People have now hit more HRs than Ruth both in a season and career. And people were hitting HRs before Ruth, he didn’t really change that game all that much. However, there is no doubt that he was great and dominate.
However, I’m surprised by the lack of credit given to Gretzky. He didn’t just play, he innovated. He would watch game after game and map out where the puck went, then he went to those areas. He had the vision set up shop behind the opponent’s net or know where to skate to after a face-off. He also redefined how teams killed penalties. Before Gretzky, coaches would put out defensive players to kill time. He would attack and turn the penalty kill into an offensive opportunity. Also, his move to the LA Kings gave hockey a national popularity that it never had before.
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