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re: At what MPH does a pitcher have to throw for there no way the catcher can catch it

Posted on 5/26/25 at 3:55 pm to
Posted by ReauxlTide222
St. Petersburg
Member since Nov 2010
86634 posts
Posted on 5/26/25 at 3:55 pm to
Didn’t one catch fire?

Might be thinking of another one.

ETA: Destin from Smarter Every Day(Roll Tide) did a great video on it.

YouTube


I’d encourage anyone to watch, especially if they have young children. It’s a great channel, family friendly, and you’ll enjoy learning.

Here’s the one with the fire glove
This post was edited on 5/26/25 at 4:33 pm
Posted by Corinthians420
Iowa
Member since Jun 2022
13295 posts
Posted on 5/26/25 at 4:04 pm to
The time it takes a 90mph fastball to reach the catchers glove is about 0.46 seconds.

The average human reaction time to visual stimulus is around 250 milliseconds, and most people seem to be hard capped at around 190-200 ms with training.

Seems 200 mph would be still catchable but would frick up the catcher pretty badly or kill them based on the energy involved.
Posted by BatonrougeCajun
Somewhere in Texas
Member since Feb 2008
6828 posts
Posted on 5/26/25 at 5:30 pm to
I would think 175 would be around the max but would have to be very straight. Anything higher than that will be beyond what the brain and body can handle
Posted by BoardReader
Arkansas
Member since Dec 2007
7233 posts
Posted on 5/26/25 at 6:37 pm to
The main problem is going to be the natural run and depth of a pitch's movement. Human thrown balls tend to not go perfectly straight.

The timing of reflex reactions suggests north of 200 MPH, but the amount of run and break probably cut that significantly, so 175 isn't a bad guess.
Posted by VOR
Member since Apr 2009
65748 posts
Posted on 5/26/25 at 7:01 pm to
Randy was intimidating just watching from the stands…

Although the most fun was watching J.R. Richard pitch for something like 12 innings IIRC… It was inthe 70’s.
Posted by chinese58
NELA. after 30 years in Dallas.
Member since Jun 2004
31906 posts
Posted on 5/26/25 at 9:01 pm to
I played American Legion ball with Reuben Tatum who threw over 90 mph back in the 70's. It hurt to catch him. A batting glove didn't help. Maybe my hands are, and were extra bony, Maybe the mitt wasn't padded well enough, but the pad on my hand next to my thumb kind of stayed bruised.
Posted by wmtiger69
west monroe
Member since Nov 2007
912 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 3:31 pm to
I am a friend of both Reuben and his brother Russ. Never got to see them play, as they were a little older than me. Rumor is Reuben was a great softball pitcher and Russ could hit a softball a country mile.
Posted by West Seattle Dude
West Sesttle
Member since Aug 2023
331 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 4:56 pm to
Imagine the damage that a foul tip could do at 150 mph.
Posted by lynxcat
Member since Jan 2008
24728 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 6:05 pm to
This could be simulated pretty easily.

ChatGPT did the math...

quote:

Most MLB pitchers release the ball closer to 53–55 feet from home plate due to their stride (which averages about 6–7 feet forward from the mound).

Let’s use:

Release distance = 54 feet

Reaction threshold = 0.15 seconds (elite reflex time)

Speed = Distance / Time

Distance = 54 feet

Time = 0.15 seconds

Speed = 54 ft / 0.15 s = 360 ft/s
Convert to MPH:
360 ft/s ÷ 1.467 = ~245.4 mph


This post was edited on 5/27/25 at 6:06 pm
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