The Unsung Heroes
Despite the facts and records that we’ve listed here, there may be pitches in the past that break the current record holder, but we will never know that for sure. Hall of Fame member Bob Feller, for example, earned the respect of members who claimed he was one of the best pitchers of their time.
However, during that period, baseball radar guns were scarce. Army equipment and computations recorded one of his 1946 pitches at 107.9 mph. This is higher than the current record holder, but due to the disputed inaccuracies in computation, many claim the speed was only up to 102 mph.
Today, we have more advanced radar guns to determine pitch speeds accurately. At radargunsales.com, radar guns determine speeds with precision and accuracy so record-breaking moments never go by like this again.
Aroldis Chapman, 2010
Cuban-American Aroldis Chapman currently holds the world record for the fastest baseball pitch from a male player. According to the Guinness World Records, Chapman made the pitch on September 2010 in San Diego with a record of 105.1 mph. At the time, he was playing for the Cincinnati Reds against the San Diego Padres.
Nolan Ryan, 1974
Baseball fans debate whether Nolan Ryan, who lost his Guinness World Records title as the fastest pitcher, deserved to remain in the books as the fastest pitch thrower. In August 1974, a laser radar measured 100.9 mph from one of his throws.
However, some experts believe that his actual speed was more than this. The ball’s speed was recorded just before it crossed the plate. However, if the radar were in the standard position it is in today (the same position where radar guns recorded Chapman’s speeds), he would remain the record holder, as it would have measured 108.1 mph.
Jordan Hicks, 2018
Looking to the future, we may see a new record holder. Cardinals Rookie Jordan Hicks started Opening Day appearance strong and became the youngest pitcher to throw pitches over 101.6 mph. With an average velocity of 96.8, he is not far from reaching Chapman’s average speeds, according to the MLB.
Baseball fans should know some of these pitching records. While we may never know the real speeds of older games and Hall of Fame members who did not have the privilege of accurate radar gun technology we do today, we can look at the present and future baseball players knowing we have the equipment to record these moments accurately as they happen.
Gibson was in triple digits according to some YouTube doc or other that tried to standardize the measurement of fastballs.
Damn. Now I can’t remember if it was Gibson or Feller I n the doc.