People who are anti pitch count invariably bring up baseball history, but conveniently leave out that the game and hitters have changed a lot since then. Were Spahn, Sain, Marichal, Ruth, Young, Mathewson, etc. all pitching since they were 8-9 years old? Were they playing and pitching year round? Were they going into a travel league circuit to pitch games in front of college scouts who had their sundials to get their velo? Or did perhaps they actually grow into their bodies before seriously taking up pitching? (I'm too young to know - hahaha).
<...snip...>Those old-timers probably did start pitching young and may have pitched MORE than today's youth. However, I would caution against anyone using that to make the argument that the higher pitch counts actually BUILT durability (although I think there is a decent subargument or two that may have merit). I have a theory (and that's all it is since it wouldn't even be possible to find the data I would need to prove it). I think there are those who are genetically able to sustain heavy loads pitching-wise. They aren't as susceptible to arm injuries. In the past, before pitch counts were considered, I think those that were so genetically gifted, survived the gauntlet of youth ball and many got to the majors while many other pitchers "blew out their arms" and were left behind. Today, we pay a lot more attention to a pitchers workload and we baby (and I don't necessarily use the term in a bad way) young arms. So, a lot of hard throwers today make it as far as the pros before they start seeing problems. In the past, these same pitchers might have been done somewhere in their high school years and we'd never hear of them. I think we are seeing the first generation of pitchers who have been under pitch counts since they started. I think a modern focus on pitch counts has led to a lot of guys going farther in their careers.The result is a much deeper pool of hard-throwers.
I'll give you the genetics argument - I think there's merit to that... but...
I have a hard time picturing the old-timer parents jumping into the family SUV to drive somewhere to play in some tournament miles from home... I think we're also talking about the time of trains/buses and not planes... My mental picture is more playing pickup baseball locally in between working odd jobs, hanging out with friends, going to school, playing hookey, fishin', etc. I have a recollection of reading a book about an "old time" pitcher and his workout routine involving baling hay...
The point isn't whether they threw more or less it was how they did it and what else they did... They may have thrown more, but it's all in the effort required and the environment. Growing up they also didn't have to face anyone coming up with today's metal bat technology or today's hitters who spend countless hours in a batting cage with some iron mike tossing them BP.
I'd rather "baby" my child so that he can play catch with his baby some day just like I got the chance to do with my 3 babies. My youngest baby didn't start throwing harder until he started working out with a program designed to help pitchers get bigger, faster, stronger. That's something that pitchers of yesteryear didn't have.