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I remember rooting for the Dodgers when I was a Kid. Seems like every year it would be the same guys at the same position, didn't have to worry about Reese or Snyder or Campanella being traded away. This was my team and my guys and they were going to be Dodgers for ever.
Now you have no idea if the best player on your team is going to be around next year.
Remember these famous players who were hated by Yankee fans, Strawberry, Cone, Gooden, Seaver. They were all my guys at one time on the Mets.
Jerry Seinfield was right we're just cheering for uniforms.
I remember rooting for the Dodgers when I was a Kid. Seems like every year it would be the same guys at the same position, didn't have to worry about Reese or Snyder or Campanella being traded away. This was my team and my guys and they were going to be Dodgers for ever.
Now you have no idea if the best player on your team is going to be around next year.
Remember these famous players who were hated by Yankee fans, Strawberry, Cone, Gooden, Seaver. They were all my guys at one time on the Mets.
Jerry Seinfield was right we're just cheering for uniforms.
I think players were traded around in the 50s just as much as they are today.
It's true, the Yankees weren't involved in many trades then. They acquired Allie Reynolds in a trade from Cleveland, but all the rest in about 1950 were home grown. But most other teams traded away their players regulary. If the Yankees wanted somebody like Turley or Ditmar, they'd trade about ten minor leaguers to get him, and would also get somebody like Mize or Slaughter ir Sain in August for the stretch run.
The number of trades then was probably even more than today, but the balance is tilted by free agency acquisitions and contract dumping.
To give you an idea on how the game and players mentality has changed over the decades:
Last year Jose Reyes wins the batting title with a bunt that seals his average at .337 then leaves the game to preserve the title.
In 1941, Ted Williams played through an entire double header in the last games of the season, declining to sit out and risking his .400 batting average. As it turned out he went 6-8 and finished with a .406 average.
Coolhand68 is right. I'm a fan OF ESPN"s Sport Century, they did a one hour documentary on Williams early 2000 or so. That particular subject came up in the doc.
Williams was quoted as he was talking to his manager about the idea of sitting out the doubleheader so he could keep his .3996 (I think) average (which technically would make it .400.) "Listen, I'm not going to hit .400 sitting on the bench". One of the books I read on this subject that talked about this had umpire Bill McGowan saying to Ted as he got up for his first time at bat, "In order to hit.400, a batter has to stay loose." And Philadelphia catcher Frankie Hayes said to Ted, "Mr. Mack (manager Connie Mack) said we're going to pitch to you today, but we're not giving you anything. You've got to earn it."
He did too! In that book (can't remember the title), McGowan told the writers, "Ted could have sit on the bench and got .400. That's not who Ted Williams is though. He went after every pitch with a vengeance."
Jerry Seinfield was right we're just cheering for uniforms.
I've never seen an episode of Seingfeld but I think I agree with that. We're rooting for a city. I don't care who plays for the Dodgers or Angels, I just want my city (region) to win.
Juan Marichal ended up in the Dodgers.
Reggie Jackson played for the Angels.
Juan Marichal ended up in the Dodgers.
Reggie Jackson played for the Angels.
Both were on enemy teams previously.
That's another demonstration of how baseball has changed. After the 1956 season, the Dodgers planned to trade Jackie Robinson to their crosstown rivals, the Giants. Rather than put on a Giant uniform, Robinson retired.
That's another demonstration of how baseball has changed. After the 1956 season, the Dodgers planned to trade Jackie Robinson to their crosstown rivals, the Giants. Rather than put on a Giant uniform, Robinson retired.
I suppose anything is possible. I wonder if there is more to the story than that.
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