The speed of a baseball is a topic of much fascination among baseball fans. But who was the first person to throw a 100 mph fastball? While there is no definitive answer, there are several contenders for the title.
Nolan Ryan
One of the most likely candidates to have thrown the first 100 mph fastball is former Major League pitcher Nolan Ryan. Ryan was known for his blazing fastballs, and was clocked at 100.9 mph in 1974. This was the first time a pitcher was officially clocked at 100 mph or higher.
Ryan also holds the record for the most career no-hitters in Major League history, with seven. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also the first pitcher to reach the 5,000 strikeout mark, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers in history.
Bob Feller
Another contender for the title of first 100 mph fastball is Bob Feller. Feller was a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians from 1936 to 1956. He was known for his overpowering fastball, which clocked in at 98 mph in 1940.
Feller was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, and his number 19 was retired by the Cleveland Indians. He also holds the record for the most strikeouts in a nine-inning game, with 18. Feller was also the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter on an opening day.
J.R. Richard
J.R. Richard is another pitcher who is believed to have thrown the first 100 mph fastball. Richard was a pitcher for the Houston Astros from 1971 to 1980. He was known for his overpowering fastball, which was clocked at 100 mph in 1975.
Richard holds the Astros franchise record for strikeouts in a season, with 313. He was also the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out at least 300 batters in a season. He was inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame in 2002.
Conclusion
While there is no definitive answer as to who threw the first 100 mph fastball, there are several contenders for the title. Nolan Ryan is widely considered to be the first pitcher to have thrown a 100 mph fastball, but Bob Feller and J.R. Richard are also contenders for the title. All three pitchers are revered for their blazing fastballs and their impressive achievements in Major League Baseball.