Pitcher throws fastest pitch ever recorded in the major leagues

[Mefistofeles]

105 mph.

[Odin2005]

1. Steroids.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. It's illegal in professional sports. NO ONE uses steroids. It would be unethical.

And as we all know, our sports heroes are the most amazing worshipful heroes every created on the face of the earth who never, ever do anything wrong because, for God's sake!, they're SPORTS HEROES!!!!!

It's not like they're fucking teachers or nurses or social workers or farmers or some other scumbag useless profession that provides nothing to society.

[gater]

10. Yeah, and Ruth hit his homers due to 'roids... no wait, that was beer and cigars. Sorry.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Wind at his back I'm sure.... also, someone should check the

ball for a hidden magnet.

[the other one]

3. Diebold machine?

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. If a report is going to use four significant digits for some numbers, use four for all numbers.

God, that's annoying.

That said - 105 (I assume they mean 105.0, but the jackass reporter never actually makes it clear) is pretty fucking fast.

It's why I like underhand pitches with large softballs. I can actually sort of see it coming.

Damn.

I've never stood and let a professional baseball pitch go by my head, but I'm sure even the regular speed pitches zoom by with a huge frakking blur.

Given my reflexes, it would go like "Pitcher pitches, the ball slaps the catcher's mitt, then 0.5 seconds later I swing for it"

[Mefistofeles]

8. Good point, given that the second fastest was 104.8

In the list of fastest pitches (accompanying the article), Joel Zumaya appears with a 104.8 mph fastball. But that's the only pitch with a decimal point in the list. Which begs the question: What if Chapman's pitch was 104.7 or 104.5, and the gun rounded it out?

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. That's exactly it!

We don't know, because the reporter is lazy and likely failed his science classes. Which is why he's a sports reporter.

[Mefistofeles]

15. It looks like the pitch was 105.1 mph

Someone directed me to this website which compiles detailed pitch statistics: http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=3&sp_type=1&batterX=67&month=09&day=24&game=gid_2010_09_24_cinmlb_sdnmlb_1%2F&year=2010&pitchSel=547973&prevGame=gid_2010_09_24_cinmlb_sdnmlb_1%2F

Looks like the radar gun did include decimals, but it does not undermine your critique against the lazy Yahoo reporter.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. I saw him hit 103 at a Durham Bulls game (AAA) a month or so ago.

He is just scary fast - tall and wiry build. Just amazing.....

[bbinacan]

7. Damn n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

11. I wonder how accurate those radar guns are

How sure are we that Chapman's 105 was really faster than Zumaya's 104.8?

[taterguy]

12. And why do we care?

[rucky]

13. GO REDS!!!

[frylock]

19. boo..

go pads!!

[JesterCS]

14. He's on the level

have watched him pitch a few games now. He is incredible. Its how he throws. plus his age. =p

[Drale]

16. The MLB

has the strickest policy on performence enhancing drugs, hes not taking steroids.

[sakabatou]

17. Assisted by miniature rockets.

[Brother Buzz]

18. Pfft, Sandy regularly threw 110 mph

Only those radar guns back in them days redlined at 100 mph.

Too bad Leo Durocher couldn't sign Jethro Bodine, he threw, like, 125 mph with either arm. I saw it on TV.

[LiberalFighter]

20. I'm not impressed.

After pitching just a few innings he needed an ice pack on his arm. How long will he last?