steve carlton fastball velocity steve carlton fastball velocity

He lived and played in a time when instruments for measuring a baseball's speed didn't exist. His slider was 96mph! Steve Carlton was shuffling along with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970, with a dismal 6-18 record, when he received a letter from a stranger. I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. Papelbon's best pitch is a fastball that sits at 94 to 96 mph (he's hit 100 mph. . I think Vin Scully invented a term for the batters who face a Koufax fastball or slider: the " jelly leg"! I know the game baseball and how it is played. Carlton was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994. (Updated May 13, 2018) Steve Carlton posted a 1.65 ERA in 142 innings before the all-star break for the 1969 Cardinals. Carlton figured he had nothing to lose and he started to do a form of meditation on days he pitched. MLB Advanced Media, LP. 20-Game Losers, .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ Four months later when the delayed and abbreviated regular season began, the recovered velocity was still there. Some much fascinating history. 60. (Mike) Schmitty provided what the relief pitchers need most, home runs and great defense. I was more a Dodgers fan but lived closer to the Big A and went there more often. senior maintenance supervisor job description; 2014-15 it ALMOST looked as if he might be done due to injury only to come back and be amazing again (I know his greatness quite well from the 2006 ALCS, 2012 ALDS and 2013 ALDS - I'm a life long A's fan and he's thwarted us time and again in the postseason - along with still every other time we face him!). Steve Carlton. Justin Verlander might be one of the greatest pitchers ever and to think in what? "I want it to slide across the plate and down some. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that many players are over-rated due to inflated stats from offensive home parks (and eras) 2. Its almost like a slider-sinker. They were capable of launching pitches that batters never saw and only heard after it was too late. However, it wasn't long before J.R. would report to his staff that he wasn't feeling quite right. Sanjay Sharma from Mandi (HP) India on June 27, 2018: Thanks for sharing the catalog of great masters. on your web site I talk to several people about getting on it. That's Justin Verlander -94.1 mph with the bases. 10-12-2004, 04:04 PM. Carlton won 3 playoff games, and the Phillies won all 4 games that he started, including the World Series-clinching Game 6. I not only got to see Koufax pitch at Crosley Field but he played college ball where? I have before me pictures of Tim Lincecum, Matt Morris Felix Hernandez, Steve Carlton and Sandy Koufax, Carlton and Matt are extended out beautifully at just the split second prior to front foot touch down, two beautiful views of triple extension, great visual aids, Tim is in his usual tilted body position, and I keep wondering is he not tilting his head too much, Koufax is in app. 2152-03-25: The Toronto Thunder have renamed Mike Schoonmaker to Tom (K) Seaver. The average for all these men includes their first seasons and their last seasons, which are always lower on numbers as a player is just getting started and. He made the big league club in 1965. He was my hero then and even more so now. I've never seen one pitcher dominate a team like he did the Dodgers for about 4-5 years. He also would lead the league in strikeouts (310), ERA (1.97), starts. Williams's skill as a hitter was not just in his swing and determination but in his legendary eyesight. " Steve Carlton was an extremely focused competitor with complete dedication to excellence. Pitching for a 97-loss team. He called the youngster's changeup and breaking stuff "really good,"adding that his fastball "touches ones and twos" and sometimes even 93 [mph]. Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed "The Ryan Express," is without a doubt the single most successful and notable power pitcher in the history of major league baseball. How far, in feet, a runner is ranging off the bag at the }, Cronkite School at ASU "It looked like a Steve Carlton slider." When I threw [the slider] I wanted the spin real tight on it, so the ball is blurry like a fastball and you cant see the dot. His fastball velocity has been his deficiency, averaging 89.6 mph last season. Randy Johnson, feared by man and bird alike. Though Johnson did at times throw 100 miles per hour, he didn't do so as often as other pitching greats. All UZR (ultimate zone rating) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman. I'm so freaking starved for baseball right now. