Clayton Kershaw, R.A. Dickey and Sandy Koufax are three of the greatest pitchers in history, according to many experts. They all achieved incredible feats while using a unique pitching style that has since been copied by many others.
Though they’ve retired from professional baseball, each pitcher’s influence is still felt today by batters around the world. If you’re looking to learn more about how these legends pitched, be sure to check out some of their classic books or documentaries on Netflix or YouTube.
Keep your eyes open for future greats who may one day challenge these legendary pitchers for supremacy in the sport of baseball.
What Is The Nastiest Pitch In Baseball History?
Clayton Kershaw, R.A. Dickey and Sandy Koufax are three of the greatest pitchers in history and all three have a very low WHIP (0.92 or less). Hoffman is another pitcher with a great WHIP (1.00) who has won more games than any other relief pitcher in baseball history.
Maddux was known for his complete game victories and he had one of the lowest batting averages (.248) among Hall of Famers who played at least 10 seasons in the majors. Finally, Greg Maddux is also one of only four players to win 200 games as a starting pitcher and 150 as a reliever, which demonstrates his versatility on the mound.
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw has thrown the nastiest pitch in baseball history, and it’s all thanks to his devastating curveball. The pitch makes batters look silly, and it’s always a hit when Kershaw uses it in a game.
He’s won countless awards for this deadly offering, and there is no doubt that he is one of the greatest pitchers of all time. If you ever get the chance to see him play live, don’t miss out on experiencing his incredible pitching skills firsthand.
No matter what team you support, make sure you check out Clayton Kershaw when he comes to your town – he will leave an unforgettable impression.
R.A. Dickey
R.A. Dickey’s nastiest pitch in baseball history is a no-hitter that was broken up by Carlos Beltran with one out in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2011 American League Division Series.
The ball sailed over Beltran’s head and appeared to be heading for the bleachers, but he made an incredible leaping catch to preserve what would have been a complete game victory for New York Yankees fans.
Dickey said after the game that it was “the worst pitch I’ve ever thrown.” The incident led to some heated words between Dickey and Beltran, who exchanged punches at a nightclub later that night following their playoff loss to the Texas Rangers .
In 2012, Dickey signed a five-year, $120 million contract with Toronto Blue Jays , hoping to put his ugly postseason past behind him.
Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax had one of the most memorable – and nastiest – pitches in baseball history. His knuckleball is still considered one of the hardest pitches to hit, even today.
It’s no wonder that he was a dominant pitcher during his time, and has since been named one of the greatest players in history. Watch him throw this pitch below to see why it’s so difficult to hit: If you want to witness some truly amazing pitching skills, be sure to check out a game between Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson.
Trevor Hoffman
In 1988, Trevor Hoffman became the National League’s all-time saves leader when he recorded his 542nd save in a game against the Montreal Expos. The following year, he helped lead the San Diego Padres to their first World Series victory since 1978 and was named MVP of the series.
Hoffman is also known for making what has been called one of baseball’s nastiest pitches ever – an intentional walk that led to a home run by Kirk Gibson in 1988 playoffs game seven which gave the Dodgers their first championship in 29 years. He retired from playing Major League Baseball after recording his 607th save on September 28, 2004 – a record that still stands today.
Hoffman is currently working as a baseball analyst for Fox Sports and ESPN.
Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux is widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, and his career was marked by many incredible achievements. He won multiple pitching awards throughout his career, including three Cy Young Awards and an MVP Award.
However, some of Maddux’s most memorable moments came on the field during particularly difficult matchups – such as when he gave up a walk-off home run to Kirk Gibson in the 1990 World Series. In total, Maddux registered 514 wins over his 19-year professional career – making him one of the most successful pitchers ever.
If you’re looking to experience what it’s like to throw against one of MLB’s all-time greats, don’t miss out on experiencing a game live at one of our stadiums.
What is the weirdest pitch in baseball?
In 1975, Spaceman Lee threw an eephus pitch that caught Bob Gibson off guard and led to a hit by Willie Mays in Game 7 of the World Series. Since then, there have been many other unusual pitches thrown in baseball games – from knuckleballs to screwballs.
Some pitchers even use “fireball” pitches that reach speeds over 100 miles per hour. So next time you’re watching a game, be on the lookout for some truly weird pitches being hurled at record-breaking speeds.
What is a filthy pitch in baseball?
