Babe hits 199 More HRs in today's game!

[Colonel_Reb]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125789565331042445.html


For sports, the time machines can help settle the debate between
nostalgic fans and those who insist the games have never been played
better. A paper a decade ago attempted to bridge the gap between
baseball players over the past century. Co-authors Shane Reese and
Scott Berry found that performance was improving, but not uniformly.
For instance, baseball players' improvement in hitting home runs was
much more dramatic than their batting-average gains -- perhaps because
of steroids, which wasn't controlled for.


Researchers for Baseball Prospectus, a sort of think tank for the
diamond, also quantified how the sport got more difficult over time.
The analyses found that Babe Ruth would continue to shine in today's
game.


Mr. Ruth would have had a lower batting average, but he would have
hit 199 more homers, making him the greatest home-run hitter ever. End
of debate -- nearly.

 

[Bear Backer]

I absolutely believe that many of the great hitters of the past would absolutely feast on today's soft and overall watered down pitching. Edited by: Bear Backer

 

[jwhite96]

When blacks and/or DWFs attempt to diminish the achievements of players like Ruth because blacks weren't in the Majors, I point out how baseball is unique in that Ruth's batting achievements were dependent on a one on one match with the pitcher. Since Blacks never dominated pitching in the Major Leagues, and considering how the baseballs were loaded up with grease and anything which would make it hard to hit and almost never replaced during Ruth's years, the presence of black pitchers would not have affected Ruth's incredible achievements. Another factor to consider is the ballpark fences were much further from home plate. In the Polo Grounds, where Ruth played his first few years for the Yankees, it was almost 500 feet to the fences in center field.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

The Babe would have torn it up had he played in modern times. I think the Georgia Peach would have batted .400+ every year as well.

JW96, outstanding points!

 

[PhillyBirds]

In the Polo Grounds, where Ruth played his first few years for the Yankees, it was almost 500 feet to the fences in center field.

Although the Babe allegedly hit a home run to right-center field that analysts estimated at almost 500 feet!

However, Babe was probably aided by the right-field wall, which was only 250ft from home plate.

Similar to how lefties like David Ortiz benefit from the Pesky Pole in Fenway Park.

 

[jwhite96]

If you read "The Year Babe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs" by Bill Jenkinson, it addresses the all the issues that have come up comparing baseball players from the pre 1930s with today's players. The author clearly establishes how on average the ball parks in the pre 1930s era were significantly more difficult to hit home runs. The author spent 30 years researching the question of how Ruth would compare with today's players. The knowledge of training elite athletes during Ruth's playing days was non existent and actually harmed the players. For example, Ruth was always advised never to run except during games to "save his legs" for the season. Ruth,when he noticed his abilities beginning to deteriorate, went to the only trainers at the time who knew what they were doing : boxing trainers who incorporated road work in his training. Edited by: jwhite96

 

[j41181]

Babe Ruth is the BEST EVER, period!! He'd make mincemeat out of today's pitcher's, because their 1920's and 1930's counterparts were so much tougher, more difficult to deal with. That's what makes Babe Ruth legendary, larger than life. To smash in 714 Homers, during an era were pitchers just knew all the angles and tricks, is simply incomparable to today. That's why his name and legacy lives on, and will do so forever. No stupid sportswriter can ever take that away, just because of some phony negative here-says and rumors about the Bambino.Edited by: j41181