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on May 01, 2013: Yes of course! He asserted, Steve Dalkowski was the hardest thrower I ever saw.. Career Stats Game Log Splits. It uses gravity to build more core torque at front foot strike. Tim Lincecum, 97mph Fastball and 84mph Changeup (home plate . time of a pitcher's first movement or pitch release. Dwight Gooden. Montreal Expos catcher Tim Blackwell swung and missed a 3-2 fastball delivered by Ryan to tie the record with the first out of the eighth. . Very interesting article, thank you for sharing. Age: 77. Lori Gross from Nashville on August 17, 2016: Great article! xwOBA is formulated using exit velocity, launch angle I never saw anyone Clemens included who threw as hard as Goose Gossage in his prime with New York during the Reggie years. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. I find it hard to believe that Koufax in his prime (1962-66) only threw 93 mph. Answer: While it is possible Koufax could hit 100 mph in his younger years, the fastest pitch he ever threw which was recorded was in the low 90s. Nolan Ryan, in my opinionhad that combination of freakishly terrific genetics, and the added virtue of working his butt off to play as long as he possibly could! Age: 77. " It's a feat to throw the ball over 103 mph. He even graced the cover of Time magazine. At times during his career he was actually the leader in career strikeouts while him and Nolan. In his 27-year career, there is no doubt he threw more pitches over that speed than anyone else. He wasn't feeling as strong and powerful as he was used to and his complaints and requests for examination were either ignored entirely, brushed off with derision, or just given a perfunctory look. All but two of the 85 MLB starters threw a higher percentage of fastballs than any other pitch. FSlovenec , Thanks very very much! . Steve Dalkowski, hard-throwing pitcher and baseball's greatest what-if story, dies at 80 of coronavirus. xERA is a simple 1:1 translation of xwOBA, converted to A familiar, bespectacled face for the Philadelphia Phillies unveiled a newly found fastball in spring training this past weekend. He would win a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Houston Astros worth a huge sum of money, but he'd wind up homeless and living under a bridge just the same. carltonhotel.hu. When Johnson first made it to the big leagues, he had a wild and long mullet, a big burly mustache, and he stomped around on the mound in a very angry manner. Nobody on my team has hit 100 miles per hour yet this season, but we've got a couple guys who could do it, and I plan to be watching when it happens :). and play-by-play data provided by Sports Info Solutions. He painted a ballgame. steve carlton fastball velocity. He debuted in the major leagues at age 17, and he dominated the competition. Carlton made an appearance at Coca-Cola Park, home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, on Thursday as part of Steve Carlton Bobblehead Night. the same position but his head is not tilted as much and his fore arm and hand with ball in it are way behind his head and shoulder line which to me is an exaggerated Scap load position. Josh Bennett from Illinois on May 31, 2014: He is special for sure. Ted took one pitch and stepped awayhe said he never saw the ball, he'd only heard it. In five consecutive 1969 starts between June 27 and July 16, Carlton yielded a total of five runs, getting wins in all five games. A batted ball with the perfect combination of exit He has a fastball that can go anywhere from 94 to 102 miles per hour, and a big nasty curve-ball to go along with it. That's also what makes Justin Verlander special as he has been clocked over 100 mph quite a few times late in games. Just ask Rich Hill (41 years old), who makes up for his lack of velocity with his sky-touching breaking ball. . If you are looking for velocity drills to help you become more total body in your pitching mechanics then you must consider purchasing this information. I was at Arlington stadium for Nolan's second to last major league start - he was hitting 96 on the stadium radar gun that day, the last start before he tore his rotator cuff and retired. How hard, in miles per hour, a fielder throws the ball. Stats. We couldn't touch him every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park.". In February, Steve Carlton was traded to the Phillies for Rick Wise after club owner Gussie Busch became upset with Carlton's salary demands. I didn't know then that he was smart and had the heart of a lion, but I knew that I was looking at an arm the likes of which you see only once in a lifetime.". The pitcher's size is not significant. How hard, in miles per hour, a pitch is thrown. