Greatest Stuff of All Time

[AcidRock23]

Then there's the whole question of 'stuff' on the balls before they started using clean balls c. 1920, loogies, chaw, licorice, you name it...there WAS some nasty stuff on those balls...

[HOOTIE]

The question wasn't who was the greatest pitcher, but who has the greatest stuff. That usually means: hardest throwing, most intimidating, hardest to hit, raw power, best tools (regardless of results), etc.

Using that criteria, i can't of anyone that beats Ryan. Randy Johnson is there. Pedro as well.

[HOOTIE]

Ryan was tough to hit because he didn't through many pitches in the strikezone.

While that is true, his BA against, and K's, suggest many hitters swung at balls.

[NZF]

Considering I've only been following baseball for a handful of years, I've found this thread very interesting.

Who do you guys consider having the "best stuff" in baseball today.

My Top 10 would be something like this.

AJ Burnett
Eric Gagne
Brad Lidge
Ben Sheets
Rich Harden
Jose Contreras
Johan Santana
Roy Oswalt
Carlos Zambrano
Kelvim Escobar

[liv4socr20]

how can prior not be onthat list. Have you ever seen the electricity on his fastball. That 2-seamer when its on is almost unhittable. What about Rick Ankiel 4 wild pitches in one inning his stuff must be nasty.......just kidding

I remember watching Greg Maddux 10 years ago. The movement on all his pitches were ridiculous. I saw more batters turn around knowing they were just k'd looking by the nastiness of maddux in one game then i saw all season for the yankees this year. Just throwing that out there

[stomperrob]

How about Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn - pitched 73 complete games in 1884 for the Providence Grays - 60 wins!!! He had a 1.38 ERA that season in 678 2/3 IP's with 441 K's.
And for some useless trivia, some say that the term "charley horse" was named after him.
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofer ... harles.htm

[HOOTIE]

And there was this kid in the minors who had this fastball that everyone who saw him considered to be the fastest ever. His name escapes me...

Steve Dalkowski

[dcskater619]

i would also say pedro in the late 90s..but modern day i think prior wins this easily..

[ayebatter]

i would also say pedro in the late 90s..but modern day i think prior wins this easily..

the 90's isn't 'modern day', what are you 15..................................... I saw Kofax,Gibson,Pedro,Ryan etc. - the best stuff combined with the most frightful presence was Randy Johnson.

[ukrneal]

Then there's the whole question of 'stuff' on the balls before they started using clean balls c. 1920, loogies, chaw, licorice, you name it...there WAS some nasty stuff on those balls...

No need to go back so far. Gaylord Perry springs to mind!