was listening to the dodger game (thank you mlb app!!) last night and Rick Monday and Charlie Steiner were talking about the difference in measuring pitching velo now (at release) vs back in the 80's (at the plate) and how there's a significant (up to 7mph per Monday) difference in the readings. My son who rags on me for only throwing 81 back in the day had a lightbulb go off over his head and said "you didn't throw as much puss as I thought!!"
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You should watch the documentary "Fastball" with him. They discuss in detail the attempts and evolution of measuring pitch speed all the way back to Walter Johnson era if I remember correctly.
It's a great watch regardless with lots of player interviews past and present.
Met Bullet Bob at his museum a few years ago. Very cool.
Struck out 15 in his MLB debut...at 17 years old!
Then he went back to High school!
The most dominating pitcher I ever saw was David Clyde. For those that don’t know he was the #1 overall pick in the 1973 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers out of Houston Westchester HS. Clyde was 18-0 his senior year in HS and threw something like 4 no-hitters in his senior year alone. My HS team was in the state tournament in ‘73 and I saw Clyde win the semifinal game against Galena Park. He struck out 19 in a 7 inning game. It was the most dominating pitching performance I have ever seen. The Rangers were going broke in ‘73 and the owner drafted Clyde to boost ticket sales. It worked. Clyde went straight to the big leagues and won his first 2 decisions and every game he pitched was a sellout. Clyde threw 95 from the left side and had a knee buckling breaking ball. He was incredible. The Rangers ruined him and he never lived up to what was expected of him, although I place the blame for that squarely at the feet of the Texas Ranger organization. They sacrificed a phenom to save the franchise.