A filthy pitch is a dirty or off-color pitch that is used to upset an opponent. It can be a nasty curveball with lot of movement, which is usually thrown for third strike.
Breaking ball, when thrown for third strike is also referred to as a “foul tip” and it’s considered one the dirtiest pitches in baseball because it breaks so much more than other pitches do.
Who threw the hardest pitch ever?
One of the most exciting things to watch in a baseball game is when a pitcher throws his hardest pitch. This can be something as simple as a fastball or curveball, but it’s always thrilling to see.
Some pitchers are able to throw harder than others, and this may come down to their natural ability or practice. But no matter who threw the hardest pitch ever, we all admire their strength and skill.
- Aroldis Chapman is the fastest pitcher in MLB history and he threw a pitch that was clocked at 100 mph. This incredible pitch helped him earn his place as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
- While there are many fast pitches thrown in baseball, Chapman’s fastball has set a new record for speed. It’s no wonder he is considered one of the best pitchers in the game today.
- If you’re looking to see some of the world’s most powerful throws, look no further than Major League Baseball – where Aroldis Chapman reigns supreme.
- When it comes to throwing hard pitches, few can beat Chapman on sheer power and speed. His ability to throw strikes with ease makes him an unstoppable force on the mound – often causing opposing batters to quiver in their boots.
- Have you ever seen anything like it before? No matter how hard you try, you just can’t top what Chapman has been able to do when it comes to pitching prowess.
What pitch is banned in MLB?
A pitch is banned in MLB if it goes above or below the horizontal plane. This includes pitches that are thrown at any time while the batter is on first base, second base, third base or home plate.
Spitball
The spitball is a type of pitch that is banned in MLB. This pitch was originally designed to be used by pitchers who couldn’t throw their normal pitches because they had mucus or other foreign substances on their hands. The wind resistance and weight altered on one side of the ball are also reasons why this pitch is banned.
A Foreign Substance Applied To Ball
If you apply any kind of substance to the baseball, it will most likely be illegal under MLB rules since it can create an atypical motion on the ball which can lead to a prohibited pitch. Examples of substances that could cause this issue are saliva, blood, dirt, etc.
Wind Resistance & Weight Altered On One Side Of The Ball
When you throw a pitched ball with more power towards right-handed hitters than left-handed hitters, the wind pressure will push down harder on the side of the ball that’s facing away from home plate compared to when you’re throwing equally powerful balls toward both sides of the plate. This change in air pressure causes weight alterations as well so even if you don’t add any foreign substance to your baseballs – they may still be considered illegal under MLB rules if they have unusual weights or shapes due to how much air pressure pushes them around during flight.
What is the rarest pitch in baseball?
There are many different types of pitches in baseball, but the rarest pitch is called a knuckleball. This type of ball is thrown with only one hand and spins around its axis rather than moving straight forward. Because of this spin, it can be very hard to hit and usually results in few hits per game.
- A screwball is a type of pitch that is thrown with an unconventional grip and motion. It’s usually thrown from the left side of the mound, below the strike zone and towards right-handed batters.
- The tax on a pitcher’s arm refers to how much money he can make for every time he throws a rare pitch – this varies depending on what league you’re in. In Major League Baseball (MLB), for example, a pitcher can earn up to $250,000 per season if they throw at least one rare pitch during their career.
- There are only around 30 pitchers who have ever thrown a true screwball. This makes it one of the most uncommon pitches in baseball history.
- A rarity isn’t always indicative of quality – some rare pitches are actually less effective than more common ones. For example, there are few knuckleballs but they’re considered among the best pitches in baseball because they generate so many swings and misses; while there are dozens of curveballs but only about ten that are truly special (and these may not even be used as regularly).
- The term “rare” doesn’t just refer to how often something happens – it also depends on its quality or usefulness when it does happen. So while throwing a screwball might be fairly unusual, having one could still be very useful indeed.
To Recap
There is no clear consensus on what the nastiest pitch in baseball history is, but some believe that Don Drysdale’s infamous “Voodoo” pitch to Ron Guidry in 1978 was particularly brutal.
Other candidates for this title include Dennis Eckersley’s wild pitches that led to home runs during the 1991 World Series and Nolan Ryan’s 1981 gem against the Philadelphia Phillies. As with any debate about historical greatness, opinions will vary – so make your own judgment based on whatever information you have.
