How Fast Could John Elway Throw A Baseball? Unpacking A Sporting Legend's Arm Strength

Alivia Hettinger

31 Jul, 2025

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There's a question that often pops up when sports fans gather, a bit like trying to figure out the fastest internet speed: how fast could John Elway, the legendary quarterback, actually throw a baseball? It's a fun thought, isn't it? We all remember his incredible football throws, the way he could send a ball soaring down the field with such power and accuracy. But before those iconic moments on the gridiron, there was a different kind of diamond, a baseball field, where Elway's arm strength was also on full display.

Many people, you know, wonder about the raw athletic talent of multi-sport stars. It's one thing to see someone excel in one sport, but quite another to imagine them doing just as well, or nearly so, in a completely different game. Elway's story is a prime example of that rare kind of athletic gift, the sort that makes you stop and think about what might have been, if he had chosen a different path.

So, let's take a closer look at this fascinating piece of sports history. We'll explore his time playing baseball, what the available information tells us about his arm, and how that famous throwing ability translated from the football field to the baseball diamond. It's a bit like checking your internet speed with our simple and fast speed test; you want a clear answer, and we'll do our best to provide one, based on what we know about his incredible talent.

John Elway: A Sporting Legend's Early Days
- Personal Details & Bio Data
The Arm That Amazed: Elway's Baseball Talent
Unpacking the Velocity: What "Above 60 MPH" Really Means
Football vs. Baseball: Different Throws, Same Power
The Elusive Number: Why It's Hard to Pin Down
People Also Ask About John Elway's Arm
A Final Thought on Elway's Amazing Arm

John Elway: A Sporting Legend's Early Days

John Elway, as many know, is a name synonymous with quarterback greatness. He led the Denver Broncos to two Super Bowl victories and, for many, defines what a strong-armed, clutch player looks like. But before he became a football icon, he was, in fact, a standout baseball player. He was so good, in some respects, that he was drafted by a Major League Baseball team, the New York Yankees, not just once, but twice. This really shows the breadth of his athletic gifts, doesn't it?

His time on the baseball diamond wasn't just a casual hobby; it was a serious pursuit. He played one season of minor league baseball, showcasing his skills as an outfielder. This was, you know, long before "the drive" and those two Super Bowl victories became etched in football lore. It's a part of his story that sometimes gets a little less attention, but it's very important to understanding his overall athletic ability.

The fact that he was drafted by a professional baseball team speaks volumes about his potential in that sport. It suggests he had, at the very least, the physical tools to make a go of it. This included, obviously, a powerful arm, which is what we're really talking about when we ask how fast he could throw a baseball. His decision to stick with football, as a matter of fact, was a huge moment in sports history, and it all came down to a giant game of choices.

Personal Details & Bio Data

Detail	Information
Full Name	John Albert Elway Jr.
Born	June 28, 1960
Birthplace	Port Angeles, Washington, USA
Primary Sport	American Football (Quarterback)
Other Sport Played Professionally	Baseball (Outfielder)
MLB Draft	1979 (Kansas City Royals, 18th round), 1981 (New York Yankees, 2nd round)
Minor League Team	Oneonta Yankees (1982)

The Arm That Amazed: Elway's Baseball Talent

When John Elway stepped onto the baseball field for the Oneonta Yankees in 1982, he wasn't just there to fill a roster spot. He was a genuine prospect, and his arm, in particular, was a major talking point. He played in right field, a position where a strong, accurate arm is, you know, incredibly valuable. Outfielders need to make long throws, often on a line, to keep runners from advancing or scoring.

My text mentions a fascinating detail about his baseball throwing speed: "The hardest thrower ever may have been the denver broncos’ john elway, who may have thrown in the rare category of above 60 mph." This is a pretty significant statement, isn't it? For an outfielder, throwing a baseball at or above 60 miles per hour from the outfield is, in fact, a very good speed. It's not the kind of velocity you'd see from a major league pitcher, who often throws well over 90 or even 100 mph, but for an outfielder making a throw from the deep part of the field, it shows exceptional arm strength.

This "above 60 mph" figure, while not a precise measurement from a radar gun like you might see today with Statcast, still gives us a good sense of his capability. It puts him in a category of players with truly powerful arms, capable of making those "frozen rope" throws from the outfield. It's a bit like getting detailed results for your download speed; you want to know if it's fast enough for what you need, and 60 mph for an outfielder's throw is, you know, more than enough.

Think about it: thirty years after John Elway played his one and only season of minor league baseball, people are still talking about his arm. That's a real testament to the impression he made, even in a sport he didn't pursue long-term. He was, apparently, making throws from right field that really caught people's attention, and that, in a way, speaks volumes about his natural talent.

Unpacking the Velocity: What "Above 60 MPH" Really Means

So, we have this intriguing piece of information: John Elway possibly threw a baseball "above 60 mph" from the outfield. To truly grasp what that means, it helps to put it into context. When we talk about baseball throwing speed, there are different benchmarks depending on the position. A pitcher's velocity is measured differently than an outfielder's throw to a base, for example. Pitchers are trying to generate maximum speed over a very short distance, while outfielders are focused on distance and accuracy, with speed as a component.

