Posted: 4/23/2012 6:30:34 PM EDT
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Watching baseball this evening and was thinking of guys who get hit by a pitch. There's a shit ton of energy behind a wicked fastball, the "equivalent" of a .22LR at the muzzle. Of course the fastball slows down some by the time it crosses the plate and has a much bigger surface area. But the numbers are still interesting.
Justin Verlander fastest pitch = 102mph = 149.6 feet / second Weight of MLB baseball 5 to 5.25 oz = 2,296.875 grains (5.25 oz) Muzzle Energy = 110.18 ft-lbs Standard 40gr .22 LR Muzzle Velocity = 1080 ft/s Weight = 40 gr Muzzle Energy = 104 ft-lbs Ouch. |
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Fortunately, a baseball has very little penetrating ability. It might crack bone, but it won't puncture the skin and drill a hole in a vital organ. Its a little known fact but a budget rider in 1972 outlawed the use of armor piercing baseballs except by qualified LEOs or government agencies. 
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Fortunately, a baseball has very little penetrating ability. It might crack bone, but it won't puncture the skin and drill a hole in a vital organ. Its a little known fact but a budget rider in 1972 outlawed the use of armor piercing baseballs except by qualified LEOs or government agencies. Well played, sir. 
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Chapman never took any steps, but rather slowly collapsed to his knees and then the ground with blood pouring out of his left ear. The umpire quickly called for doctors in the stands to come to Chapman's aid. Eventually Chapman was able to stand and try to walk off the field, but he could not speak when he tried to do so, but only mumbled. As he was walking off the field his knees buckled and he had to be assisted the rest of the way. Chapman died 12 hours later in a New York City hospital, at about 4:30 A.M.[9] He was replaced by Harry Lunte for the rest of the game.[10] 
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The baseballs energy will be dispersed over a contact patch multiple square inches on the surface of your skin. The 22's energy will be dispersed directly to your innards as it shreds them up.
I'll take a baseball to the torso any day of the week over a 22 to the torso. However, I sure as shit don't want to take either. |
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The baseballs energy will be dispersed over a contact patch multiple square inches on the surface of your skin. The 22's energy will be dispersed directly to your innards as it shreds them up. I'll take a baseball to the torso any day of the week over a 22 to the torso. However, I sure as shit don't want to take either. Surface area does make a difference. |
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The baseballs energy will be dispersed over a contact patch multiple square inches on the surface of your skin. The 22's energy will be dispersed directly to your innards as it shreds them up. I'll take a baseball to the torso any day of the week over a 22 to the torso. However, I sure as shit don't want to take either. This. The bullet has a far lower frontal area and much higher velocity. Force = the change of momentum divided by the change of time. Force = dMomentum/dTime. dMomentum = mass * dVelocity. Pressure = Force/surface area. The flesh or anything else hit by a projectile tries to stop the projectile, right up to the moment the pressure on the thing being hit exceeds the tear pressure of the thing being hit. When the pressure on the tip of the projectile exceeds the failure pressure of the thing being hit, then penetration occurs. It is not just surface area, the time rate of change of projectile velocity is also a factor, a very large factor it turns out. Note that a bullet from a 220 Swift does more damage to metallic silhouettes than a Match King from a .308 Winchester. |
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I can attest that getting hit in the head with a fastball can crack your skull (top of my eye socket). I'd rather to that than get shot with a .22lr. Cracked my eye orbit with a comeback as a pitcher in late Highschool. Ball came back so fast, I didn't even have time to move the glove. Have taken a few lower 90s fastballs to the body, hurts for sure, but probably way better than being shot. |
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I can attest that getting hit in the head with a fastball can crack your skull (top of my eye socket). I'd rather to that than get shot with a .22lr. Do a search on Tony Conigliaro. I remember that from when I was a kid. That accident always made me think twice when I stood in the batter's box. |
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I've been hit from the batter's box and the mound and I'll take the batter's box every time. (I'll take both over getting shot by a .22 as well! )
I had a shot come back at me on the mound in highschool. I was barely out of my follow through and this line drive nailed my knee and sent me to the ground. I rolled over trying to find the ball and kept looking and looking...then I noticed the left fielder chasing something down in the outfield... 
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