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Baseball History

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500 Questions

How fast was the fastest pitch ever thrown in MLB history?

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Aroldis Chapman - 105 mph pitch in Sept. 2010 Reds V PadresActualy the information below is false. Joel Zumaya never pitched 105 mph. He topped out officialy at 104.8 which is still fast enough to burn the hair off your face. However Aroldis Chapman of the worlds oldest, historical and first ever profesional baseball team the CINCINNATI REDS officialy hit 105 MPH making him the record holder for the worlds fastest pitch every thrown. The crazy part he said he was not feeling at his top when he threw it. He hit 4 other pitches in the same game at 104. He threw a total of 25 pitches in this game after a weeks rest. This guy makes nolan Ryan look like a softball pitcher. However hes got a long way to go to be talked about being in the same league as nolan Ryan. Everyone knows that.

Here is the official answer according to the official MLB record books!

Pitcher

Radar Speed

Date / Box Score

LocationAroldis Chapman ^105.0 mph09-24-2010PETCO Ballpark

Joel Zumaya *

104.8 mph

10-10-2006

McAfee ColiseumNeftali Feliz ^103.4 mph09-01-2010Rangers BallparkBobby Parnell ^103.0 mph08-18-2010Minute Maid Park

Armando Benitez

102.0 mph

05-24-2002

Shea Stadium

Jonathan Broxton *

102.0 mph

05-14-2009

Citizens Bank Park

Bobby Jenks

102.0 mph

08-27-2005

Safeco Field

Randy Johnson

102.0 mph

07-09-2004

Pacific Bell Park

Matt Lindstrom

102.0 mph

05-16-2007

PNC Park

Robb Nen

102.0 mph

10-23-1997

Jacobs FieldHenry Rodriguez ^102.0 mph08-22-2010The Coliseum

Justin Verlander * †

102.0 mph

06-12-2007

Comerica Park

A.J. Burnett

101.0 mph

05-31-2005

PNC Park

Joba Chamberlain

101.0 mph

08-24-2007

Comerica Park

Rob Dibble

101.0 mph

06-08-1992

Candlestick Park

Kyle Farnsworth

101.0 mph

05-26-2004

Minute Maid Park

Eric Gagne

101.0 mph

04-16-2004

Pacific Bell Park

Ubaldo Jimenez **

101.0 mph

10-07-2009

Citizens Bank Park

Tim Lincecum *

101.0 mph

08-07-2009

AT&T Park

Jose Mesa

101.0 mph

05-01-1993

Cleveland Stadium

Joel Zumaya - 105 mphAt the Minnesota Twins Metrodome on July 3rd 2009, the Detroit Tigers Joel Zumaya threw a pitch that was registered at 105. It was in the bottom of the 10th inning i believe (although it may have been the bottom of the 11th, the innings tend to blend into each other in a 16 inning game). It has yet to be "officially" verified (and thus placed among the record books). He registered 1 other pitch at 104 and several more at 103. I personally watched the game and as a Tigers fan, have seen him pitch in about 85% of his games. On a side note, I was at the TIgers-Astros game on 06-27-06 when Zumaya threw 103 in the top of the 8th 3 times. Interestingly, Roger "The Rocket" Clemens started for Astros, and hit 97 mph once, but that pitch looked like a change up in comparison to Zumaya's fastballs. Seeing a fast pitch on TV does NO justice to witnessing that speed in person.

It should be noted though that the Metrodome is one of the the most notorious fields for the ball moving significantly quicker than other fields (and no, the "air conditioner" theory about blowing the ball is a fallacy, the difference in barometric pressure inside the aging dome as opposed to the outdoors or other modern domes is the most likely explanation for this widely known unusual behavior of the ball) This also may be part of the reason why the Twins play so well at home especially in recent history.

Also, The biomechanical limits of the human body based on fixed ratios of arm bone lengths, tendon & ligament maximum strength and the size of the muscles required to throw XXX speed set a scientific and mathematically calculated limit on the speed a ball can be thrown at 105 mph. Any pitch reported to be faster was either thrown by Robocop or was recorded by an inaccurate or outdated radar gun. For instance, Bob Fellers "107 mph pitch" allegedly recorded at an airforce base was corrected and recalculated to be 98 mph, due to the primitive nature of the radar gun (which was just being developed at that time). accurate speed readings on radar guns (for the sake of "records") weren't developed enough to be reliable until the early 1990's, so any pitch speeds recorded before then should not be trusted as accurate.

--> All information (to the very best of my knowledge) is accurate, true and verifiable if you wish to research it.

