Would the Legendary Babe Ruth Still Be a Star if He Played Today?

[wondo]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

To answer your other question, yes, I think hand-eye is a gift that hasn't improved.

I wonder if there is some real data on that?

[JeremyW]

John- I'm guessing that there's no research on that. It is what it is. Trout has it, Miggy Cabrera has it, all of the great ones have it. Ruth had it. Ted Wiliams had it.

[Snapolit1]

Funny, I would say anyone who makes it to AAA has amazing, one in a million, hand eye coordination. I've often though what separates the good from the truly great is more a matter of mental disposition and temperament.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Funny, I would say anyone who makes it to AAA has amazing, one in a million, hand eye coordination. I've often though what separates the good from the truly great is more a matter of mental disposition and temperament.

That's part of it too, and that drive to be better like coordination is something you either have or don't.


As far as the hand/eye coordination and reaction times go, there was an article in Sports Illustrated a while back about reaction times vs perception. They mainly focused on Pujols, who surprisingly has a very average reaction time. Like almost dead on average compared to random people you can find anywhere. What he does have is a TON more information available. The test was flashing a picture of a pitcher who'd just thrown a ball. for a very brief time. In the time shown, he was able to tell pitch and location as well as other info like who the pitcher was. The average person? The better ones could tell the pitcher wasn't still holding the ball. They had a bunch of examples from other sports including a volleyball player who didn't know the balls trajectory, but identified the player and what game it was in a space of time when most of us would see nothing more than a flash of light. Simply astounding.

Steve B

[brianp-beme]

Would the Legendary Babe Ruth Still Be a Star if He Played Today?

Yes, he would still be a star, but he would have been called George Ruth, not Babe Ruth. 'Babe' is so turn of the 20th century.

Brian

[Bill77]

Would he be a pitcher or an outfielder?

Another interesting question would be is how big of an impact on baseball would he have made if he remained a pitcher for his entire career?
Even today everyone is still chasing Ruth on the home run lists even though he was pasted by Hank Aaron and now Barry Bonds. If Ruth stays a pitcher who would become the original home run king? Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, someone else? Or would baseball have still remained more about hitting for high batting average and home run hitting specialists need not apply?

[wondo]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

John- I'm guessing that there's no research on that. It is what it is. Trout has it, Miggy Cabrera has it, all of the great ones have it. Ruth had it.

I agree. I ain't got it. You could get me out with a 55 mph curve. I was watching a special on Connor Mac Gregor and all sort of reaction stats were being quoted. Again I don't deny Ruth was a near god in his time. I just am looking for some empirical argument beside, "today's players are wimps" and "players of old were so much more fundamentally sound". Always fun. I'll keep looking

[tedzan]

Too, too many stories about the Babe not taking care of his physique. Not really true. In 1925 Ruth was out of shape, his weight peaked up to 245 lbs,
and his "less than Ruthian" performance that year reflected this.

The Babe was determined to get back into shape. So, during the Winter of 1925 he started a rigorous physical training regime at a New York City gym.
And, every Winter there-after, Ruth continued this fitness program. By the start of the 1926 season, Ruth's weight was down to 205 lbs; and, in 1926
his fitness program paid him dividends.

Do the research, and you'll be amazed when you compare Ruth's performance from 1926 - 1932 with his performance during his younger years.

George Herman Ruth was the best there was circa 1915 - 1934. And, would be the best there is if he were playing the game today.






TED Z
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