What Is The Fastest Pitch Ever Thrown In MPH?
Have you ever stopped to wonder what it truly feels like to witness something move so incredibly fast, that the world around it just blurs? It’s a pretty amazing thought, isn't it? We often talk about the speed of light, which, you know, is the fastest thing in the entire universe. It zips along at an unbelievable 670,616,629 mph (1,079,252,848 km/h), which is, like, equivalent to more than ten million cheetahs running together, or over five thousand of the planet’s fastest production cars all at once. That’s just mind-boggling, really.
But while the speed of light is a universal constant, there are so many other incredible speed records right here on Earth that capture our imagination. People often ask about the fastest production car, or maybe the quickest land animal, which is, of course, the cheetah. And then there's the peregrine falcon, which is, like, the fastest bird out there, diving at speeds over 6.2 mph (10 km/h) – it's actually the quickest member of the whole animal kingdom. We’ve got the lowdown on everything from super speedy internet service providers to the fastest cars ever driven on a road, and even the quickest missiles. It’s all about pushing those limits, isn't it?
Today, though, we’re going to focus on a different kind of speed, one that happens on a baseball or softball mound. It’s a moment of pure athleticism and power, when a pitcher unleashes a ball at incredible velocity. So, what is the fastest pitch ever mph? That’s what we’re going to get into, looking at the incredible arms that have etched their names into the record books, both in Major League Baseball and in the world of softball, too. It’s a pretty exciting topic, actually.
Table of Contents
- The King of Speed in MLB
- MLB's Fastest Arms: A Closer Look
- Unconfirmed Legends: The Softball Myth
- Fastest Softball Pitches: Official Records
- Frequently Asked Questions About Pitching Speed
The King of Speed in MLB
When you talk about the fastest pitch ever thrown in Major League Baseball, one name pretty much always comes up: Aroldis Chapman. He officially holds the Guinness World Record for the quickest baseball pitch, and it was a really impressive 105.8 mph fastball. This incredible throw happened on September 24, 2010. It’s a speed that, you know, just seems to defy belief for a baseball. Chapman has, in fact, been at the top of this category for quite a while now. His fastest pitch was that 105.8 mph one in 2010, and he also hit 105.7 mph in another game. It’s pretty amazing consistency at that kind of velocity, actually.
Many pitchers through the years have managed to top the century mark, throwing pitches over 100 mph. But very, very few have ever come close to what Chapman achieved. It's a rather elite club, and he's at the very top of it. This record is, you know, a testament to his unique arm strength and the incredible power he can generate. When that ball leaves his hand, it’s just a blur heading towards home plate, basically.
MLB's Fastest Arms: A Closer Look
While Aroldis Chapman stands alone at the very top, there have been other pitchers who have thrown some truly blazing fastballs in Major League Baseball. We have good data on these speeds starting from 2008, which really helps us compare these incredible feats. For instance, just recently, the Angels' Ben Joyce threw a 105.5 mph pitch. That was, like, a really big deal, as it set a new record for the fastest strikeout pitch ever recorded. It’s pretty wild to think about that kind of speed, isn't it?
The 2022 MLB season also saw some serious heat from the St. Louis Cardinals’ Ryan Helsley. He recorded a 104.2 mph fastball in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 27. So, you can see, while Chapman’s record still stands, there are definitely pitchers out there who are getting incredibly close to that top mark. It’s a constant push for speed, in a way, with athletes always trying to throw a little bit harder, a little bit faster. Other notable pitchers, like Nolan Ryan, are also said to have thrown incredibly fast pitches, though the official tracking methods back then weren't quite the same as they are today. The Washington Post has, you know, even reported on some of those historical claims, which adds a lot of mystique to the topic.
Unconfirmed Legends: The Softball Myth
Now, let's switch gears a little bit and talk about softball, which has its own incredible speed stories. There’s a rather famous, yet unconfirmed, record for the fastest softball pitch ever thrown by a man. This legendary pitch was said to be 104 mph (167.4 km/h), thrown by Eddie “The King” Feigner of “The King and His Court” way back in 1959. It’s a truly impressive number, but, you know, this pitch was never officially confirmed. There are always, in a way, these incredible stories that become part of the sport's lore, even if they don't have official data to back them up. The type of ball used for that pitch was also, apparently, different from what’s used today, which makes direct comparisons a bit tricky.
