Could you hit today’s fastball with a 54 ounce bat?

[JollyElm]

I couldn't even hit a tee-ball with a 54 ounce bat.

[jingram058]

It was early on that he used a bat that big, but he always swung a club and made it look like a toothpick. Then there was his step into it swing. He was so far ahead of everyone else that he made what were previously great hitters look like kindergarten t-ballers. So many people today scientifically and with metrics and data, try to definitively say Ruth couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper sack today and that pitchers back he was playing were throwing slow pitch pitching machine softballs. Pure, unadulterated, BS, hogwash. If you believe that modern day, armchair, or just out and out jealous crap, I've got some beautiful beach front property for sale, cheap. Vote for me when I run for President.

[Yoda]

"Wee" Willie Keeler.

[mr2686]

I think Dick Allen used a 42 for quite awhile. Can't even imagine using a 54.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Originally Posted by jingram058

It was early on that he used a bat that big, but he always swung a club and made it look like a toothpick. Then there was his step into it swing. He was so far ahead of everyone else that he made what were previously great hitters look like kindergarten t-ballers. So many people today scientifically and with metrics and data, try to definitively say Ruth couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper sack today and that pitchers back he was playing were throwing slow pitch pitching machine softballs. Pure, unadulterated, BS, hogwash. If you believe that modern day, armchair, or just out and out jealous crap, I've got some beautiful beach front property for sale, cheap. Vote for me when I run for President.

All I say is put all these pumped up weightlifters back in Ruth's day with none of that stuff used, no special diets, riding lousy trains, no AC so they put their mattress out on the fire escape and slept there and no pampered traveling All-Star kids teams during your childhood. No batting helmets or body armor, brush back pitches, not a new baseball every pitch and work on the farm bucking hay or slopping the pigs. I can't see Trout doing that and he wouldn't be 220 with 6 percent bodyfat. So don't tell me how today's player is better because not one of them could take that.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by jakebeckleyoldeagleeye

All I say is put all these pumped up weightlifters back in Ruth's day with none of that stuff used, no special diets, riding lousy trains, no AC so they put their mattress out on the fire escape and slept there and no pampered traveling All-Star kids teams during your childhood. No batting helmets or body armor, brush back pitches, not a new baseball every pitch and work on the farm bucking hay or slopping the pigs. I can't see Trout doing that and he wouldn't be 220 with 6 percent bodyfat. So don't tell me how today's player is better because not one of them could take that.

OK, I'll play along. Players today are better than they were 100 years ago.

[jingram058]

Baseball pitching is baseball pitching. They weren't throwing slow pitch softballs in Ruth's day. Trying to say that the pitching today is so much better is just nonsense. There are just more of them, and they don't pitch the entire 9 inning game. Sure, they would weaken by the 5th or 6th inning. But I believe Walter Johnson was throwing 100 mph. So was Feller, who clocked with some sort of military device. Charlie Root was said to be pretty fast. Many others also. Before Joe DiMaggio died, he said he didn't see much difference in the pitching, just that they lasted longer, both in game and year in year out, and didn't break down back in the day. There weren't as many pitchers and the talent pool wasn't watered down. We've been through this ad nauseam. Believe whatever.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Baseball pitching is baseball pitching. They weren't throwing slow pitch softballs in Ruth's day. Trying to say that the pitching today is so much better is just nonsense. There are just more of them, and they don't pitch the entire 9 inning game. Sure, they would weaken by the 5th or 6th inning. But I believe Walter Johnson was throwing 100 mph. So was Feller, who clocked with some sort of military device. Charlie Root was said to be pretty fast. Many others also. Before Joe DiMaggio died, he said he didn't see much difference in the pitching, just that they lasted longer, both in game and year in year out, and didn't break down back in the day. There weren't as many pitchers and the talent pool wasn't watered down. We've been through this ad nauseam. Believe whatever.

If you consider the Double A pitching staffs of the Pirates, Reds and Cubs major leaguers.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Originally Posted by Snowman

OK, I'll play along. Players today are better than they were 100 years ago.

Only because of advancements in medical science. Let's take away all the body armor and supplements and see what happens to the pretty boys who hit a cheap homer and run around the bases throwing kisses like they found a cure for cancer.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by jingram058

It was early on that he used a bat that big, but he always swung a club and made it look like a toothpick. Then there was his step into it swing. He was so far ahead of everyone else that he made what were previously great hitters look like kindergarten t-ballers. So many people today scientifically and with metrics and data, try to definitively say Ruth couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper sack today and that pitchers back he was playing were throwing slow pitch pitching machine softballs. Pure, unadulterated, BS, hogwash. If you believe that modern day, armchair, or just out and out jealous crap, I've got some beautiful beach front property for sale, cheap. Vote for me when I run for President.

Ruth would be an elite hitter in any era. But that doesn't change the fact that the pitches he faced were far slower and with less movement than what hitters face today.

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by jingram058

It was early on that he used a bat that big, but he always swung a club and made it look like a toothpick. Then there was his step into it swing. He was so far ahead of everyone else that he made what were previously great hitters look like kindergarten t-ballers. So many people today scientifically and with metrics and data, try to definitively say Ruth couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper sack today and that pitchers back he was playing were throwing slow pitch pitching machine softballs. Pure, unadulterated, BS, hogwash. If you believe that modern day, armchair, or just out and out jealous crap, I've got some beautiful beach front property for sale, cheap. Vote for me when I run for President.

I will unless one of the parties comes up with a better candidate than we have seen in the last 20 years. Please run, you can do better.

[JollyElm]

I imagine a good percentage of the members here would look like this trying to pick up a 54 ouncer...

hugelog.jpg

[egri]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

I imagine a good percentage of the members here would look like this trying to pick up a 54 ouncer...

Attachment 536603

I resemble that remark!

[quinnsryche]

Answer: no one, not even close. Even Judge & Stanton would look silly.

[FrankWakefield]

Valid points, Hank.

EVERYONE should listen to the CDs of The Glory Of Their Times.

Before Ruth, bats were a bit longer, and the handle a bit thicker. The center of gravity of the bat was different. Players didn't want to break bats, that could get expensive.

When Ruth starts swinging for the fences, he's using heavy bats with thin handles, that moves the center of gravity toward the barrel and away from the hands. Other players start swinging those bats.

I do think that there are repetitive exercises that can increase arm speed a bit, but not to the point where everyone (I'm including all kids, not future college and professional players) can be throwing in the 90's.

Seems to me that Ruth's time and now are different. Lighting is better (I know, night games, but on dark, cloudy days parks turn on their lights). Baseballs that are in the game are cleaner; and are manufactured to be more consistent. Health care is better, including eyecare. Travel is better. Players and teams are mindful of physical fitness and conditioning. Players are generally in better shape, better able to excel at the game. If Ruth were around today, maybe he'd have a cell phone or two to facilitate carousing...