Fastest Pitchers Ever Recorded in MLB

2010 Season

We have not updated this report for the 2010 season, except for the Chapman pitch on 9/24/2010 at 105.1 mph vs Tony Gwynn

2009 Season Fastest Pitchers 100+ (qty 100+ for year)

16 pitchers threw 100+ mph in 2009.

• 102.7 (138),Joel Zumaya (Tigers), 6/30/2009, Oakland Coliseum
• 102.6 (39), Jonathan Broxton (Dodgers), 7/3/2009, PETCO Park
• 102.2 (16), Brian Wilson (Giants), 9/5/2009, Miller Park
• 101.3 (12), Daniel Bard (Red Sox), 7/30/2009, Fenway Park
• 101.1 (14), Neftali Feliz (rangers), 8/7/2009, Angel Stadium Anaheim
• 101.0 (15), Justin Verlander (Tigers), 9/19/2009, Metrodome

10 other pitchers threw 100+ but less than 101 mph. Bobby Parnell 100.9 (3), Henry Rodriguez 100.6 (11), Ubaldo Jimenez 100.6 (14), Juan Morillo 100.3 (1), Matt Lindstrom 100.2 (1), Merkin Valdez 100.2 (1), Kyle Farnsworth 100.2 (4), Fernando Rodney 100.1 (1), Kevin Jepsen 100.0 (1), and Mark Lowe 100.0 (1).

In the 2009 World Series, no 100+ mph pitches were thrown - Joba Chamberlain was fastest at 97.1 on 11/1/2009. In the 2009 postseason, 3 100+ mph pitches were thrown - Jonathan Broxton 101.3 (2), Daniel Bard 100.6 (3), and Ubaldo Jimenez 100.0 (4).

2008 Season Fastest Pitchers 100+ (qty 100+ for year)

10 pitchers threw 100+ mph in 2008.

• 101.0 (12), Jonathan Broxton (Dodgers), 8/21/2008, Dodger Stadium
• 101.0 (9), Matt Lindstrom (Marlins), 7/10/2008, Dodger Stadium
• 101.0 (32), Joel Zumaya (Tigers), 6/20/2008, PETCO Park

7 other pitchers threw 100+ but less than 101 mph. Ervin Santana (2), Ubaldo Jimenez (3), Fernando Rodney (1), Brian Wilson (1), Joba Chamberlain (1), Juan Morillo (3).

In the 2008 World Series, no 100+ mph pitches were thrown.

Nolan Ryan's Delivery

Nolan Ryan - The Fastest - 108.1 mph FFE in 1974

   Ryan's 2nd fastest pitch 9/7/1974 (a)

Compare Nolan Ryan and Joel Zumaya

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Our best estimate is that Nolan Ryan's pitch in 1974 was 108.1 mph FFE using today's standard of measurement at 50 feet from the plate.

Nolan Ryan was recorded by some Rockwell International scientists (likely by a coherent laser radar) at 100.9 mph, at 9-10 feet from plate (h), on 8/20/1974 in Anaheim Stadium (Angels) and the speed was verified by the Guinness Book of World Records (a). This record stands to this day.

The news of the new record created such a sensation that the Angels decided to have a promotion where fans would get to guess Ryan's fastest speed at the next home game. Ryan's pitch in that game reached 100.8 mph (at 9-10 feet from plate) on 9/7/1974 (a). See chart.

Today's pitch speeds are measured from 50 feet away from the plate, but Ryan's was measured at 10 feet. Pitch speeds drop 8-11 mph (average 9 mph) from 50 ft away to the front of the plate. So we must add 6-8 mph to the speed measured by Rockwell in order to be equivalent to today's readings.

Therefore, Nolan Ryan's pitching speed as measured today would be at minimum 106 mph and could have been as high as 110 mph.

How did we arrive at 108.1 mph? The facts are 100.9 at 10 feet, plus 9 mph drop per 50 feet. So add 7.2 mph (9/50*40) to 100.9 to get 108.1 mph.

