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Desnudo · 07-04-2005, 04:26 PM

http://baseballguru.com/attiyeh/bbread20.html

Was the fastest pitch ever, 101 MPH?

Kimberly wrote:

At the water cooler I overheard a co-worker claim that the fastest timed pitch thrown in major league baseball was 101 mph. Hasn't Clemons and Johnson both topped that mark ?

Mike Attiyeh's Response

Hello Kimberly,

On official record, the fastest and most accurately recorded pitch during a major league game remains 100.9 mph, registered by Californias Nolan Ryan on August 20, 1974 at Anaheim Stadium.

Reliever Billy Koch, I recently heard during a radio broadcast, may have topped the speed - but on a fast gun.

Some believe Bob Feller was clocked at 98.6 miles per hour in 1947. And according to a fellow SABR member whose name I forgot, the great Walter Johnson was clocked using a different, raw system more than eight decades ago in the high 80s, without a warmup, mind you, and in civilian clothes. Johnson was a "Big Train" indeed.

So Kimberly, while Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens do throw fast, they have yet to officially top Ryans legendary mark, from what I have gathered.

I hope I have helped,

Mike Attiyeh

07-04-2005, 04:26 PM	#23
Desnudo Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Here and There	http://baseballguru.com/attiyeh/bbread20.html Was the fastest pitch ever, 101 MPH? Kimberly wrote: At the water cooler I overheard a co-worker claim that the fastest timed pitch thrown in major league baseball was 101 mph. Hasn't Clemons and Johnson both topped that mark ? Mike Attiyeh's Response Hello Kimberly, On official record, the fastest and most accurately recorded pitch during a major league game remains 100.9 mph, registered by Californias Nolan Ryan on August 20, 1974 at Anaheim Stadium. Reliever Billy Koch, I recently heard during a radio broadcast, may have topped the speed - but on a fast gun. Some believe Bob Feller was clocked at 98.6 miles per hour in 1947. And according to a fellow SABR member whose name I forgot, the great Walter Johnson was clocked using a different, raw system more than eight decades ago in the high 80s, without a warmup, mind you, and in civilian clothes. Johnson was a "Big Train" indeed. So Kimberly, while Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens do throw fast, they have yet to officially top Ryans legendary mark, from what I have gathered. I hope I have helped, Mike Attiyeh