The fastest pitch I ever encountered in Westgate Hills Little League belonged to a righty from the Cubs who reminded me of one of those furry monsters in the “Little Critter” book series. It was an appropriate comparison because he was just that: a mean little critter.
And his fastball was legendary.
Folks from all around would line up to watch him pitch. Toddlers looked at him with veneration. Parents asked him for his autograph. Opponents just hung their heads and walked away.
Of course this a gross exaggeration. Stories similar to those have been told for well over a century.