In the Sports Illustrated article Speed Trap For An Angel on 9/16/1974 Ron Fimrite reported:

As Ryan mowed down the Chicago White Sox 3-1 last Saturday for his 18th win of the season, a team of electronics technicians from Rockwell International fidgeted upstairs in the press box with some complicated radar timing equipment. The results supported Ryan's own contention that he throws harder in the late innings, for his fastest pitch of the night was the third one he threw to the Sox' Bee Bee Richard, who led off the ninth inning. Rockwell timed that high hard one at 100.8 mph, exceeding the 98.6 mph once recorded by Bob Feller with entirely different equipment.

Under less official conditions Ryan had thrown even faster. During an 11-inning game on Aug. 20 in which Ryan fanned 19 Detroit Tigers, the technicians timed two of his pitches at 100.9 miles per hour.

Bob Feller - 2nd Fastest - 107.6 mph FFE in 1946

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In early 1946, the Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith set up an exhibition game against the Cleveland Indians and, in an effort to boost sagging attendance, started a promotion where he told fans they could see how fast the Indians' Bob Feller could throw. He borrowed a photo-electric cell device from the Aberdeen, MD ordinance plant so Feller could pitch through it just prior to the game.(j)(q) These devices were used to measure the speed of artillery rounds during the war.

The problem was, he never told Feller until he got to the field. So on August 20, 1946, Bob Feller threw approximately 30 pitches in front of 31,000 fans (20,000 more than normal) into a device the newsreels called a "luma line chronograph" using "photo electric cells".

He pitched from the mound through a v-shaped opening in the device located just in front of the plate.

His fastest speed recorded was 98.6 mph, but the measurement took place at home plate, or 60 feet from release. To compare his speed to others, you must add the average 9 mph speed drop from 50ft to the plate. Therefore, his pitch speed was 107.6 mph at the equivalent 50 ft mark.

From "Now Pitching, Bob Feller" by Bob Feller and Bill Gilbert, 2002, p. 128-129

Clark Griffith... announced that I would throw some pitches through a special photoelectric measuring device at home plate so my fastball could be clocked in those days before radar guns. He announced the test a week before the Indians came to Washington, and he had a large crowd in his ball park the night of the test. Mr. Griffith came in... He told me it was about time to get out there and start throwing smoke. I told him as soon as he paid me for it. I asked him for $1,000 and settled for $700 before leaving the clubhouse to do it.
For my 700 bucks, I threw several balls through an opening in that photoelectric machine, and 31,000 fans watched almost in silence as they awaited the announcement of the speeds recorded by the machine, which came from Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.

How does that compare to Nolan Ryan?
Ryans' plate speed would have been at least 99 mph (100.9 less 2 mph reduction per 10 feet) and was roughly 0.4 mph faster than Feller's 98.6 mph at the plate.

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Joel Zumaya - 4th Fastest - 104.8 mph in 2006

The Detroit Tiger's Joel Zumaya threw 104.8 mph (93.7 mph plate speed) on 10/10/2006 in a post-season game (the first game in the American League Championship series where they beat Oakland 5-1) at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland. It was 63° with the wind blowing left to right when the game started. Oakland's Frank Thomas was the 2nd batter he faced in the 8th inning. The record-breaking throw was the 3rd pitch on a 1-1 count and was thrown outside for a ball.

This was measured at 45-50 feet away from the plate using MLB's very accurate gameday video system that is in use today.

How does that compare to Nolan Ryan?
Ryans' plate speed would have been at least 99 mph (100.9 less 2 mph reduction per 10 feet) and was roughly 5 mph faster than Zumaya's 93.7 mph at the plate.

June 2009 - 102.7 mph

This is the 104 mph Fox radar display on 6/23/2009 after striking out Milton Bradley in the 8th. The actual Pitch F/X readings for Zumaya vs. Bradley were 101.4 (swinging strike), 102.7 (ball), 101.6 (foul), and 102.2 mph for the above strikeout pitch. So this gun was either 1.3+ mph too fast, or it happened to pick up the speed within the first 3-4 feet out of his hand, or before 50 feet from the plate.

Zumaya threw another 102.7 mph pitch on 6/30/2009 in the 7th inning against Oakland's Matt Holliday for a foul tip on a 3-2 count.

