What IS THE FASTEST PITCH EVER RECORDED IN A MAJOR LEAGUE GAME, WHO THREW IT,AND ON WHAT DATE??

Question

I AM GOING TO NEED A SOURCE ON THIS ONE!!! I CAN'T SEEM TO COME ACROSS THE ANSWER....

I DO NOT UNDERSTANT THESE ANSWERS,AS THE TIGERS HAVE HAD 2 PITCHERS HIT AT LEAST 101 THIS SEASON....ZUMAYA HIT 104

Answer 1

100.9 mph by Lynn Nolan Ryan (California Angels) at Anaheim Stadium in California on August 20, 1974.

Answer 2

From Baseball Almanac:

Radar guns now routinely measure the modern pitcher's performance and the magic fastball number is now set at 100 miles per hour. Scoreboards in nearly every ballpark - including High Schools - now flash pitch speeds for the world to see. Breaking the 100 mph plateau makes news that can often travel to the front office at nearly the same speed. "You should see the scouts, " said Braves speed gun handler Jim Guadagno, "They're like kids with new toys when they see that 100 light up on their guns. Three digits! Nobody else in the league can do that." The pitcher Guadagno was referring to was Mark Wohlers and since then other hurlers have joined this unique fraternity:

"100 MPH Club"
(top ten only)
In Order by Fastest Observed Speed

Pitcher Radar Speed Date Location
Mark Wohlers 103.0 mph 1995 Spring Training
Armando Benitez 102.0 mph 05-24-2002 Shea Stadium
Bobby Jenks 102.0 mph 08-27-2005 Safeco Field
Randy Johnson 102.0 mph 07-09-2004 Pacific Bell Park
Robb Nen 102.0 mph 10-23-1997 Jacobs Field
Joel Zumaya 102.0 mph 06-11-2006 Rogers Centre
A.J. Burnett 101.0 mph 05-31-2005 PNC Park
Rob Dibble 101.0 mph 06-08-1992 Candlestick Park
Kyle Farnsworth 101.0 mph 05-26-2004 Minute Maid Park
Eric Gagne 101.0 mph 04-16-2004 Pacific Bell Park

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. If you want to share an another or provide an accurate game date for those we have in the chart please send us an email.

So who is the fastest pitcher in baseball? Baseball Almanac honestly does not know. Major League Baseball does not recognize radar speeds as an official statistic. 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. 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.

Answer 3

Radar guns have too much variance. Johan Santana can be clocked at 97mph in one game and only topping out at 93mph the next. Unfortunately, there is no way to be consistent across ballparks and days, for that matter.

That being said, there is no recording of speeds of pitches in the history books. The current Guinness Book of World Records holder is Nolan Ryan clocked at 100.9mph on August 20, 1974 against Bee Bee Richard of the Chicago White Sox on a 3-2 high fastball in the 9th inning. Yes, the 9th inning!

Answer 4

It's in dispute, but Nolan Ryan is given credit.

Fastest recorded pitch: 100.9 mph. California Angels flamethrower Nolan Ryan's 100.9 mph pitch against the Chicago White Sox in 1974 is still listed as the fastest "recorded" pitch, but many would argue with this, citing the difference in radar gun calibration. Among those thought to have thrown pitches over 100 mph are Walter Johnson, Bob Feller, and Rob Dibble, along with current pitchers Billy Koch, Robb Nen, Randy Johnson, and Mark Wohlers. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/sportsup1.html

Answer 5

You asked for a source. This seasons stats are not yet in the record books. On all the websites with composite statistics (stats for all players on all teams) the last accessible year is 2005.

I took a quick look at the MLB.com web site, they have MANY sortable stats for THIS year. I spent a few minutes there, and could not find it. You may wish to spend some time checking there if noone here can come up with an attributable answer.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/stats/index.jsp

Answer 6

102 mph. 2004

Answer 7

Your mom, 550 mph, last night in bed