View Single Post
  #29  
Old 01-20-2011, 04:14 PM
Hankphenom Hankphenom is offline
Hank Thomas
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,600
Default

I wish there was a way to prove it, but I'd bet Walter Johnson didn't even throw 90mph.
Dan[/QUOTE]

Johnson retired in 1927, Bob Feller came up in 1936. Late in his career, Feller was clocked at almost 99 MPH. There were many players that batted against both of them, and lots of coaches, managers, etc, who saw them both up close many times. Find me ONE who said that Feller was faster than Johnson. Johnson had no curve ball, usually it was one fast ball after another, and batters knew that. What good did it do them? Every other great fast ball pitcher you can name could mix it up with a great curve or other off pitch, all of them: Grove, Feller, Koufax, Ryan, Carlton, Clemens, Randy Johnson, etc. I've been asked this question many times: how fast do you think Johnson was in his prime? I won't tell you what I really think because you'd laugh, but you can start at 100 and use your imagination from there.
Hank Thomas
Reply With Quote