Which pre-war stars could play today?

thekingofclout · #1 01-21-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prewarsports

Short answer ALL OF THEM could play today!

Bigger and stronger does not mean better. If Billy Wagner at 5' 9" can throw 100 MPH out of sheer God Given ability are we really to assume that guys born 100 years ago couldn't because they didn't have Gatorade?

Is Ichiro any different than Cobb, is he any bigger faster or stronger?

Is Tim Lincecum any bigger/faster/stronger than the pitchers of 100 years ago?

Jays argument is the one I always make. 100 years ago there were 16 MLB teams that EVERY kid athlete in the world wanted to be on. Today there are about 200 pro sports teams that divide kids up at young ages between the sports. Example, Collin Kaepernick (Nevada's College Qaurterback) could throw 99 MPH as a High Schooler but chose Football. That would not have happened in the past and he would have been right there competing with every other kid in America for the few Baseball spots.

100% EVERY star Baseball player of the prewar era could play in the Major Leagues today.

To me the better argument would be can any of todays playes make the transition back 100 years ago and be any good. That would be a much tougher task than the players of yesterday suddenly being given better equipment/facilities/salary/lifestyle and asking them to perform!

Rhys

As usual, Rhys is spot on! I completely agree.

John V · #2 01-21-2011, 02:41 PM

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.

Mark · #3 01-21-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

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 · #4 01-21-2011, 03:00 PM

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 · #5 01-21-2011, 03:14 PM

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

Shoeless Moe · #6 01-21-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

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 · #7 01-21-2011, 04:02 PM

We're not talking about steroid users.

DanP · #8 01-21-2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

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 · #9 01-21-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

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 · #10 01-21-2011, 09:00 PM

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 · #11 01-22-2011, 12:28 AM

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 · #12 01-22-2011, 06:26 AM

Quote:

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...

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