Koufax question

SidePocket

Was Koufax fastball ever timed? I don't know if they had an accurate way to gauge the speed back then, but I'm guessing he would have hit 100 mph. Gibson too. Although I think it was Koufax' curve ball that put him over the top, it was a thing of beauty when it followed the heat he threw.

PoppaJ

Hi CJ,

During the time Koufax pitched there was no reliable source to clock the speed of a pitch.

However, it was estimated that he consistently threw at 100mph.

There was only one pitcher that threw harder than Koufax during that time and his name was Ryne Duren.

During the 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966 seasons, Koufax had a 97-27 won-lost record with 4 no hitters, 1,228 strikeouts, and a 1.99 ERA.

Whenever the Dodgers came to our town, my father made sure we had front row seats for any game that Koufax was scheduled to pitch.

Koufax Pitching

PoppaJ

Allen

Koufax and Gibson are two pitchers who I think most everyone would agree, could dominate in any era.

bigwilli

You must not forget about Walter Johnson . From everything I have read , he could dominate like no other .

Ironmanfan

Steve Dalkowski threw harder (but couldn't control it)

mikeschmidt

Bob Feller in the late 1940s ran a stunt whereby his fastball was able to "beat" a speeding motorcyle going 100mph.

Also -- radar guns were invented in the 1930s...although their application to baseball did not happen right away.

Radar (RAdio Detection And Ranging) guns were first introduced in 1935 and the media has covered their evolution with great interest. Two early stories about this emerging technology and its application towards baseball pitching speeds are reprinted below:

fiveniner

<< <i>Steve Dalkowski threw harder (but couldn't control it) >>



Its too bad that once he was able to harness his control somewhat he almost made the Oriole team in either 63 or 64 but blew his arm out before the end of training camp.