June 23, 2006 104 mph radar

Several sources indicate that Zumaya threw a pitch on 6/23/2006 in the 10th against the Cardinals which registered 104 mph on stadium radar - 4 others were 100+. We are told the announcer said the reading could not have been right (haha).

Understanding Pitch Speed Measurements

Most important - Where was the pitch measured?

A 100 mph fastball pitch will lose 8-11 mph (average 9 mph) from just out of the pitchers hand (50 feet way) until it reaches the front of the plate.

Was the measurement taken at the plate? 50 feet away? Most confusion over comparing pitch speeds arises over this issue.

Radar guns can provide fastest speed, slowest speed and average speed. So, on a 100 mph pitch a gun could provide readings of 100, 91 and 96 mph on the same pitch. Different parks and venues display different readings.

Where along the flight path was the fastest speed measured? Nobody knows. So, it's possible a radar gun could provide a slower than actual reading if the gun caught the ball closer to the plate.

However, a radar gun should not provide a reading that is too high (except for rounding up), regardless of what you read in blogs and articles.

How accurate is MLB Enhanced Gameday pitching speed?

Very accurate. There is no more accurate system for measuring pitch speed. The MLB Enhanced Gameday system was started in the 2006 postseason. They rolled out the system to 28 of the 30 parks in 2007. At the start of the 2008 season, all 30 ballparks had this capability. (g)

This system does not use radar guns. Each park's system utilizes 3 high speed video cameras (30 frames per second), a setup crew to layout a grid before each game, and a crew in the truck sizing up each batter, pitcher and pitch using computer software.

This system provides 2 different speed stats - 50 feet from the plate and just in front of the plate.

See our Top Gun list for the fastest pitchers this season.

Radar Guns

Stadium Radar Gun Displays

Radar guns are regularly lampooned unfairly in the press and in blogs. Radar gun readings are very accurate, but they may vary by gun brand. The best are within 0.5 mph because they display results rounded to the nearest 1 mph. Home guns can be within 1.0 mph. That's very accurate.

Radar Guns only give slower readings not faster readings

The gun may give a slower reading if the angle of the gun is not the same angle as the pitched ball. The bigger the difference, the slower the reading.

The biggest confusion over gun readings is where the reading is taken from (how far is the ball from the plate?). Was the reading out of the pitcher's hand, over the plate, or somewhere in the middle? Some guns pick up the fastest speed, some pick up the speed at 15 feet out of the hand, some over the plate, etc. Obviously, the ball will be fastest right out of the pitcher's hand and will slow down as much as 11 mph as it approaches the plate.

Given the above, it is unlikely that a radar gun would ever provide a reading that is over 2 mph too high.

However, there would be inconsistencies between parks as the gun may be shooting at different plate distances.

Coherent Laser Radar (Doppler)

From Tom Lederer in Remembering the Ryan Express in Baseball Analysts quotes the 9/2/1974 LA Times article by Dan Hafner giving a preview of the 9/7 event:

A device called a coherent infrared radar, developed by Rockwell International, will measure the velocity of Ryan's fastball. Other devices have clocked nine other major league fireballers and the fastest of the nine was Bob Feller, at 98.6 m.p.h. in 1946. The Cleveland star was 27, Ryan's age now.

But the comparison will be exact. Rockwell International calls its device the most sophisticated ever used to measure the speed of a thrown baseball.

The machine will operate from the press box, making use of a phenomenon called the Doppler frequency shift.

The infrared beam from a low-power transmitter is aimed at a spot 9 or 10 feet in front of home plate. Because infrared wave lengths are 20 times longer than those of visible light waves, the beam cannot be seen.

As the ball crosses the beam, the waves are compressed by the motion of the ball and reflected back to the equipment. The returning waves have less spacing between them than when they were transmitted. The device measures that difference to determine the ball's speed.

There's no guarantee that Ryan's fastest pitch will be timed. The narrower the beam, the more accurate the measurement, so the beam will be narrowed to the width of home plate. Ryan, who is sometimes wild, may miss it with his best throw.

