For the first time, unites all of the eyewitness accounts from the coaches, analysts, teammates, and professionals who witnessed the game’s fastest pitcher in action. In doing so, it puts readers on the fields and at the plate to hear the buzzing fastball of a pitcher fighting to achieve his major league ambitions. Just three days after his high school graduation in 1957, Steve Dalkowski signed into the Baltimore Orioles system. Poised for greatness, he might have risen to be one of the stars in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Instead, he spent his entire career toiling away in the minor leagues. An inspiration for the character Nuke LaLoosh in the classic baseball film Bull Durham, Dalko’s life and story were as fast and wild as the pitches he threw. The late Orioles manager Earl Weaver, who saw baseball greats Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax pitch, said “Dalko threw harder than all of ‘em.” Cal Ripken Sr., Dalkowski’s catcher for several years, said the same. Bull Durham screenwriter Ron Shelton, who played with Dalkowski in the minor leagues, said “They called him “Dalko” and guys liked to hang with him and women wanted to take care of him and if he walked in a room in those days he was probably drunk.” This force on the field that could break chicken wire backstops and wooden fences with his heat but racked up almost as many walks as strikeouts in his career, spent years of drinking all night and showing up on the field the next day, just in time to show his wild heat again. What the called “baseball’s greatest what-If story” is one of a superhuman, once-in-a-generation gift, a near-mythical talent that refused to be tamed. Steve Dalkowski will forever be remembered for his remarkable arm. Said Shelton, “In his sport, he had the equivalent of Michaelangelo’s gift but could never finish a painting.” is the story of the fastest pitching that baseball has ever seen, an explosive but uncontrolled arm. “ …carefully attempt[s] to clarify, and even dispel, many of the myths that have surfaced about Dalkowski over the years.” —Dave Caldwell, "Few people may know the name Stephen Louis Dalkowski, but many know about him from watching Bull Durham. The film's star pitcher, Ebby Calvin (Nuke) LaLoosh, was based on the real-life character of Steve Dalkowski. Whether you have seen the film or recognize Dalkowski's name, after reading this book you will understand the man people say was 'the hardest thrower I ever saw.' This book is so well written that you will be turning the pages as fast as Dalkowski's fastball." —Pat Gillick, Dalkowski’s 1962 and 1963 teammate, Hall of Fame and 3-time World Series champion GM for the Toronto Blue Jays (1978–1994), Baltimore Orioles (1996–1998), Seattle Mariners (2000–2003) and Philadelphia Phillies (2006–2008). "The story of Steve Dalkowski defies belief, but yet it is all true, every poignant, heartbreaking word of it. It is a dual tale of what happened and what should have happened. A haunting book." —Donald Honig, author of Baseball When the Grass Was Real, and more than 35 other baseball books “An excellent account of ‘Dalko's’ athletic career written with detail from many different viewpoints by people important in his life. It will have readers learning the real story behind the legend of Steve Dalkowski. Both maddening and sad, it's a great read for not only readers who know about the talented but erratic pitcher, but also for those who have never heard of him and wish to read about an intriguing person.” —Lance Smith, The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books Blog