Misc. Hot Stove ramblings
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Misc. Hot Stove ramblings
by ItsOnlyGil Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:19 pm
By the close of the fifties …. There were still only three members in the 500 club. The names we all know: Ruth, Ott and Foxx.. The 41 year old Splinter was about to step into the box by finishing up the ’60 season with 29 dingers, giving him 521 overall; and a big what if he didn’t have to loose so much time defending us all.
But the others were still relatively young. Aaron was in his sixth season, Mantle and Mays were also just possibles, and the others were just too far away. By the end of the century there would only be a dozen or so members. Each year the 500 club seems less significant. This past year, Sosa and Griffey joined Mays, Aaron, Ruth and Bonds in the 600+ HR Club.
The lifetime stolen bases records of Cobb and Sliding Billy Hamilton withstood the assaults of Raines and Coleman, but yielded to those of Henderson and Brock. Evenso, these leaders seem secure right now, since any challenge to their standing is yet too far away to predict right now.
Other (unbreakable) records would fall. Ruth’s 60 HRs – unbelievably to Maris. Cobb’s career hits to Rose. Even the 19th century inning RBIs record held by Ed Cartright at 7 would be beaten with 8 RBIs in an inning (by Tatis). These are really not big name players: Rose, Maris and Tatis; but they established marks which seemed unbeatable. Yet Maris’ 61 HRs again fell by the end of the century, and fell hard. Even into the 21st century the season record would continue to be assaulted. It now stands at 73! Walter Johnson’s lifetime strike outs record which stood for fifty years, could not withstand the onslaught of the ‘80s.. It now looks as if Pedro Martinez will soon push the Big Train to #10 on the all time Ks list.
What will survive the short term, anyway?
Young’s games won and lost.
Season shutout records of Pete Alexander and Grin Bradley (16).
Lifetime shutout and ERA records.
Batting average records.
It is a different game now because it has to be. The fielding gloves. And improved ballfields made the .340 lifetime averages impossible. It became easier to stand back and take your cut, than to employ the “scientific” method. And with the rewards resulting from the efforts of John Ward, Curt Flood, Danny Gardella, and others; it is far more lucrative to engage in individual heroism than to be a team member.
But the others were still relatively young. Aaron was in his sixth season, Mantle and Mays were also just possibles, and the others were just too far away. By the end of the century there would only be a dozen or so members. Each year the 500 club seems less significant. This past year, Sosa and Griffey joined Mays, Aaron, Ruth and Bonds in the 600+ HR Club.
The lifetime stolen bases records of Cobb and Sliding Billy Hamilton withstood the assaults of Raines and Coleman, but yielded to those of Henderson and Brock. Evenso, these leaders seem secure right now, since any challenge to their standing is yet too far away to predict right now.
Other (unbreakable) records would fall. Ruth’s 60 HRs – unbelievably to Maris. Cobb’s career hits to Rose. Even the 19th century inning RBIs record held by Ed Cartright at 7 would be beaten with 8 RBIs in an inning (by Tatis). These are really not big name players: Rose, Maris and Tatis; but they established marks which seemed unbeatable. Yet Maris’ 61 HRs again fell by the end of the century, and fell hard. Even into the 21st century the season record would continue to be assaulted. It now stands at 73! Walter Johnson’s lifetime strike outs record which stood for fifty years, could not withstand the onslaught of the ‘80s.. It now looks as if Pedro Martinez will soon push the Big Train to #10 on the all time Ks list.
What will survive the short term, anyway?
Young’s games won and lost.
Season shutout records of Pete Alexander and Grin Bradley (16).
Lifetime shutout and ERA records.
Batting average records.
It is a different game now because it has to be. The fielding gloves. And improved ballfields made the .340 lifetime averages impossible. It became easier to stand back and take your cut, than to employ the “scientific” method. And with the rewards resulting from the efforts of John Ward, Curt Flood, Danny Gardella, and others; it is far more lucrative to engage in individual heroism than to be a team member.
ItsOnlyGil- Retired
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