Influences and Inspiration: Grew up idolizing power pitchers like Nolan Ryan.
College Milestone: Hit 100 mph during junior year in college.
Historical Comparisons: Curious about comparisons with past legends like Bob Feller, Walter Johnson, Sandy Koufax.
Bob Feller's Motorcycle Test: Demonstration of speed without radar guns - Feller's pitch caught up to a motorcycle at 86 mph.
Modern Era and Advancements
21st Century Baseball: Dominated by technology, data, statistics, and specialization.
Core Essence: Still remains a primal battle between pitcher and hitter.
Legendary Fastball Throwers
Intimidating Pitchers: Fear and intimidation key to being a successful power pitcher (Goose Gossage known for this).
Iconic Rivalries: Pitcher vs. hitter dynamics - e.g., powerful matchups between kids and veterans.
Measurement of Fastballs
Evolution of Speed Measurement: Initially with crude methods like military ballistics; later, more precise radar guns.
Earliest Known Measurements (1912): Walter Johnson's fastball measured through breaking copper wires over a distance, leading to a speed of 83.2 mph (corrected to 93.8 mph).
Mythical Speeds and Comparisons
Aroldis Chapman: Modern fastball king, hitting 105.1 mph.
Bob Feller (1946): Speed of 98.6 mph as measured by Army equipment (corrected to 107.6 mph).
Nolan Ryan (1974): Recorded 100.8 mph pitch (corrected to 108.5 mph), considered the fastest.
Famous Pitchers and Fastballs
Steve Dalkowski: Legendary minor league pitcher, reputed to have the fastest pitch ever but never reached the major leagues due to control issues.
Sandy Koufax: Renowned for consistently fast and accurately placed fastballs, famous 1965 perfect game.
Nolan Ryan: Set numerous records for strikeouts and no-hitters, longevity in maintaining high-velocity pitches.
Impact and Legacy
Nolan Ryan's Career Longevity: Continued throwing high-velocity pitches into his 40s, setting records for strikeouts and no-hitters.
Pitching as an Art: Requires both physical ability and strategic finesse, balancing speed with control and intimidation.
The Physics of Fastballs
Magnus Effect: Influence of spin on a pitched baseball causing it to rise or follow a specific trajectory, contributing to misconceptions of a 'rising fastball.'
Human Limits and Reaction Time: Reaction times and physiological abilities define the upper limits of pitching speed and hitting ability.
Conclusion
Timelessness of the Game: Despite advancements and changes, the essence of pitching remains – the primal contest between a hard throw and a hitter trying to react. The game balance set by 60 feet 6 inches from the pitcher to the batter remains perfect and unchanged, maintaining the challenging dynamics of baseball.