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Posted By: jay behrens

Can't take credit for the Hornsby/runner up numbers, that was Scott.

The approximate OPS for Hornsby was 1.100 from 1922-25

4 years spans for the league
Hornsby Bonds
OPS .747 .747
OBA .351 .327
SLG .396 .420

You can see that the league OPS for each is the same, yet the game style are totally different. In Hornsby's day, getting on base was still the thing to do, as reflected by the much higher OBA. Today, an OBA of .350 will get kudos and possible leadoff batting slot. The whole AL averaged that during Hornsby's 4 year span.

Today, it's all or nothing. The only time really see anyone take a walk anymore is when they are intentionally walked or pitched around. todays players swing for the fences and arent' concerned with getting on base, no matter how much stats pundits tell people that getting on base is as important as hitting that HR.

I'm a huge Bonds fan, but I'll still take Hornsby run over Bonds. Could imagine how todays managers would handle a batter that went 40-.400 the year before? He'd see even fewer pitches than Bonds does.

Jay

My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.