I remember the day when a guy hitting .275 did not stay in the bigs---now a guy can make 7 million plus by hitting .235
Pitchers under .500 winning percentage and an ERA of 5 plus makes 10 million or more
Weird !!!
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I suppose it just goes to show how the rules remain the same but the game within the game has changed dramatically.
Mound changes, newer bigger parks, better conditioning among players, ball composition all affect the game and player results.
Mound changes, newer bigger parks, better conditioning among players, ball composition all affect the game and player results.
A 12-14, 4.90 pitcher who throws 200 innings has leverage in free agency as an innings eater. Twenty years ago he'd be released.
TR,
The money sure has changed, but I would have loved being a .275 hitter in the Big Leagues at anytime. .275 can make for a long profitable career.
The batting average for the entire history of the Major Leagues is somewhere around .262. I believe there are players in the Hall of Fame with a lower life time batting average than .275.
Here are a few…
Ozzie Smith – .262
Bill Mazeroski – .260
Carleton Fisk - .269
Phil Rizzuto - .273
Reggie Jackson - .262
Brooks Robinson - .267
Ernie Banks - .274
Here are the league batting averages going back every decade of my life. Notice how close 2008 and 1948 are.
2008 League Batting Ave.
NL - .260
AL - .268
1998
NL - .262
AL – .271
1988
NL - .248
AL – .259
1978
NL - .254
AL – .261
1968
NL - .243
AL - .230
1958
NL - .262
AL – .254
1948
NL – .261
AL – .266
The money sure has changed, but I would have loved being a .275 hitter in the Big Leagues at anytime. .275 can make for a long profitable career.
The batting average for the entire history of the Major Leagues is somewhere around .262. I believe there are players in the Hall of Fame with a lower life time batting average than .275.
Here are a few…
Ozzie Smith – .262
Bill Mazeroski – .260
Carleton Fisk - .269
Phil Rizzuto - .273
Reggie Jackson - .262
Brooks Robinson - .267
Ernie Banks - .274
Here are the league batting averages going back every decade of my life. Notice how close 2008 and 1948 are.
2008 League Batting Ave.
NL - .260
AL - .268
1998
NL - .262
AL – .271
1988
NL - .248
AL – .259
1978
NL - .254
AL – .261
1968
NL - .243
AL - .230
1958
NL - .262
AL – .254
1948
NL – .261
AL – .266
Very interesting, PG Staff. I always figured the average was around .270. Makes you think how great Ted Williams really was.
Here are some more interesting stats about years that Pitchers in the Hall of Fame had
Hall of Famer #1 had the following W-L years
6-8
6-8
14-16
17-18
10-10
12-12
5-8
14-15
6-9
Hall of Famer #2 had the following W-L years
12-18
15-15
16-20
15-18
7-7
11-11
7-13
Hall of Famer #3 had the following W-L years
6-9
7-11
10-14
17-18
10-13
10-12
8-16
5-9
The pitchers are Fergie Jenkins, Phil Niekro and Nolan Ryan.
Hall of Famer #1 had the following W-L years
6-8
6-8
14-16
17-18
10-10
12-12
5-8
14-15
6-9
Hall of Famer #2 had the following W-L years
12-18
15-15
16-20
15-18
7-7
11-11
7-13
Hall of Famer #3 had the following W-L years
6-9
7-11
10-14
17-18
10-13
10-12
8-16
5-9
The pitchers are Fergie Jenkins, Phil Niekro and Nolan Ryan.
Add Johnny Bench to your list...career .267 hitter.
Hit .270 in his 1972 MVP year.
Of course, like Ozzie, Brooks Robinson and some of the others on the list, his defense was unparalleled and he had a little pop in his bat.
Hit .270 in his 1972 MVP year.
Of course, like Ozzie, Brooks Robinson and some of the others on the list, his defense was unparalleled and he had a little pop in his bat.
In case you haven't figured it out yet the game is all about hyping and protecting players to create excitement so people will buy tickets. Most of the great athletes and ball players never even made it to the draft.
JMO
JMO
BBkaze,
I'm afraid I haven't figured it out yet. What do you mean by most great athletes and ball players never even made it to the draft. Are you referring to players from places like the Dominican Republic or Japan? Or are you referring to old time players that played before the draft existed?
I'm afraid I haven't figured it out yet. What do you mean by most great athletes and ball players never even made it to the draft. Are you referring to players from places like the Dominican Republic or Japan? Or are you referring to old time players that played before the draft existed?
PGStaff said: I'm afraid I haven't figured it out yet. What do you mean by most great athletes and ball players never even made it to the draft. Are you referring to players from places like the Dominican Republic or Japan? Or are you referring to old time players that played before the draft existed?
__________________________________________________________
No insult intended to those who have had the privilege to be drafted and are enjoying their years in the MLB. But the subjectivity of talent selection starts long before HS and is very much impacted by neighborhood politics, ethics, and monetary position. Then there is the very subjective nature of youth coaching, such that in most cases causes most youngsters to play basketball, football. or soc*cer. But knowledgeable baseball instruction is not available without cost and most ahtletes as we know come from meager circumstances.
Then there are those in charge of coaching, those in charge of All-Star selection and those who are able to promote their own over others who may never even see playing time to cull the herds of players who do not "fit" a certain modality...seeing that happen a lot in our area.
Add it all up and I would say with certainty that most great athletes and great ball players never see the draft.
As to what era would you like to speak about when discussing great athletes and baseball. Pre World War II or after World War II. Only difference is that the MLB turned to offshore talent to save money, which supports the contention that USA great athletes from youth on up are being short changed and eliminated even before they get a chance to compete.
JMO
__________________________________________________________
No insult intended to those who have had the privilege to be drafted and are enjoying their years in the MLB. But the subjectivity of talent selection starts long before HS and is very much impacted by neighborhood politics, ethics, and monetary position. Then there is the very subjective nature of youth coaching, such that in most cases causes most youngsters to play basketball, football. or soc*cer. But knowledgeable baseball instruction is not available without cost and most ahtletes as we know come from meager circumstances.
Then there are those in charge of coaching, those in charge of All-Star selection and those who are able to promote their own over others who may never even see playing time to cull the herds of players who do not "fit" a certain modality...seeing that happen a lot in our area.
Add it all up and I would say with certainty that most great athletes and great ball players never see the draft.
As to what era would you like to speak about when discussing great athletes and baseball. Pre World War II or after World War II. Only difference is that the MLB turned to offshore talent to save money, which supports the contention that USA great athletes from youth on up are being short changed and eliminated even before they get a chance to compete.
JMO
BBKaze,
Some very good points you made there. We are trying to work hard with the Jackie Robinson Foundation to address some of those problems.
When we see someone like Carl Crawford (one of those great athletes) who can escape poverty by playing baseball it should tickle all true baseball fans.
Sorry I misunderstood your first post.
Some very good points you made there. We are trying to work hard with the Jackie Robinson Foundation to address some of those problems.
When we see someone like Carl Crawford (one of those great athletes) who can escape poverty by playing baseball it should tickle all true baseball fans.
Sorry I misunderstood your first post.