Old Timers vs. Young Bucks

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by sycks22

Although a lack of precision instruments prevented accurate measurement of his fastball, in 1917, a Bridgeport, Connecticut munitions laboratory recorded Johnson's fastball at 134 feet per second, which is equal to 91.36 miles per hour (147.03 km/h),

Thanks for that info, but I would not put much credence in those munition tests. In the before-mentioned documentary Fastball, they mention one of these tests that only measured Johnson's fastball at 122 feet per second or 83 miles per hour.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Baseball Rarities

Thanks for that info, but I would not put much credence in those munition tests. In the before-mentioned documentary Fastball, they mention one of these tests that only measured Johnson's fastball at 122 feet per second or 83 miles per hour.

That test, which took place in 1912, was flawed to the point of absurdity. It was done in street clothes, with no warmup, and conducted on a range designed to test the speed of rifle bullets. Johnson had to throw overhand, not his usual sidearm, with the ball passing through a field of hanging metal triggers before hitting the backboard. Obviously, he could throw way faster than the machine measured, and he was clocked considerably faster than Nap Rucker, also taking the test as the fastest pitcher in the National League. I've always thought that Johnson threw at least 100 MPH and probably a little more when he let it all out. Feller was measured at 99, and of the many people who saw and even hit against them both in their prime, I never came across anyone claiming that Feller threw harder than Johnson.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

That test, which took place in 1912, was flawed to the point of absurdity. It was done in street clothes, with no warmup, and conducted on a range designed to test the speed of rifle bullets. Johnson had to throw overhand, not his usual sidearm, with the ball passing through a field of hanging metal triggers before hitting the backboard. Obviously, he could throw way faster than the machine measured, and he was clocked considerably faster than Nap Rucker, also taking the test as the fastest pitcher in the National League. I've always thought that Johnson threw at least 100 MPH and probably a little more when he let it all out. Feller was measured at 99, and of the many people who saw and even hit against them both in their prime, I never came across anyone claiming that Feller threw harder than Johnson.

Hank - I agree with you. I was pointing out how inaccurate the tests back then were.

I would also guess that Johnson threw right around 100.

[Rookiemonster]

They fix the errors of the test in the documentary fastball. He in fact did not throw Hundred .

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Rookiemonster

They fix the errors of the test in the documentary fastball. He in fact did not throw Hundred .

They did not fix the errors - they just tried to approximate how fast his 83 mph (122 feet per second) throw was when the ball was 50 feet from home plate (which is the way that modern pitchers are clocked) instead of 15 feet in back of the "plate" as it was done in the 1912 test - definitely not an exact science. I believe that they estimated that it was around 94 mph.

The conditions where they timed Johnson at 83 mph were certainly not optimal for Johnson - he was wearing his Sunday suit for the test! The test was done at the Remington ammunition testing field and it is doubtful if he even had a mound or a rubber to pitch off of. One of the writers that witnessed the event said that he thought that Johnson could have hit 150 feet per minute if he was given more time to warm up which would equate to a tick over 102 mph.

Anyways, this was just a very unscientific test and I would agree with Hank that if Feller threw 98 or 99, then Johnson was certainly 100 or more.

[the 'stache]

A great player is a great player. It doesn't matter the era. Greats have instincts, and a meticulous attention to detail that will play in any era.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

A great player is a great player. It doesn't matter the era. Greats have instincts, and a meticulous attention to detail that will play in any era.

Pretty much agree with this.....

[irishdenny]

Every thought that I've Evar had on this Topic...
"Has a Counter thought to it!?"

I Would Howevar, Love ta See Cobb Stare down a Kershaw Curve...
Matty Bliss a Fade Away by Goldschmidt...
Johnston Ring uP ARod(in His Prime )

and So oN, and So oN, and Scooby Dooby Daayy ~ Ayyyy

THiS Game is AwSome!!!

Whatya THiNK Cobb's "Walk uP Music" Would Be?

[bravos4evr]

Whatya THiNK Cobb's "Walk uP Music" Would Be?

"Georgia on My Mind"" of course!

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by irishdenny

Whatya THiNK Cobb's "Walk uP Music" Would Be?

"The Bitch is Back".

[Joshchisox08]

[QUOTE=
Whatya THiNK Cobb's "Walk uP Music" Would Be? [/QUOTE]

Sweet Georgia Brown

[Duluth Eskimo]

More like "the south's gonna do it again"