Which pre-war stars could play today?

[Mark]

Originally Posted by John V

Dan P and Backstroke are right on the money. Today's athletes are bigger, better, stronger. IMO, very few if any of our pre-war heroes would have a chance in today's game.

If that's true, it makes little sense for you to regard them as your heroes.

[cubsfn01]

I would think that the pre-war stars may not even make it on the field, if they were playing a all star game against the best of the 21st century. The minute someone told them the game would be played at Wrigley Field, Ruth would blurt out, "they are still using that freaking dump?", and all the old timers would be laughing so hard they would get back in the time machine and go home!!

[rhettyeakley]

Ask Ruben Sierra how getting bigger and stronger helped out his baseball career.

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

Ask Ruben Sierra how getting bigger and stronger helped out his baseball career.

...and Brian and Marcus Giles (Roid Brothers)....and Mark Prior.....and.....

[John V]

We're not talking about steroid users.

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by John V

We're not talking about steroid users.

Well if your talking modern day ball players (Arod, Manny, Pudge) then you are talking steroid users. And the ones not on Roids are on other growth supplements. So kinda hard to compare players from 70+ years to modern players.

It's like saying do you think the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War could take on todays Army. It's apples and onions.

[DanP]

I read an article in Baseball Digest 20+ years ago. The writer suggested that Babe Ruth should have an asterisk next to his home run record, not Roger Maris. His reasoning (if I remember correctly) was that most of the pitchers that the Babe hit his HR's off of would not even have made it to the majors in 1961. He listed all the pitchers and I think some stat's.

I believe that is true, while there certainly were some great pitchers back then, most would not make it to AAA in today's game.

I did a quick google search, here's the list:
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats12c.shtml


Dan

[DanP]

Originally Posted by Mark

If that's true, it makes little sense for you to regard them as your heroes.

Saying they couldn't compete in today's game has no bearing on whether we should call them heroes. Personally I've never considered any baseball player (or any other professional athlete) a hero not even when I was a kid.

It's not even close to fair comparing them to players from today, just a fun topic of discussion.

Dan

[Mark]

Originally Posted by DanP

Saying they couldn't compete in today's game has no bearing on whether we should call them heroes. Personally I've never considered any baseball player (or any other professional athlete) a hero not even when I was a kid.

It's not even close to fair comparing them to players from today, just a fun topic of discussion.

Dan

I don't think there's much fun to be had in a discussion if no one learns anything from it.

[prewarsports]

It is an endless debate, but the bottom line is that in every other sport there is proof that todays athletes are better, and they are.

However there is not ONE SHRED of evidence to actually suggest the guys from 100 years ago in Baseball would not be as good today because in baseball faster/bigger/stronger does not make you a better baseball player.


My final thought:


If it was all about bigger/faster/stronger then Ozzie Canseco would be in the Hall of Fame and Ozzie Smith would not be!

Rhys

[ValKehl]

IMO, at the very least, even without much of a breaking ball, Walter Johnson would be a killer closer in today's game.
Val

[DanP]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

It is an endless debate, but the bottom line is that in every other sport there is proof that todays athletes are better, and they are.

However there is not ONE SHRED of evidence to actually suggest the guys from 100 years ago in Baseball would not be as good today because in baseball faster/bigger/stronger does not make you a better baseball player.


My final thought:


If it was all about bigger/faster/stronger then Ozzie Canseco would be in the Hall of Fame and Ozzie Smith would not be!

Rhys

Rhys, I agree with you. If you dropped Ozzie Canesco into the 1910's in the condition he was in during his prime for a period of 15 years he would be in the HOF!! LOL...