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on March 03, 2013: Hey Paraglider! His first season in Philadelphia, Carlton led the league in wins, ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts. Terrible they didn't find out what was going on with him. would be better served by dialing back on the . Step 1, grip the ball with your middle and index fingers. He followed that . People forget that Champman was a starter still throwing 100 mph late in the games in Cuba. The Yankees have won 13 of their past 15 games, taking two of three in the series against Texas despite scoring just five runs. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hey Brent, All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, and play . Question: What do you think about Ryne Duren from the Yankees? In fact the Phillies - Carlton's ball club since 1972 - believed Lefty's pitching days were over after he missed most of 1985 to injury and then began 1986 a frightfully cruddy 4-9, 6.18. . Carlton had a fastball in the 95 mph range, and a big, slow-breaking curveball. The average fastball of a Major League Baseball pitcher reaches a speed of 91 mph. thrown with. There has never been a more intimidating pitcher than Nolan Ryan. Phoenix, AZ 85004 But his average fastball velocity dipped to 94.6 m.p.h. Send questions by email or on Twitter @ScottLauber. A Dalit needs Jupiter's escape velocity to achieve success. For example, Oliver Prez averaged 89.7 mph on his fastball in 2020. The tall left-hander was a master of disguise: he trained himself to throw his fastball and signature slider from the same arm slot so they would look the same. His 105.1 mph fastball was the first time the. We were playing in Bluefield West Virginia and there was a Coke sign above the press box behind home plate, Dalkowski threw a fast ball through the coke sign. Anything below 88mph is considered 0. Share. I try to watch as many games as I can, despite the fact my Texas Rangers aren't really expected to do much this year. Ken. In 1965 he made the Cardinals roster out of spring training and o, https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/CarltonSteve-3704-84_Act_NBL.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, went eight innings and got victory number 300, thestacks.deadspin.com/thin-air-in-the-mountains-with-steve-carlton-armed-co-478492324. There are a lot of pitchers in it like Nolan Ryan, etc. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on March 02, 2013: Jools99 - Thanks very very much! You ain't supposed to be writin' a baseball hub before me :-) I'm watchin' pre season and World BB Classic on MLB today. Johnson's 417 career wins are second only to Cy Young, and he still owns an untouched record of 110 shutout games. The New York Yankees left-hander was five outs from a no-hitter when he threw his 103rd pitch, and No. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2022 Allen & Ginter Pitching A Gem Steve Carlton #PAG-4 Philadelphia Phillies at the best online prices at eBay! "A very tall left-handed pitcher well-built boy. Pitching coach Mel Stollemyre insisted after the historic inhuman 1985 season that he "needed" to learn a changeup. You Just Might Not Be Able to Tell. Eppa Rixey (2.85), and Steve Carlton (2.89). These tips all are covered in depth in the Ace Pitcher Handbook and the 3X Velocity Camp Instruction Videos. Everyone's got their own velocity, and there's no real time frame with comedy. How fast, in miles per hour, a ball was hit by a batter. He would then launch 100-mph pitches. "Augie Busch traded me to the last-place Phillies over a salary dispute, Carlton said. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on May 28, 2013: Sunshine, if there were hardball leagues for people my ageamateur onesI would be in heaven, and I wouldn't care what injuries I got in the process! Duren surely fits the bill and belongs in the 100 mph club. The art of pitching, if not lost, surely is in hiding. Robert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 December 15, 2010), was the first flame-throwing pitcher to have modern equipment measure his fastball's velocity. Go Rangers!! Reserve your tickets, map your route, and work out all the details for your arrival in Cooperstown. I always had a little bitty dot on the ball, Carlton told author Tyler Kepner for his book K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches. There was a game once where Nolan Ryan threw nearly three hundred pitchesbut probably that isn't the most in a game - I doubt they always kept track of how many pitches a pitcher threw. Steve Carlton . Answer: Good question, Jeff. As I'm near Dallas, Texas - we're all waiting to see what our Neftali Feliz can do when he returns from his surgery later this year! player has saved over his peers. Nobody in the major leagues has thrown more than 160 pitches in a game since the day Randy Johnson struck out 18 Texas Rangers in 1992. I ran this calculation for every pitcher in baseball. If so, could you come back and give me a