It's interesting how some of these older records just sort of live on through word of mouth, isn't it? They give us a glimpse into what might have been possible, even before we had all the fancy technology to measure every single pitch with perfect accuracy. So, while we can't definitively say Feigner hit that speed, it certainly adds to the rich history of pitching, both in baseball and softball, and the amazing athletes who have played these games. It’s a bit like a tall tale, but a really fun one, basically.
Fastest Softball Pitches: Official Records
When it comes to officially recorded fastest softball pitches, we have some really solid data, especially for women’s softball. Monica Abbott, for example, achieved the fastest softball pitch ever recorded by a woman. She threw 77 miles per hour in a 2012 National Pro Fastpitch game. This happened when she was pitching for the Chicago Bandits against the Carolina Diamonds. That’s a truly incredible speed for a softball, which is, you know, a larger and heavier ball than a baseball. It really shows the immense power and technique these pitchers possess. It's a phenomenal display of athleticism, really.
The fastest pitch on record for women's softball is, therefore, that 77 mph delivery by Monica Abbott. It’s a mark that many aspire to reach, and it stands as a testament to her skill. We're talking about a sport where the distance to the plate is shorter, so that 77 mph pitch gets to the batter in an incredibly short amount of time. It's just a fraction of a second, basically, to react. You can learn more about speed and connection on our site, and we also have information on other incredible athletic feats.
College Softball's Speedy Stars
College softball has also seen some truly remarkable pitching speeds in recent years. Karlyn Pickens from Tennessee, for instance, set a new record for the fastest pitch ever thrown in NCAA softball history on March 24, 2025. She delivered a pitch at 78 mph in the sixth inning of a game, and it was a called strike right at the Arkansas batter. That’s a pretty amazing moment to be in the record books, isn't it? Her previous record was actually 78.2 mph, which she tossed earlier in the season against Arkansas, too. So, she's been consistently pushing the limits.
Before Pickens broke the record, the fastest pitch she had previously thrown was 77 mph. This had actually tied the previous record, which was also held by former Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott. So, it's interesting how the record has, in a way, stayed within the same program for a bit. Texas Tech's Nijaree Canady also ranks as one of the fastest pitchers ever in college softball, as she hit 75 mph at one point. It’s clear that the level of pitching speed in college softball is, you know, constantly improving, with athletes pushing each other to greater heights. It’s very exciting to watch, actually.
The range of speed for various baseball pitches can vary quite a bit, but these record-breaking fastballs are, arguably, in a league of their own. From Aroldis Chapman's incredible 105.8 mph fastball in MLB to the powerful throws in women's college and professional softball, these athletes show us what’s possible when human skill meets pure velocity. It’s a pretty thrilling aspect of the game, watching that ball just fly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pitching Speed
People often have questions about these incredible feats of speed on the mound. Here are some common ones, basically:
What was the fastest pitch ever thrown during a baseball game?
The fastest pitch ever officially recorded in a Major League Baseball game was Aroldis Chapman's 105.8 mph fastball. This happened on September 24, 2010. It’s a speed that has, you know, really set the bar for pitchers in the modern era.
Who was the fastest pitcher in baseball history?
Aroldis Chapman officially holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest baseball pitch with his 105.8 mph fastball. While there are historical claims about other pitchers, like Nolan Ryan, having thrown incredibly fast, Chapman's record is the one with modern, confirmed data. He's been, in a way, the benchmark for quite some time now.
What is the fastest softball pitch ever recorded?
For women’s professional softball, Monica Abbott holds the record with a 77 mph pitch thrown in a 2012 National Pro Fastpitch game. In NCAA college softball, Karlyn Pickens set a new record on March 24, 2025, with a 78 mph pitch. There's also the unconfirmed legend of Eddie "The King" Feigner throwing 104 mph in 1959, which is, you know, a pretty wild story. For more information on sports records, you can check out a reputable sports news site like ESPN.
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![Aroldis Chapman - 105 MPH [HD] (Fastest Pitch Ever) - YouTube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f3wJ-HgsnCg/maxresdefault.jpg)
Aroldis Chapman - 105 MPH [HD] (Fastest Pitch Ever) - YouTube