100+ mph Pitchers Measured with Radar Guns

Only pitchers that were measured and documented are listed

Mark Wohlers - 4th Fastest - 103 mph in 1995

Mark Wohlers threw 103 mph several times on the stadium radar gun during a March 1995 Spring Training Game against the Marlins in Joe Robbie Stadium.(p)

102 mph (radar)

• Bobby Jenks (b), 8/27/2005, Safeco Field (Mariners), Seattle (103 mph in Winter ball) (r)
• Randy Johnson (b), 7/9/2004, Pac Bell Park (SF Giants), San Fran
• Brad Lidge, Astros (c), 2006 season
• Matt Lindstrom (b), 5/16/2007, PNC Park (Pirates), Pittsburgh
• Justin Verlander (b,d,e), 6/12/2007, Comerica Park (Tigers), Detroit
  
  Former Players
• Armando Benitez (b), 5/24/2002, Shea Stadium (Mets), NYC
• Robb Nen (b), 10/23/1997, Jacobs Field (Indians), Cleveland

101 mph (radar)

• David Aardsma, Cubs (c), 2006 season
• Jonathan Broxton (b,d), 6/26/2007, Chase Field (DBacks), Arizona
• A.J. Burnett (b), 5/31/2005, PNC Park (Pirates), Pittsburgh
• Daniel Cabrera, Orioles (c), 2006 season
• Joba Chamberlain (b), 8/24/2007, Comerica Park (Tigers), Detroit
• Francisco Cordero, Brewers (c), 2006 season
• Manny Delcarmen, Red Sox (c), 2006 season
• Kyle Farnsworth (b,f), 5/26/2004, Minute Maid Park (Astros), Houston
• Eric Gagne (b), 4/16/2004, Pac Bell Park (SF Giants), San Fran
• Mark Lowe, Mariners (c), 2006 season
• Seth McClung (b,d), 8/21/2007, Chase Field (DBacks), Arizona
• Guillermo Mota (b), 7/24/2002, Qualcomm Stadium (Padres), San Diego
• Joe Nathan, Twins (c), 2006 season
• Tony Pena (b), 6/7/2007, AT&T Park (SF Giants), San Fran
• Billy Wagner (b,d), 7/30/2003, Turner Field (Braves), Atlanta
  
  Former Players
• Rob Dibble (b), 6/8/1992, Candlestick Park (SF Giants)
• Jose Mesa (b), 5/1/1993, Cleveland Stadium (Indians)

100 mph (radar)

• Josh Beckett (b), 10/12/2003, Pro Player Park (Marlins), Miami
• Bartolo Colon (b), 10/6/1999, Jacobs Field (Indians), Cleveland
• Rich Harden (b), 5/13/2005, McAfee Stadium (A's), Oakland
• Ubaldo Jimenez (b,d), 9/10/2007, Citizens Bank Park (Phillies), Phila.
• Jorge Julio (b), 9/16/2004, Skydome (Blue Jays), Toronto - and again in 2006 (c)
• Brandon League (b), 7/14/2006, Rogers Centre (Blue Jays), Toronto
• Radhames Liz (b,d), 8/25/2007, Oriole Park (Orioles), Baltimore
• Dustin McGowan (b,d), 10/2/2005, Rogers Centre (Blue Jays), Toronto
• C.C. Sabathia (b), 6/28/2002, Jacobs Field (Indians), Cleveland
• Ben Sheets (b), 7/10/2004, Miller Park (Brewers), Milwaukee
• Rafael Soriano (b,d), 5/4/2007, Turner Field (Braves), Atlanta
• Derrick Turnbow (b), 5/27/2005, Miller Park (Brewers), Milwaukee
• Kerry Wood (b,d), 8/10/2005, Wrigley Field (Cubs), Chicago
  
  Former Players
• Roger Clemens (b), 10/10/2001, Yankee Stadium, New York
• J.R. Richard (b), 5/25/1976, Candlestick Park (SF Giants), San Francisco

Before Radar Guns

Only pitchers that were measured and documented are listed

Steve Dalkowski
5'11" 170 lbs.

Steve Dalkowski - 6th Fastest - 102.5 mph FFE in 1958

In 1958 the Orioles sent Dalkowski to Aberdeen Proving Grounds .. was clocked at 93.5 mph (m) where he threw through a metal box the width of home plate through which a laser was beamed. (n) We understand he pitched into an opening that was used to test bullet/ artillery speeds. He also did not pitch from a mound.

