About Geoff Expertise Huge baseball trivia lover! I will attempt to answer anything you can think of when it comes to major league baseball. I have a large reference library of all things baseball. Try to stump me!
Another question crept up in our circle this time regarding who is the fastest thrower in baseball. We always hear and see items regarding a pitchers' throwing speed and the radar gun but what about the shortstops throw or even the rightfielder. Is there any way to measure if a "fielder" is throwing the ball at 100 mph or better? When sportscasters say that so and so is the fastest pitcher that is one thing but what about the fastest thrower? Could Nolan Ryan be the fastest pitcher of all time and Roberto Clemente be the fastest throwing fielder (or another) (as example)? Are throwing speeds taken for all 25 players - maybe for fun during spring training - similar to having a foot race? Also, Geoff, do you know where the radar gun gets the ball reading? Is it in flight or after the ball crosses the plate (if hit) or when the catcher catches the ball? Thanks Geoff I appreciate all your info.
has a lot of good information about radar guns. Basically, the best way to measure the speed of a thrown baseball is to measure it as it comes toward you from fairly close range. I suspect the mph speed we get is the maximum speed the ball traveled - as close to the pitcher's hand as possible. It would slow down a bit by the time it reaches the batter.
The radar gun could be used to measure the speed of a thrown ball from the shortstop to first base, or from the outfield to home plate but I've never heard it used that way. I don't know why not!
