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Whitey Ford pitched in the low 80s. Wow. That really puts things in perspective. I don't think you could make the major leagues pitching in the low 80s today. By comparison, the starting velocity for the Rays rotation is in 96 mph. Most bullpens now throw out pitcher after pitcher that can touch 95+. It really makes you wonder if most of the currently players would be considered all time greats if they played in the 50s.

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Probably. However you could make the argument that many of today's players wouldn't have had access to the sports medicine that is available today. Slow-mo analysis of pitching motion plus modern advances in understanding of biology, plus the expertise of the former greats.

Also, it's not _all_ about the fast ball. There are a good amount of pitchers who throw high-eighties/low-nineties - the difference is the amount of deceptive movement they are able to put on the ball as well as being able to locate and change speeds - both things that Whitey Ford was good at. He was also notorious for spitballs at the end of his career, something you don't get away with nowadays.

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