link? Steve Carlton. I'd love to be a Cricket man! New York Mets. He lives in Michigan where he writes, runs, and enjoys a good orange soda now and again. He returned from the Second World War and played many more seasons, finishing his career with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts. He consistently led the league in strikeouts (a then record 382 in 1965), He did have a devastating curve but I think he also threw at least as fast as anyone else in the 1960's. #Velocity #Jupiter #Needs. He's got a nearly flawless delivery. However, as a black man, he surely did suffer some discrimination down in Houston, Texas, a town where he ought to have been more loved and appreciated for what he brought there. The letter might have given him the confidence to channel his talent on the mound, but if it hadnt been that, Carlton probably would have figured it out. It's always sad to me to see how so many come and gopeople like Kerry Woodand he's an example of someone who's arm was supposedly damaged by too many pitches in a game. I know because I was there along with over 60,000 other fans. On February 25th, 1972, the Cardinals sent their lefty wnderkind, Steve Carlton, to the Phillies in exchange for righty starting pitcher Rick Wise. W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP; 1988: 0: 1: 16.76: 4: 1: 0: 9.2: 5: . Well, baseball is a game of statistics, and he has a huge number of dominating numberssome of which will likely never be touched. But it . Paul Richard Kuehn from Udorn City, Thailand on March 02, 2013: This is an awesome hub and I really enjoyed reading it. His glare was storybook, his windup was incredible and seemed like his fastballs moved all over the place. Seaver used elite velocity as his weapon of choice, and the foundation for his radar-gun readings . He remembers the time in Class A ball when he took an 8-0 record into a game and was completely rattled because comedian Max Patkin spent the evening in the coaching box, dugout or on-deck circle. His statistics, however, indicate that his pitches very likely reached those speeds. For the grip hold the ball like how i did in this picture (sorry i used a left handed grip). Walter Perry Johnson (November 6, 1887 - December 10, 1946), nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was an American professional baseball player and manager.He played his entire 21-year baseball career in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927.He later served as manager of the Senators from 1929 through 1932 and of the Cleveland Indians . In 1983 Carlton became the second pitcher to surpass Walter Johnson 's career record of 3,508 strikeouts ( Nolan Ryan was the first). I've never got to meet a solitary player; but I sure enjoy the game! Ryan scheduled a visit with Randy to show him some things that would change his career. Steve Carlton was a big, imposing left-hander with a good fastball and an astonishing slider ("like drinking coffee with a fork," Willie Stargell supposedly said of trying to hit it). Duh! "The slider puts more strain on . I'm not sure the weight of a baseball? It was against the Angels in Anaheim, CA. : 2167-09-13 Mr Archer from Missouri on February 02, 2016: Ryan was, and still is, my favorite player. In 2018, he was at 91 mph on average, which means he gained half a tick from '18 to '19. Cortes beamed with pride. Now, of course, it didn't always happen, that is why there has been relief pitching all along. On June 25, he was sent to Methodist Hospital in Houston, and despite obstructions in his arteries, it was determined that no surgery was needed. kom_ervin@yahoo.com, Your email address will not be published. I saw Ryan start many times and witnessed him pitching at age 46. Torque. Nolan Ryan's next to last start was not at home in Arlington Stadium. Josh Bennett from Illinois on May 30, 2014: With something like this , it is very important to include relievers. Walter Perry Johnson (November 6, 1887 December 10, 1946), was never recorded throwing a baseball at 100 mph or more. Hope all is well. produces a result. Yeah, I'd have loved to have been able to find some video of Dalkowski, but I don't guess there is any out there anywhere. I've one of his no-hitters on a vcr tapetoo bad I've nothing to watch that with. These are just ranges based on averages for all youth to professional pitchers. window") of the runner is at least 30 ft/sec. Johnson ended his career as the all-time strikeout king, a record he'd hold until Nolan Ryan broke it more than 55 years later. Answer: I'm sure he could. Out of all the men gifted with the talent of pitching at 100 miles per hour, Nolan Ryan was the man who kept it the longest and used it the most. July 4, 1986: Signed as a Free Agent with the San Francisco Giants. Steve Carlton was a big, imposing left-hander with