-If Joel Zumaya could keep his shoulder in one piece, he would be much more formidable. Strangely enough, his offspeed power curveball (thrown between 83-87 mph) seems to be his most effective pitch because of the change of speed and movement that juxtaposes his laser beam 4SFB, but he unfortunately relies almost entirely on his 4SFB, which he typically throws about 90% of the time.

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Zumaya had one sole purpose in his life. To break the MLB record for fastest pitch. But human physiology will prevent this young athlete from a long successful career. Everyone thinks its amazing when some pitcher comes in and can rifle that ball 100+ mph across that plate, not just once, but pitch after pitch after pitch. Granted to some degree i think its a pretty amazing feat as well but to me the consequinces of that ability, don't make it so amazing anymore. The human arm can only handle so much torque. It doesnt matter how young you are, how healthy you are, or how much muscle you have. The tendons and ligaments in your arm WILL tear, when you keep pushing your arms threshold for torque allowance. As the person above said "if Zumaya could keep his shoulder in one piece", is the perfect example of pushing your arms limits. He's already done damage to his arm and WILL never be the same again. All those 100+ mph fastballs everyone has seen him throw have put an end to this possible future good player's career. So if anyone has heard the old saying " you'll throw your arm off" ? look at Zumaya, because the saying, scientifically true.

Aroldis Chapman - 104 mph pitch in Sept. 2010

At the Reds vs. Brewers game on September 1, 2010, Aroldis Chapman threw a fastball clocked at 104mph, but it is believed he can go to 105. So i would say that the fastest pitcher of our time has got to be Aroldis Chapman. Simply because there has never been any record of the pitch going faster for any reason at the Great American Ballpark in Ohio due to such things as A.C. changing the speed or then wind blowing or anything like that, it was just Aroldis's full out arm strength that got him the 104mph fastball across the plate in the Reds 6-1 win against the Brewers to complete the 3 game sweep. Putting the Reds 8 full games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Who won the Seymour Medal Award in 2001?

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In 2001, the Seymour Medal Award was won by author John Taliaferro for his biography "Charles M. Russell: The Life and Legend of America's Cowboy Artist."

What was Jackie Robinson's favorite color?

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His favorite color was blue,.

What school did Barry Bonds go to?

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Barry Bonds went to Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California. In college, he attended Arizona State University.

Is the man who invented baseball dead?

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yes.baseball was created in 1861. that is a long time ago.

What are the most consecutive 200 plus hit seasons in Major League Baseball?

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Derek Jeter has had seven 200 hit seasons during his career. Three seasons in a row was his longest consecutive streak, he's done that twice.

  • 1998, 1999, 2000
  • 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2009

When and where was baseball player Enerio Del Rosario born?

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Enerio Del Rosario, the baseball player, was born on September 23, 1985, in Samana, Dominican Republic.

How many games did baseball player Gary Sheffield play as designated hitter for the New York Mets in 2009?

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Gary Sheffield played in 6 games at designated hitter for the New York Mets in 2009, starting in none of them.

, equivalent to 0 errors per game (estimate based on total games played in).

When and where did baseball player Tony Graffanino play?

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Tony Graffanino was a Major League Baseball player who played primarily as an infielder. Over his 13-year career, he played for multiple teams including the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cleveland Indians. He played from 1996 to 2009.

What were the fielding stats for baseball player Gates Brown playing at designated hitter for the Detroit Tigers in 1974?

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Gates Brown played in 13 games at designated hitter for the Detroit Tigers in 1974, starting in none of them.

, equivalent to 0 errors per game (estimate based on total games played in).

When and where did baseball player Pat Luby die?

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Pat Luby, a former professional baseball player, died on November 30, 1937. However, the specific location of his death is not available.

What were baseball player Baby Doll Jacobson's batting stats playing for St. Louis Browns in 1926?

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In 1926, Baby Doll Jacobson played in 50 games for the St. Louis Browns, batting in all of them. He had 182 at bats, getting 52 hits, for a .286 batting average, with 6 sacrifice hits, sacrifice flies, and 21 runs batted in. He was walked 9 times. He struck out 14 times. He hit 15 doubles, 1 triples, and 2 home runs.

When and where did baseball player Dick Baney play?

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Dick Baney played in Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1955. He played as a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

What were the fielding stats for baseball player Eddie Zambrano playing at right field for the Chicago Cubs in 1994?

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Unfortunately, I could not find specific fielding stats for Eddie Zambrano playing right field for the Chicago Cubs in 1994. Detailed fielding statistics for players from that era might not be readily available online. It is recommended to check with official baseball databases or historical archives for accurate and specific information on his fielding stats.