So if we add the 9 mph average speed reduction from the 50ft mark to the plate to get today's equivalent speed, his speed would range from 101.5 to 104.5 and was likely 102.5 mph.

More on White Lightning Dalkowski:

• "The Wildest Pitcher", Time Magazine, 7/18/1960
• Jeff Hause, "Steve "White Lightning" Dalkowski, Sports Hollywood, 8/31/2001
• Peter Handrinos Interview with Dalkowski, 10/3/2005

Figure 1 - Sep 1939 Popular Science article showing pitching tests in Cleveland
#11 was not a pitcher. There was no #33 on the roster, so that must be one of the coaches. Manager Ossie Vitt was #26.

• Walter Johnson in 1912 (k), 122 fps (83.1 mph) at 75 ft plate, or 95.1 mph FFE
• Walter Johnson in 1917 (m), 134 fps (91.4 mph) at 20 ft away, or 93.4 mph FFE
  
• Nap Rucker in 1912 (k), 113 fps (77.0 mph) at 75 ft plate, or 89 mph FFE
• Johnny Humphries of Cleveland in 1939 (m), 127 fps (86.6 mph) at 20 ft away, or 88.6 mph FFE
• Christy Mathewson in 1917 (m), 127 fps (86.6 mph) at 20 ft away, or 88.6 mph FFE
• Smokey Joe Wood in 1917 (m), 124 fps (84.5 mph) at 20 ft away, or 86.5 mph FFE
• Van Mungo in 1933, 113 fps (77.0 mph) at 60 ft plate, or 86 mph FFE
• Jimmy Foxx of Boston in 1939 (m), 122 fps (83.2 mph) at 20 ft away, or 85.2 mph FFE
• Lefty Gomez in 1933, 111 fps (75.7 mph) at 60 ft plate, or 84.7 mph FFE
• Bob Feller of Cleveland in 1939 (m), 119 fps (81.1 mph) at 20 ft away, or 83.1 mph FFE

Sources

• (a) As told by the Tom Lederer, the pitcher who first tested the laser in Rockwell's parking lot, at BaseballAnalysts.com. Note the Angels were scared to call the device by it's correct name, laser radar, and instead called it "infrared radar" in the press.
• (b) Taken from stadium radar gun during a game per baseball-almanac.com
• (c) Per ESPN.com Jerry Crasnick article sources Damon Lichtenwalner, Baseball Info Solutions.
• (d) Baseball Almanac has image of stadium readings
• (e) Justin Verlander threw 100 mph 19 times in 2006 per ESPN above.
• (f) Kyle Farnsworth threw 100+ 26 times in 2006.
• (g) Per MLB article 10/2/2007
• (h) Dan Hafner in the 9/2/1974 LA Times said "The infrared beam from a low-power transmitter is aimed at a spot 9 or 10 feet in front of home plate."
• (j) From the book "Ebbets to Veeck to Busch: Eight Owners Who Shaped Baseball", by Alan Boxerman, 2003
• (k) Per "Walter Johnson, Baseball's Big Train", by Henry Thomas, pp. 104-105 and Baseball Magazine article by F.C. Lane
• (m) Per baseball-almanac.com
• (n) Per HardballTimes and Pete McEntegart, Sports Illustrated, 6/30/2003
• (p) Per Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated, 10/9/1995, and The Sporting News, 9/25/1995

  "Marlins pitching coach Larry Rothschild on Braves closer Mark Wohlers, after watching him consistently hit 103 on the speed gun... Wohlers wasn't under 100 the whole time"

• (q) Per NY Times April 15, 1990 article by Dave Anderson where he interviewed Feller

  My fastball was once timed at 98.6 mph by photo-electric cells at home plate, but by then it was losing speed, maybe as much as 15 mph. That was long before the radar gun they use now... On a radar gun, I would have averaged 105 to 107 mph.

• (r) Per MLB.com writer Doug Miller in a 4/21/2004 article:

  Jenks, 23, is one of the hardest-throwing prospects in baseball, with a fastball that regularly reaches 98-100 mph and registered 103 mph on a radar gun in Puerto Rico last winter.