a good fastball and an astonishing slider ("like drinking coffee with a fork," Willie Stargell supposedly said of trying to hit it). "It looked like a Steve Carlton slider." Escape Velocity takes the average of a player's batted ball velocities subtracted from 88. Unless, of course, you face Randy Johnson. background-color:#ba3434; Bats/Throws: L/L. I thought the story of Dalkoswki was very poignant - to have that kind of heat and talent and never make it to the show! as Active Spin. The Big Unit's devastating slider is what made him so lethal. Feller was the first professional athlete in the USA to volunteer for service. On July 23 the Phillies beat the Dodgers 2-0 on a two-run triple by Carlton. I can hardly wait for the season to get started! And that is why they seem to throw harder as a group today. . Great baseball info. I'm the type who wishes he could watch old baseball games from years ago. I saw Verlander hitting 99 mph last season. This quick tip covers the Tilt and how it is a key component to pitchers like Tim Lincecums total body mechanics. It's pretty certain Sandy Koufax could throw that hard too - I remember reading that when he came up he was known for a monster fastball, but he couldn't find the strike zoneand after a while someone convinced him to take something off of itand there you go - someone who was the equal of Bob Feller and Nolan Ryan for many a season! Here is the article I wrote on Tim Lincecum and the Tilt to learn more about the effects of this key component of velocity. Wilbur Wood is just one click down with a 114 ERA+ he shares with Luis Tiant and Don Newcombe. Pitch Movement The movement of a pitch is defined in inches, both in raw numbers and as a measurement against average. In pitching, velocity is now king. Steve Carlton was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards. One might think that only a large man could toss a baseball over 60 feet at 100 miles per hour; however, this assumption is false. In his second to last career game as a starter, he was throwing fastballs at 96 miles per hour past bewildered men more than 20 years his junior. I'll be watching my Texas Rangers play the Boston Red Sox, starting in an hour and a half. Comments About Steve Carlton's Pitching Motion And Mechanics Signs of early pronation, which would help to protect his UCL. But it came quickly in Philly. Wayne Twitchell. Nestor Cortes may be the least-heralded top starting pitcher in the major leagues. For a batter, Best Speed is an average of 50% of his hardest hit balls. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He was a four-time National League Cy Young Award winner, ten-time All-Star, and the last man to pitch over 300 innings in a season (304 in 1980). His final start of his career was on the 22nd at Seattle when he blew out his arm in the 1st inning. Kids today are playing 70+ games over the spring/summer starting from the age of 7-8 years old and are playing year round. February 27th, 1990: Phillies' pitching legend Steve Carlton enters Veteran's Stadium for the first time since the last season ended in October 1989. He was placed on the 21-day disabled list. Support provided by Market New York through I LOVE NY/ New York States Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. How far, in feet, a fielder or runner has traveled on a Using 2020's data, sorting all pitchers with appearances this year, and filtering out position players, the answer seems to be Brian Moran, who had an average fastball velocity in 2020 of 81.8mph. Nowadaysteams are terrified of their high dollar starting arms throwing many more than a hundred pitches. : 2172-09-02: The Houston Aeros have acquired Steve Carlton from the waiver wire. Good baseballing. It doesn't matter if he's only throwing one inning or nine. On Sept. 24, 1983, he became just the 16th pitcher to win 300 games. He also threw from a three-quarter position rather than straight over the topif you were you a left-handed hitter, every pitch would seem aimed at your head. Hits over .300 great obp and has broken stolen base records everywhere. Steve Carlton's 1972 season is one of the greatest performances by a pitcher in the last 100 years. Score struck out 245 batters in 1955, a Major League rookie record that stood until 1984, when it was topped by Dwight Gooden (Score, Gooden, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Don Sutton, Gary Nolan, Kerry Wood, Mark Langston and Hideo Nomo were the only eight rookie pitchers to top 200 strikeouts in the 20th century). If a pitcher can throw that pitch to the . Otherwise, Carlton was dominant. No one but Nolan played that many seasonsno one. Steven Norman Carlton (born December 22, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player. But nowadays helmets are always worn too. One, Steve Carlton, is a