do you really think the legends of the game would have the same success today? (pitchers, pitcher)

[Familyman6]

I know this is a hot topic and each generation thinks their players were the best but do you really think guys like Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Satchel Paige, etc... would be as dominate today as they were in their era?

[Grandstander]

In every sport where it has been possible to keep exact records, it has always been a matter of linear progress toward improvement. The world records of Babe Ruth's time were all passed by athletes of Willie Mays' time, surpassed again by the runners, throwers, weight lifters, swimmers et al of the Barry Bonds generation.

If everywhere we can make precise measurements we find athletes getting bigger, faster and stronger, why would we conclude that baseball has been an exception and that the truly greats are from some previous generation?

Pitching has become immensely faster and more difficult to hit, Babe Ruth never had to deal with a continuous string of fireballers on the mound. Defense has also vastly improved, making hitting more difficult, Babe Ruth didn't have to worry about getting em past some hyper acrobatic, diving, strong armed middle infielder, much less a league full of them.

I would think that if Mike Trout could time travel to Ruth's era, he would dwarf the Babe's famous exploits. If Ruth had to face the level of competition which Trout has faced, his gaudy stats would deflate considerably.

[afterdark80]

No way.


Babe Ruth, cheater, would have been caught.

Sandy Koufax, cheater, would have been caught.
Jackie Robinson, cheater, would have been caught.

Mickey Mantle, cheater, would have been caught.
Joe DiMaggio, cheater, would have been caught.
Yogi Berra, cheater, would have been caught.

[P47P47]

Brooks Robinson would still win 16 straight Gold Gloves.

[Ghengis]

Not a chance, most of those that are still alive would have trouble even climbing out of the dugout

[biggunsmallbrains]

It’s a mute question since there’s no way to know. I’m sure many would’ve done great, but who knows.

[Bumby88]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

I would think that if Mike Trout could time travel to Ruth's era, he would dwarf the Babe's famous exploits.

So would Canseco.


OZZIE Canseco

[itsallgoodman]

Originally Posted by Bumby88

So would Canseco.


OZZIE Canseco

Nah, he'd still swing and miss a lot.

[bachslunch]

I think if guys like Honus Wagner or Carl Hubbell were transplanted to today, they would have the same drive to succeed today’s players have now. They would have access to the same conditioning and nutritional advantages players now enjoy, and surely would have taken full advantage. Wagner had elite all around skills that would work in any era, and Hubbell’s mastery of the screwball would translate reasonably to today’s game.

It’s harder to know with players whose success depended on an outmoded skill such as spitball mastery. Pitchers such as Burleigh Grimes, Stan Coveleski, and Red Faber would either have to come up with another effective “out” pitch or become expert at hiding spitball use, like Gaylord Perry did.