Expert: Tony Hutchens Date: 6/7/2003 Subject: STEVE DALKOWSKI
Question I HAVE BEEN AN O'S FAN SINCE 1960,AND BEING FROM CONNECTICUT YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY YANKEE,RED SOX, AND MET FANS.STEVE DALKOWSKI HAS BEEN SAID TO BE THE FASTEST PITCHER OF ALL TIME,AND I RECENTLY VISITED HIM AT A REST HOME IN NEW BRITAIN CONNECTICUT.COULD YOU CONFIRM THAT HE WAS INDEED THE FASTEST PITCHER OF ALL TIME.I HAVE E-MAILED WBAL MANY TIMES ON DIFFERENT QUESTIONS,AND THE ONLY ONE TO EVER ANSWER ME WAS O'S ANNOUNCER JIM HUNTER.THE BALTIMORE SUN SPORTS DEPARTMENT ALSO DOES NOT REPLY.ONE LAST QUESTION,HOW CAN I GET SOME ORIOLE BUMPER STICKERS UP HERE IN CONNECTICUT.THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY YANKEE STICKERS UP HERE.THANK YOU,KEVIN FLAHERTY.
Answer Hello Kevin,
I'll be honest. I don't know of any possible way for us to know for sure who was the fastest pitcher of all time. That is because of the many variables involved. The accuracy of radar guns varies widely and it's impossible to compare the speed of a pitcher 40 years ago to today because of the variances involved in the guns themselves. Also, even if there were a way to be 100% accurate, what criteria would be used to judge the fastest? Would it be someone who routinely averages 96 miles per hour who's fastest pitch ever was 101? Or would the winner be someone who only averages 93 miles per hour but on one rare occasion threw one 103 mph? That's a tough and interesting question and I'm not sure there's a correct answer.
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