Perception of pre war baseball players vs other sports

[steve B]

I think that a big part of it is that while the way the game is played changes back and forth between small ball and home runs over all, the game doesn't really change all that much. How many years were there when hitting 300 was unusual? The only reason for fluctuations in stuff line stolen bases and some other stuff is in how the game is played. Few players are good enough to be allowed to operate outside the sense of "this is how the game is played"
Ruth, Rickey Henderson, Cobb, Ted Williams, could do their own thing because nobody sane would want them to not play their way.

But someone who would be stealing 30-40 bases in a running era might only do 10 -20 in a slugging era.

In other sports, the way the game is played leads to huge changes in individual production.

Fran Tarkenton was great, but because of how the game was played then vs now means you look at his stats and in todays game they appear very average. There are guys being let go that have similar stats to his best year.
Many fans don't look at the over all game, just the raw numbers.
Would guys like Tarkenton and Staubach or the lower passing numbers but more durable/verstaile players from farther back be great today? I think so.

Another change, look at something simple like thousand yard rushers. in 2000, there were more than enough to make a nice set of inserts. 23 of them. 2021? Only 7. I think that's from more platooning and specialization, plus teams getting smarter about not trying to let players get run down from overwork.
But there were only 2 in 1970, and three in 1980 so the changes in how the game is played over even a few decades have made for wildly differing stats.
I figure the big boost around 2000 was the passing game being used more opening things up for better running backs, plus maybe more plays working towards the outside.


Similar things I think are in play with Basketball and hockey.
Like the 92 olympic team was amazing basketball, but even by 96 it became a showcase for "stars" one of whom missed three straight set up tries at a dunk in a blowout of China. The NBA has sort of gone the same way.
Some set pieces to show off, a bunch of three pointers, and a bit of pretty basic stuff in between.

Hockey has been more stable, but the changes have been more stuff like pre or post goalie mask, non-wood sticks, the arrival of European players who play a different and at times less physical game than the NHL was in the 70's.

Soccer, who knows? The way it's played internationally, the teams can move leagues and level of leagues and it seems like there's no set season....