four-time winner whose career spanned three decades. It's just a recipe for disaster when it comes . Great info on an amazing statistic - the 100 MPH pitch. He took a no-hitter into the 9th but Reggie Jackson got a hit with 1 out. All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, and play . He was TALL, LEAN and MEAN. Actually, he has a second meaning to me . Lincecum responded. The Houston television media apologized repeatedly for having questioned whether or not he was truly ill. Such a list would be growing in length constantly, as these days MLB scouts are specifically looking to draft the largest men possible, and expectations of high velocity are increasingly thought to be important. Philadelphia Phillies player Steve Carlton pitching against the New York Mets on April 5, 1983 with the crowd behind him. He thrived on the mound by physically and mentally challenging himself off the field. Its almost impossible to hit, his catcher Tim McCarver said. It has nothing to do with "airing it out". "It looked like a Steve Carlton slider." At 90.4 mph, Cortes' fastball velocity ranks just 134th among 158 pitchers who had thrown 250 or more pitches entering the week. exit velocity of 95 mph or higher. In 2015 Sonny Gray took one into the 8th but alas finished the game as a 2-hitter, which of course I was in attendance for (Braden's Perfect Game as well - but I am off topic as neither are 100 MPH pitchers) Anyway, thanks for the great read! P. Birthdate: 12/22/1944 (77 y, 5 m, 11 d) . First and foremost, Ryan struck out more batters than anyone with a record of 5,714. Known for the velocity of his fastball, the "Hoosier Thunderbolt" remained effective after the distance from the . . Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on March 30, 2014: Not sure I agree entirely, Mark. I definitely did not see that coming. He quickly became one of the top power pitchers in the American League, no small feat on a team that still included Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and other top pitchers, going 1610 with a 2.85 Earned Run Average (ERA) in his first year. All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, and play . Steve Carlton- fastball, curveball, slider. He was a four-time National League Cy Young Award winner, ten-time All-Star, and the last man to pitch over 300 innings in a season (304 in 1980).He won 329 games en route to the Hall of Fame, the #2 all-time . Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. " Nolan Ryan, who retired with 7 no-hitters and 12 one-hitters. Phone: 602.496.1460 Interset Research and Solution The southpaw was an All-Star twice with St. Louis. "That wasn't Steve Carlton," Gene Mauch concurred from the Expos' dugout. The other, Rollie Fingers, was one of the better relievers in the game throughout his 16-year career. Out of all the men gifted with the talent of pitching at 100 miles per hour, Nolan Ryan was the man who kept it the longest and used it the most. Only 16 pitchers have ever won the NL pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. I am also looking forward to the season getting underway. Updated: Saturday, March 4, 2023 4:51 PM ET, Park Factors A 91-mph fastball will not get major league hitters out if it is thrown over the middle of the plate. I saw him pitch a few times when he was on the Angels. The pitcher was Steve Carlton, a career 300-game winner. Major League and Minor League Baseball data provided by Major League Baseball. I do remember JR Richard. It's the game itself, and the development of the players which excites me. He'd face and often defeat the best hitters of his era. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on April 09, 2020: @Tim Cromble - are those on YouTube? Answer: You need to be more specific. He appeared in both World Series appearances for the Cardinals in 1967 and 1968, earning a ring in 1967. Wesman Todd Shaw (author) from Kaufman, Texas on April 28, 2013: Statistical joy in Baseball! in "feet per second in a player's fastest one-second I hope those guys are wearing helmets and the other protection needed! How high/low, in degrees, a ball was hit by a batter. I can't throw it hard or soft, and it takes the place of both a slider and a change. The spring of 1972 turned into a time of upheaval for the Cardinals. St. Louis, MO: Philadelphia Phillies' pitcher Steve Carlton is attempting to become the 16th pitcher in Major League history to reach the 300 victory. It starts out in the strike zone and the bottom falls out. Question: How could you not include Sandy Koufax in the list of the hardest throwing pitchers? He was absolutely unbelievable and one of a very few where you expected to see a No-hitter every time he pitched. House misses in front of the bat," in reference to their perches on opposite ends of the pitch-velocity spectrum.