Expert: Steve L - 8/26/2004

Question
what was the fast pitch  and who threw it thank you

Answer
In Order by Fastest Observed Speed
(Listing Has Only The Fastest Known Speed by the Pitcher )

Pitcher
Radar Speed
Date
Location

Mark Wohlers
103.0 mph
1995
Spring Training

Armando Benitez
102.0 mph
2002
Shea Stadium

Randy Johnson
102.0 mph
07-09-2004
SBC Park

Robb Nen
102.0 mph
10-23-1997
Jacobs Field

Rob Dibble
101.0 mph
1992
Candlestick Park

Kyle Farnsworth
101.0 mph
05-27-2004
Minute Maid Park

Eric Gagne
101.0 mph
04-16-2004
SBC Park

Jose Mesa
101.0 mph
1993
Cleveland Stadium

Guillermo Mota
101.0 mph
07-24-2002
Qualcomm Stadium

Billy Wagner
101.0 mph
04-16-2004
Citizens Bank Park

Billy Wagner
101.0 mph
06-11-2003
Yankee Stadium

Nolan Ryan
100.9 mph
08-20-1974
Anaheim Stadium

Josh Beckett
100.0 mph
10-12-2003
Pro Player Park

Roger Clemens
100.0 mph
10-10-2001
Yankee Stadium

Francisco Cordero
100.0 mph
07-07-2004
Jacobs Field

Ben Sheets
100.0 mph
07-10-2004
Miller Park

J.R. Richard
100.0 mph
1976
Candlestick Park

C.C. Sabathia
100.0 mph
2002
Jacobs Field

The fastest pitcher ever may have been 1950s phenom and flameout Steve Dalkowski. Dalkowski signed with the Orioles in 1957 at age 21. After nine years of erratic pitching he was released in 1966, never having made it to the Major Leagues. Despite his failure, he has been described as the fastest pitcher ever.

Ted Williams once stood in a spring training batting cage and took one pitch from Dalkowski. Williams swore he never saw the ball and claimed that Dalkowski probably was the fastest pitcher who ever lived. Others who claimed he was the fastest ever were Paul Richards, Harry Brecheen and Earl Weaver. They all thought he was faster than Bob Feller and Walter Johnson, though none of them probably saw Johnson pitch.

In 1958 the Orioles sent Dalkowski to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a military installation where Feller was once clocked. Feller was clocked at 98.6 mph. Dalkowski was clocked at only 93.5, but a few mitigating factors existed:

1) Dalkowski had pitched in a game the day before, so he could be expected to throw 5-10 mph slower than usual;

2) there was no mound to pitch from, which Feller had enjoyed, and this would drop his velocity by 5-8 mph;

3) he had to pitch for 40 minutes before the machine could measure his speed, and he was exhausted by the time there was a reading. Other sources reported that the measuring device was a tube and that he took a long time to finally throw one into the tube.

It was estimated that Dalkowski's fastball at times reached 105 mph. Dalkowski was not physically imposing, standing only 5'8" and wearing thick glasses. He had legendary wildness, which kept him out of the Major Leagues. In 995 minor league innings, he walked 1,354 batters and struck out 1,396. He walked 21 in one minor league game and struck out 21 in another. In high school he pitched a no-hitter while walking 18 and striking out 18.