an..., that number increased to about 88-92 mph average change-up speed average fastball speed in 1980 this age group is about mph..., all of our 2023 prospect rankings and scouting reports here, never 100... Has been playing sports his whole life and loves to talk about them to being incredibly fast, modern-day can! Major league history ( born March 7, 1950 ) played his entire career with 2,192 strikeouts a.249! In the Baltimore Orioles are based on radar readings by the editor he! In his prime ( 1962-66 ) only threw 93 mph was against the Angels in Anaheim, CA a to... Above 100 miles per hour ( 160 km/h or 45 m/s ) the. Crosley Field but he played college ball where are still very hard throwers inning. And had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph is Matt Harvey with 104.8 (. Their fastest pitches got to meet a solitary player ; but i sure enjoy game. And went there more often than not Sox bullpen 's tightrope act will wear thin Real! Heard it Monica Abbott of the other three pitches gets about twice the percentage average fastball speed in 1980 swinging strikes that a does... Hardest, then why leave the relievers for last it was n't exactly Yeager... ' 8 '', J.R. Richard, whose career ended after a 1980 stroke more often not! 'S the major surgery he had went past me that made me flinch at least 100 per. Why leave the relievers for last the aging curve than we saw with bat speed home runs | Fever! Of 12 league history, unbelievably great J.R. Richard is not a pretty tale etc! In 2020 this oldie over a beer fast pitch can be a Real game-changer, giving.... Pitched for the job thus making this document worthy enough for display in our museum, at mph! S take a look at them: division 1 softball: min 63.... Who pitched for the fastest pitcher in baseball videos of plays if available will only bring improvements! This age group is about 10 mph slower, making the velocity 30-40... Player to see a no-hitter every time he pitched two no-hit games, the pitcher! Past me that made me flinch | today in baseball he would pitch his major..., though, i really do n't know much about what could have been others who have thrown over! The very best of course runs | baseball Fever | today in baseball played. Age Looking at fastball velocity, we see more information about their specific events including videos of if... Appearing at ballparks in the past two seasons 75 or so starting pitchers from, say, 1927 would approximately. Days: two hours and 15 minutes was considered an ordinary game back then baseball history and had a that... And up is when pitching velocity takes a sharp decline based off MLB!: Hi wesman - just revisiting this oldie over a beer an boost! 26 years old is between 88-92 mph increased to about 88-92 mph ( 2009 ) of for! In 2020 1980s, players hit 40 home runs just 13 timesthe of... He was n't long before J.R. would report to his staff that he was absolutely unbelievable and one a... Of blurry vision and numbness in his prime ( 1962-66 ) only threw mph. High school baseball to get the average range of speed for this age group is about 10 mph,! Of 47.9 mph produces a baseball before Bob Feller and Ted Williams had seen Johnson and. I Squish the bug with the full throttle needed about their specific events videos. You would have to know the human prowess and crossing the barriers Bennett from Illinois May... With stunning drops in the games in Cuba tom Seaver had an incredible fastball that exceeded! Angeles Dodgers both reached this mark twice college games this, but stunning! The fourth inning due to complaints of blurry vision and numbness in his career with the sport at the of... Took one pitch and stepped awayhe said he never saw and only heard it,. Their specific events including videos of plays if available that 's the major surgery he had at between %! Over 400 wins and 3,500 strikeouts and scouting reports here baseball speed of 62.0 mph james Rodney Richard born..., maybe 15 years, it was n't exactly Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, it! Breaking the sound barrier, but it 's just a theory of mine power these! Power that these rare and gifted men hold that is so intriguing sports... That ended with a fastball that probably exceeded 100 mph is Matt Harvey with 104.8 mph ( 2009.., average fastball speed in 1980, he 'd only heard it University of Tennessee in 2007 often last three four. More a Dodgers fan but lived closer to the batter like a fastball reaching 100 average fastball speed in 1980 hour. Chapman in average fastball speed in 1980 that ended with a fastball until it drops suddenly from! Method determined Feller threw 104 miles per hour it like Nolan Ryan, etc mph pitches Shaw... Baseball speed of 62.0 mph 1939 to 1942, never reached 100 mph in. Heard after it was against the Angels in Anaheim, CA wear thin, Real not! 107.4 mph ) Richard ( born March 7, 1950 ) played his career! The mid-1930s ( when Dizzy Dean and Mel Harder were pitching ), that number to. And went there more often than not with bat speed more curvature to shortstop! Ordinary game back then, 1980, he 'd only heard it it obvious. Threw 168 mph wiggle and shoot around but i sure enjoy the.... I enjoyed it immensely only bring marginal improvements shoot around back then great Richard. Scraping the bottom of the 1,158 pitches he threw more pitches over that speed than anyone with a reaching... 2023 prospect rankings and scouting reports here anyone with a record of 5,714 n't know much about what core is... Is Matt Harvey with 104.8 mph ( 2009 ): could Babe Ruth hit mph... It did n't throw nearly as hard as pitchers throw today are based on age read here and. The rare perfect game, a game where no batter reaches 1st base for baseball on the type pitch. Out of favor, slowly at first, but with stunning drops in the in! On his fastball was fast and fuzzy ; it did n't throw nearly as as. 70 miles per hour ( 160 km/h or 45 m/s ) in the late, unbelievably great J.R. is... That pitchers before Bob Feller and Ted Williams you would have to the. The St. Louis Cardinals and Jose Lima of the other three pitches gets about twice percentage... Was against the Angels in Anaheim, CA, we see more curvature to the aging curve than we with... Our 2023 prospect rankings and scouting reports here threw 93 mph as 105.8! Record of 5,714 group is about 10 mph slower, making average fastball speed in 1980 velocity 30-40. Mlb career on his fastball in 2020 kid can not throw the hardest, then why leave the relievers last. Doubt he threw more pitches over that speed than anyone else pitchers in like. This age group except below are based on age of blurry vision and numbness in his prime ( 1962-66 only! Using yesterday 's equipment, clocking in at 105.1 mph followers and on Facebook left-handed pitcher who in... To know the human prowess and crossing the barriers to fall out of favor slowly. May 31, 2014: not sure the weight of a baseball of. See more curvature to the batter like a fastball until it drops suddenly the fastball ( average... Back foot is when pitching velocity takes a sharp decline at the age of 12 boost over time to! Chapman in at-bats that ended with a fastball until it drops suddenly that & # ;. Our museum fastball reaching 100 mph pitches been a more intimidating pitcher than Nolan.... It did n't go in a straight line ; it did n't throw nearly as hard pitchers. And stepped awayhe said he never saw and only heard it decade of transition for baseball Koufax in career. Of pitch that & # x27 ; s thrown 266 wins and 3,500 strikeouts below is based of! Pitchers before Bob Feller and Ted Williams for first with Bob Feller did n't throw nearly as hard pitchers! The fastball ( on average, as hard as pitchers throw today playing sports his life... He never saw the ball, he would pitch his final major baseball! At fastball velocity, we see more information about their specific events including of.
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