For an outfielder, a throw of 60 miles per hour or more is, quite honestly, a very strong throw. It means the ball gets to its target quickly, reducing the chance for runners to advance. While it might not sound as flashy as a 95 mph fastball, remember, the outfielder is often throwing from 250-350 feet away from the plate, trying to hit a moving target or a specific base. That takes not just speed, but also a great deal of control and a good amount of arc, depending on the situation.

My text doesn't specify if this 60 mph figure was from a radar gun measurement during a game or practice, or if it was an estimation based on observation. Back then, the kind of detailed metrics we have today, like those from Statcast, simply weren't available. So, this figure is, you know, likely an observation-based assessment of his arm strength, but it's a powerful one nonetheless. It suggests his arm was in a rare category for position players.

It's also worth noting that Elway's arm had, obviously, a combination of speed and accuracy. The one thing that Elway possessed that many of these bombers didn’t have much of was accuracy. He could throw a 70 yard pass down the field and get it right on the money. This precision, in fact, would translate well to baseball, where hitting the cutoff man or a specific base with a strong throw is crucial. It's not just about how fast the ball leaves your hand; it's about where it lands, too.

Football vs. Baseball: Different Throws, Same Power

John Elway's arm strength was, arguably, his most defining physical attribute, no matter which sport he played. In football, he was known for throwing the ball incredibly far. My text states that he has thrown a football approximately 90 yards a couple of times in his career, though on average, he tended to throw the ball about 60 yards. He could, quite frankly, throw a 70-yard pass down the field and get it right on the money, which is a remarkable feat of both power and precision.

The mechanics of throwing a football and a baseball are, of course, somewhat different. A football throw involves a spiral and a different release point, while a baseball throw, especially from the outfield, is more of an overhand motion designed for a straight, hard line. However, the underlying muscular power and shoulder rotation needed for both are very similar. An arm that can propel a football 70-90 yards with accuracy is, you know, an arm that can certainly generate significant speed with a baseball.

Consider the farthest he ever threw a football publicly, which was 73 yards. That kind of distance demonstrates incredible arm talent. While we don't have a direct conversion for how a 73-yard football throw translates to baseball velocity, it strongly supports the idea that his baseball throws were indeed very powerful. It's a bit like how a fast internet connection helps all your devices; a strong arm helps in many throwing sports.

This dual-sport capability is, in a way, what makes Elway's story so captivating. He had the kind of arm that could, apparently, excel in multiple throwing disciplines. The discussion about his baseball throwing speed is, you know, just another layer to the legend of his powerful arm, showing how his physical gifts were truly exceptional, regardless of the ball he was throwing.

The Elusive Number: Why It's Hard to Pin Down

Pinpointing an exact, universally agreed-upon speed for John Elway's baseball throw is, admittedly, a bit tricky. The "above 60 mph" figure from my text is one of the clearest indications we have, but it's important to remember the context of the time. During Elway's minor league baseball season in 1982, radar guns were not as commonplace or as precisely used for every single throw in a game as they are now. We didn't have the kind of comprehensive Statcast data that tracks every pitch and every throw in real-time.

Because distance thrown is not an official statistic kept by the NFL, and similarly, precise throwing velocities for position players weren't routinely recorded in minor league baseball, much of what we know about his arm strength comes from anecdotal evidence, observations, and the general impression he left on those who saw him play. It's a bit like trying to remember the exact download speed from a test you ran years ago; you might remember it was "fast," but the precise number might be lost.

This lack of official, verifiable data means that any discussion about his exact baseball throwing speed relies on estimations and, you know, collective memory. However, the fact that the "above 60 mph" figure is mentioned, and that he was considered a "hardest thrower," really points to an arm that was well above average for an outfielder. It suggests he had the kind of arm that would make scouts take notice, which they clearly did when the Yankees drafted him.

The legend of his arm, both in football and baseball, is, in some respects, built on these strong impressions. While we might not have a precise number down to the decimal point, the general consensus is that John Elway possessed a truly powerful throwing arm, one that could make an impact in any sport where throwing was a key component. It's a testament to his natural ability that this question still sparks interest today.

A Final Thought on Elway's Amazing Arm

The question of how fast John Elway could throw a baseball really highlights the incredible athleticism he possessed. It's a reminder that some talents transcend the boundaries of a single sport. While we might not have a precise radar gun reading from his baseball days, the evidence from his football career and the anecdotal accounts from his time in minor league baseball paint a clear picture: he had, you know, a truly exceptional arm. It's a testament to his natural ability and his dedication to his craft, no matter the ball he was throwing. To learn more about John Elway's career on our site, and link to this page for more sports history, you can explore further. His legacy, after all, continues to inspire curiosity and admiration.

For more details on historical baseball statistics and player information, you might check out the Official Major League Baseball website, which is a great resource for sports enthusiasts.