Who holds the record and what is the record for fastest pitch?
2006-10-23 11:11:25 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Fans, researchers, historians and even the players argue all the time about who was the fastest pitcher of all-time. 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 Chicago White Sox. A record that's still included in the book.
2006-10-23 11:25:29 · answer #1 · answered by Colin L 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are two styles of radar guns. The faster gun measures it it immediately upon the release; the slower gun measures it at the half-way point to the plate. I believe the second gun is more accurate because it is closer to the speed of the pitch when it reaches the batter.
There are several pitchers that were the fastest in their eras. First was Walter Johnson in the 1900's to the 1920's. Then came Bob Feller in the 1930's to 1950's. Some say that Nolan Ryan was even faster than them in the 1960's to the 1980's. Maybe the fastest ever was Steve Dalkowski of the Baltimore Orioles minor league system. It took dozens of pitches for him to even be close enough to the target to be accurately measured in the 1960's. Bob Feller was measured against a motorcycle; Walter Johnson never had the technology to measure him at all.
It is safe to say that one of these players threw the fastest of all time.
Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers is gaining acclaim as throwing 103 MPH. Depends on what gun is being used to measure as to how accurate it is. I'd rather look at the results rather than the speed.
2006-10-24 20:32:00 · answer #2 · answered by jpbofohio 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's hard to say...Nolan Ryan had the record at 100.9 a long time ago but I've seen armando benitez hit 101 before...but there is the issue of properly calibrated radar guns etc too...so we may never know...
2006-10-23 20:05:35 · answer #3 · answered by bigracingfan2002 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There's is no definitive record because not all radar guns are calibrated alike and therefore do not come up with the same results even on the same pitch.
2006-10-24 10:18:07 · answer #4 · answered by blueyeznj 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By Nolan Ryan in 1974. A fastball clocked at 100.9 miles per hour.
2006-10-23 18:14:08 · answer #5 · answered by San Jose 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sidd Finch in an April Fool's Day article in Sports Illustrated.
2006-10-24 09:57:45 · answer #6 · answered by Jim G 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Mark Wohlers was clocked at 103, but people like Walter Johnson/Cy Young were never clocked.
2006-10-23 19:42:51 · answer #7 · answered by coolrunnings 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
105. I forgot who threw it.
I do know Joel Zumaya has been clocked at 103 several times.
2006-10-23 18:17:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ummmmm... actually it wasn't 105, it was 103 BY Joel Zumaya!
2006-10-24 10:05:48 · answer #9 · answered by miamiman 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know one of the TIgers pitchers has hit 103 a couple of times!
Joe Zomaya (i think)
2006-10-23 18:46:59 · answer #10 · answered by Giants Fan! 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