The following table shows progression of the world record in the men's hammer throw, as recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).[1] The first world record in the event was recognised by the IAAF in 1913.[2] As of June 21, 2009, 45 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.[2]
| Distance | Athlete | Nationality | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Ryan | New York City, United States | August 17, 1913 | |||
| Erwin Blask |  Germany | Stockholm, Sweden | August 27, 1938 | ||
| Imre Németh | Tata, Hungary | July 14, 1948 | |||
| Imre Németh | Katowice, Poland | September 4, 1949 | |||
| Imre Németh | Budapest, Hungary | May 19, 1950 | |||
| József Csermák | Helsinki, Finland | July 24, 1952 | |||
| Sverre Strandli | Oslo, Norway | September 14, 1952 | |||
| Sverre Strandli | Oslo, Norway | September 5, 1953 | |||
| Mikhail Krivonosov | Bern, Switzerland | August 29, 1954 | |||
| Stanislav Nenashev | Baku, Soviet Union | December 12, 1954 | |||
| Mikhail Krivonosov | Warsaw, Poland | August 4, 1955 | |||
| Mikhail Krivonosov | Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia | September 19, 1955 | |||
| Mikhail Krivonosov | Nalchik, Soviet Union | April 25, 1956 | |||
| Mikhail Krivonosov | Minsk, Soviet Union | July 8, 1956 | |||
| Mikhail Krivonosov | Tashkent, Soviet Union | October 22, 1956 | |||
| Hal Connolly | Los Angeles, United States | November 2, 1956 | |||
| Hal Connolly | Bakersfield, United States | June 20, 1958 | |||
| Hal Connolly | Walnut, United States | August 12, 1960 | |||
| Hal Connolly | Palo Alto, United States | July 21, 1962 | |||
| Hal Connolly | Ceres, United States | May 29, 1965 | |||
| Hal Connolly | Walnut, United States | June 20, 1965 | |||
| Gyula Zsivótzky | Debrecen, Hungary | September 4, 1965 | |||
| Gyula Zsivótzky | Budapest, Hungary | September 14, 1968 | |||
| Romuald Klim | Budapest, Hungary | June 15, 1969 | |||
| Anatoliy Bondarchuk | Piraeus, Greece | September 20, 1969 | |||
| Anatoliy Bondarchuk | Rovno, Soviet Union | October 12, 1969 | |||
| Walter Schmidt | Lahr, West Germany | September 4, 1971 | |||
| Reinhard Theimer | Erfurt, East Germany | July 4, 1974 | |||
| Aleksei Spiridonov | Munich, West Germany | September 11, 1974 | |||
| Karl-Hans Riehm | Rehlingen, West Germany | May 19, 1975 | |||
| Karl-Hans Riehm | Rehlingen, West Germany | May 19, 1975 | |||
| Karl-Hans Riehm | Rehlingen, West Germany | May 19, 1975 | |||
| Walter Schmidt | Frankfurt, West Germany | August 14, 1975 | |||
| Boris Zaichuk | Moscow, Soviet Union | July 9, 1978 | |||
| Karl-Hans Riehm | Heidenheim, West Germany | August 6, 1978 | |||
| Yuriy Sedykh | Leselidse, Soviet Union | May 16, 1980 | |||
| Jüri Tamm | Leselidse, Soviet Union | May 16, 1980 | |||
| Yuriy Sedykh | Leselidse, Soviet Union | May 16, 1980 | |||
| Sergey Litvinov | Sochi, Soviet Union | May 24, 1980 | |||
| Yuriy Sedykh | Moscow, Soviet Union | July 31, 1980 | |||
| Sergey Litvinov | Moscow, Soviet Union | June 4, 1982 | |||
| Sergey Litvinov | Moscow, Soviet Union | June 21, 1983 | |||
| Yuriy Sedykh | Cork, Ireland | July 3, 1984 | |||
| Yuriy Sedykh | Tallinn, Soviet Union | June 22, 1986 | |||
| Yuriy Sedykh | Stuttgart, West Germany | August 30, 1986 |
Many sources do not give the date of Theimer's world record. It occurred in the qualifying round of the East German Championships at Erfurt (not Leipzig), which ran from the July 3–6, 1974. His record came with his very first throw, his series being (76.60 m 73.62 m 73.28 m), which was on day two of the championships, July 4, 1974. Next day, in the championship itself, he threw 73.62 m (241 ft. 6") for first place.[4]