Which active MLB players have hit a home run against every team As of Jan 18 2011?

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As of January 18, 2011, there were four active MLB players who had hit a home run against every team. These players were Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Vladimir Guerrero, and Jim Thome.

When and where was baseball player Jack Robinson born?

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Jack Robinson, commonly known as Jackie Robinson, was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia, United States.

What were some of the modern batting stats for baseball player Ed Herrmann in 1972?

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In 1972, Ed Herrmann played for the Chicago White Sox.

On Base Percentage (OBP) is considered by many to be a better measure of a great hitter than the Batting Average. It is calculated with the formula (Hits + Walks + Hit by Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit by Pitch + Sacrifice Flies). In 1972, Ed Herrmann had 354 at bats, 88 hits, 43 walks, and was hit by the pitch 4 times. He had 4 sacrifice flies. That gives him an On Base Percentage of .333.

Slugging Percentage (SLG) is a popular measure of a batter's power. It is calculated as (Total Bases) / (At Bats). Another way to look at it is (Singles + 2 x Doubles + 3 x Triples + 4 x Home Runs) / (At Bats). In 1972, Ed Herrmann had 354 at bats, and hit 69 singles, 9 doubles, 0 triples, and 10 home runs, for a .359 slugging percentage.

Being able to get on base and to hit for power are two of the most important offensive skills in baseball, so the On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage are often added together. On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a sabermetric baseball statistic. The best hitters in Major League Baseball can achieve an OPS of .900 or higher. In 1972, Ed Herrmann had a .333 On Base Percentage and a .359 Slugging Percentage for an OPS of .692.

Runs Created (RC) is a baseball statistic invented by Bill James to estimate the number of runs a hitter contributes to his team. There are a number of formulas used to calculate it. One of the simplest is (On Base Percentage) × (Total Bases). In 1972, Ed Herrmann had a .333 On Base Percentage and 127 Total Bases for 42.33 Runs Created.

Who is only MLB pitcher to hit 3 home runs in a single game?

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The only MLB pitcher to hit 3 home runs in a single game is Jim Tobin. He accomplished this feat on May 13, 1942, while playing for the Boston Braves.

What were the pitching stats for baseball player Cole Hamels playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008?

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In 2008, Cole Hamels had an impressive season pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a record of 14 wins and 10 losses with an ERA (earned run average) of 3.09. Hamels also recorded 196 strikeouts in 227.1 innings pitched.

When and where did baseball player Carlton Lord die?

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Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information about a baseball player named Carlton Lord and his death. It's possible that there may be limited or no publicly available information on this individual.

Who was Alexander the Ingrate?

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There is no historical figure named Alexander the Ingrate. It is possible that you are referring to a fictional character or a mistaken name for a historical figure. Please provide more information for clarification.

When did baseball player Danny Doyle play?

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There is no known baseball player named Danny Doyle who has played in a major league.

When and where did baseball player Darrell Evans play?

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Darrell Evans debuted on April 20, 1969, playing for the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium; he played his final game on October 1, 1989, playing for the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

What were some of the modern batting stats for baseball player Carmen Fanzone in 1972?

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In 1972, Carmen Fanzone played for the Chicago Cubs.

On Base Percentage (OBP) is considered by many to be a better measure of a great hitter than the Batting Average. It is calculated with the formula (Hits + Walks + Hit by Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit by Pitch + Sacrifice Flies). In 1972, Carmen Fanzone had 222 at bats, 50 hits, 35 walks, and was hit by the pitch 3 times. He had 4 sacrifice flies. That gives him an On Base Percentage of .333.

Slugging Percentage (SLG) is a popular measure of a batter's power. It is calculated as (Total Bases) / (At Bats). Another way to look at it is (Singles + 2 x Doubles + 3 x Triples + 4 x Home Runs) / (At Bats). In 1972, Carmen Fanzone had 222 at bats, and hit 31 singles, 11 doubles, 0 triples, and 8 home runs, for a .383 slugging percentage.

Being able to get on base and to hit for power are two of the most important offensive skills in baseball, so the On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage are often added together. On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a sabermetric baseball statistic. The best hitters in Major League Baseball can achieve an OPS of .900 or higher. In 1972, Carmen Fanzone had a .333 On Base Percentage and a .383 Slugging Percentage for an OPS of .716.

Runs Created (RC) is a baseball statistic invented by Bill James to estimate the number of runs a hitter contributes to his team. There are a number of formulas used to calculate it. One of the simplest is (On Base Percentage) × (Total Bases). In 1972, Carmen Fanzone had a .333 On Base Percentage and 85 Total Bases for 28.33 Runs Created.