Nolan Ryan threw hard in his prime and in his 60s

pitchers aren't babied, but more how the speed of their pitches is clocked messes them up. 

back in the day when nolan was pitching the pitch speed was clocked when it crossed 'home' (why you see them with a more legs based approach) now it's clocked at the point of release, right out of the hand; so you have these motions that aren't really about pitching but just getting a high speed upon release.