Could you or I have dominated the 1880s?

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by boneheadandrube

"you or I"

Based on this meaning a team of vintage baseball card collectors being transported back in time to chellenge a team of 1888, then I would change my answer to "No, they would kick baseball card collectors asses."

I agree with this. I think an average major leaguer could be dominant if he had a time machine to go back to that era. The average Net54 member, not so much. Unless there are some current or former players I'm unaware of on this site.

[buchner]

Why don't you guys who get a "kick" out of putting down 19th century ballplayers, pick up a history book and read how people had to live back in the 19th century. I doubt that any of you would last very long in the 1880's, and you certainly couldn't play the brand of baseball played back then. But than again, I'm sure you all could go 10 rounds with John L. Sullivan.

[drcy]

The answer is backwards human time travel is impossible (notes on time).

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by drcy

The answer is backwards human time travel is impossible (notes on time).

I would not discount the possibility. We may not have found a way to travel in time yet, but who is to say what the future my may bring?

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

I would not discount the possibility. We may not have found a way to travel in time yet, but who is to say what the future my may bring?

So - have you ever met anyone from the future?

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by bmarlowe1

So - have you ever met anyone from the future?

Everyone has time traveled...if they change time zones


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[packs]

I know people talk about the modern game, but today's player does not have to beat out half the amount of other players to earn a job as the pre-war player did. Everyone played baseball in 1910. If you were on a pro team, you were in all seriousness better than everyone else. Today I don't necessarily think that's true anymore. I think you're just better than the people who play too.

Having said that, I have to think the 1910 player was a heck of a player even if he was dwarfed physically by today's athlete.

[horzverti]

Originally Posted by buchner

Why don't you guys who get a "kick" out of putting down 19th century ballplayers, pick up a history book and read how people had to live back in the 19th century. I doubt that any of you would last very long in the 1880's, and you certainly couldn't play the brand of baseball played back then. But than again, I'm sure you all could go 10 rounds with John L. Sullivan.

You seem angry so I have to ask...are you a time traveling 19th century ballplayer? If you are, then can you tell us how you stack up against your modern game competition? Also, how did you get here? You may be able to put this debate to rest. Insert smiley face here...not trying to offend, just keeping it light.

[Mountaineer1999]

Originally Posted by horzverti

You seem angry so I have to ask...are you a time traveling 19th century ballplayer? If you are, then can you tell us how you stack up against your modern game competition? Also, how did you get here? You may be able to put this debate to rest. Insert smiley face here...not trying to offend, just keeping it light.

This is funny!

[TheBig6]

Here's an excerpt from Tim Keefe's Sabr Bio, take from it what you will. It was a different game in the 1880's , but do you think you could hit keefe at 50ft. away.

Besides pitching at different speeds, Keefe threw with different arm motions, often side-arm and underhand (submarine style, in today’s parlance) even though the overhand delivery had been legalized in 1884. He also made liberal use of the entire pitcher’s box, throwing from different angles (not simply straight on to the batter) and taking multiple steps before releasing the ball, not always pitching from a set position. Keefe was a master of the multistep hop, skip, and jump delivery, which he described in 1888 as combining “plenty of speed and strength and a series of gymnastics to terrify the batter,” in which “the pitcher had the batter completely at his mercy.” As Keefe recalled later in life, “We were pitching from a 50-foot distance then, and honestly, I sometimes used to wonder how they even hit us, with those advantages which we had.

[tjb1952tjb]

Originally Posted by TheBig6

Here's an excerpt from Tim Keefe's Sabr Bio, take from it what you will. It was a different game in the 1880's , but do you think you could hit keefe at 50ft. away.

Besides pitching at different speeds, Keefe threw with different arm motions, often side-arm and underhand (submarine style, in today’s parlance) even though the overhand delivery had been legalized in 1884. He also made liberal use of the entire pitcher’s box, throwing from different angles (not simply straight on to the batter) and taking multiple steps before releasing the ball, not always pitching from a set position. Keefe was a master of the multistep hop, skip, and jump delivery, which he described in 1888 as combining “plenty of speed and strength and a series of gymnastics to terrify the batter,” in which “the pitcher had the batter completely at his mercy.” As Keefe recalled later in life, “We were pitching from a 50-foot distance then, and honestly, I sometimes used to wonder how they even hit us, with those advantages which we had.

A pitcher's rubber and the balk rule would have doomed Keefe...such a different time.

[Frank A]

It seems that many of you guys think these guys were bums. I dought very much if anyone could go back and do better. Look at the equiptment they had. Wood bats with a handle almost as big as the head of the bat. You wouldn't be whipping that bat around like today's. How good do you think you would be in the field with a glove no bigger than your hand to catch with. Some how you guys think you would be great hitter with the mush ball they had. Most major league players would have a hard time adjusting to that, let alone a star softball player. You can never compare different eras. Frank

[egri]

Originally Posted by horzverti

You seem angry so I have to ask...are you a time traveling 19th century ballplayer? If you are, then can you tell us how you stack up against your modern game competition? Also, how did you get here? You may be able to put this debate to rest. Insert smiley face here...not trying to offend, just keeping it light.

I think maybe he's William McKinley, and he's still peeved that his doctors didn't use the x-ray machine that was on display at the fair (literally two booths away from where McKinley was shot) to search for the bullet.

Also not trying to offend here, just saw the shot and couldn't resist (no pun intended) .

[Mountaineer1999]

Originally Posted by buchner

Why don't you guys who get a "kick" out of putting down 19th century ballplayers, pick up a history book and read how people had to live back in the 19th century. I doubt that any of you would last very long in the 1880's, and you certainly couldn't play the brand of baseball played back then. But than again, I'm sure you all could go 10 rounds with John L. Sullivan.

For real?

[Jeff_cvc]

Originally Posted by buchner

Why don't you guys who get a "kick" out of putting down 19th century ballplayers, pick up a history book and read how people had to live back in the 19th century. I doubt that any of you would last very long in the 1880's, and you certainly couldn't play the brand of baseball played back then. But than again, I'm sure you all could go 10 rounds with John L. Sullivan.

I batted over .500 in little league, if I didn't retire at the ripe age of 13, I'm sure I would of dominated back then. As far as toughness, my air conditioner went out last summer, it was unbearable. I also had to walk to school, uphill both ways, and it was always snowing. Got to go, time for a warm shower, massage later today, a little tv time and ordering in some pizza. Yea, I'd definitely kick ass in the 1800's.