Ohtani is playing against much better athletes. About 50% of the players Ruth played against couldn't play in today's league. Some of Ruth's Home Runs actually bounced over the outfield fence and were called home runs.
I'd say 95% of players in Ruth's time wouldn't be in the MLB today. Drop any MLB player today as they are into the MLB in the 1920's and 1930's and we'll all know that person's name and Babe Ruth would be secondary. Look at the running version of this. No human had ever broken 4 minutes in a mile back then. The top guys today could run barefoot, trip and fall twice, and still break 4 minutes.
But today's track stars are running in Super Shoes and on super bouncy tracks.
Ohtani is playing against much better athletes. About 50% of the players Ruth played against couldn't play in today's league. Some of Ruth's Home Runs actually bounced over the outfield fence and were called home runs.
I'd say 95% of players in Ruth's time wouldn't be in the MLB today. Drop any MLB player today as they are into the MLB in the 1920's and 1930's and we'll all know that person's name and Babe Ruth would be secondary. Look at the running version of this. No human had ever broken 4 minutes in a mile back then. The top guys today could run barefoot, trip and fall twice, and still break 4 minutes.
Crazy to say that only 5% of the players back in the Ruth era would be playing today. Bob Feller began his career the year after Ruth retired. Some have estimated his velocity to be up to 104 MPH. You think he could play today? Walter Johnson? Ty Cobb?
I'd say 95% of players in Ruth's time wouldn't be in the MLB today. Drop any MLB player today as they are into the MLB in the 1920's and 1930's and we'll all know that person's name and Babe Ruth would be secondary. Look at the running version of this. No human had ever broken 4 minutes in a mile back then. The top guys today could run barefoot, trip and fall twice, and still break 4 minutes.
Crazy to say that only 5% of the players back in the Ruth era would be playing today. Bob Feller began his career the year after Ruth retired. Some have estimated his velocity to be up to 104 MPH. You think he could play today? Walter Johnson? Ty Cobb?
Yeah, this shows the poor understanding of baseball skills by people posting here. Anyone read The Sports Gene? What it takes to hurl a baseball or to hit one are traits unique to a narrow fraction of the population. It's roughly the same talent pool size and there wasn't some unique, isolated population of baseball talent discovered that would change that. It's not like humans have hit an evolutionary acceleration over the past century, either. It's essentially the same genetics, just with better inputs (training, nutrition, tech).
Crazy to say that only 5% of the players back in the Ruth era would be playing today. Bob Feller began his career the year after Ruth retired. Some have estimated his velocity to be up to 104 MPH. You think he could play today? Walter Johnson? Ty Cobb?
Yeah, this shows the poor understanding of baseball skills by people posting here. Anyone read The Sports Gene? What it takes to hurl a baseball or to hit one are traits unique to a narrow fraction of the population. It's roughly the same talent pool size and there wasn't some unique, isolated population of baseball talent discovered that would change that. It's not like humans have hit an evolutionary acceleration over the past century, either. It's essentially the same genetics, just with better inputs (training, nutrition, tech).
That’s a great book. The chapter on Jim Ryun and “trainability” is a gem. Ryun was trained horribly by today’s standards and improved far beyond his teammates in his first 9 months of running as a soph shows that in the end talent is king. Ohtani is an example of superb talent and modern training. Fun to watch.
I'd say 95% of players in Ruth's time wouldn't be in the MLB today. Drop any MLB player today as they are into the MLB in the 1920's and 1930's and we'll all know that person's name and Babe Ruth would be secondary. Look at the running version of this. No human had ever broken 4 minutes in a mile back then. The top guys today could run barefoot, trip and fall twice, and still break 4 minutes.
Crazy to say that only 5% of the players back in the Ruth era would be playing today. Bob Feller began his career the year after Ruth retired. Some have estimated his velocity to be up to 104 MPH. You think he could play today? Walter Johnson? Ty Cobb?
If you think Babe pitched 104, I have a bridge to sell you.
Crazy to say that only 5% of the players back in the Ruth era would be playing today. Bob Feller began his career the year after Ruth retired. Some have estimated his velocity to be up to 104 MPH. You think he could play today? Walter Johnson? Ty Cobb?
If you think Babe pitched 104, I have a bridge to sell you.
Crazy to say that only 5% of the players back in the Ruth era would be playing today. Bob Feller began his career the year after Ruth retired. Some have estimated his velocity to be up to 104 MPH. You think he could play today? Walter Johnson? Ty Cobb?
Yeah, this shows the poor understanding of baseball skills by people posting here. Anyone read The Sports Gene? What it takes to hurl a baseball or to hit one are traits unique to a narrow fraction of the population. It's roughly the same talent pool size and there wasn't some unique, isolated population of baseball talent discovered that would change that. It's not like humans have hit an evolutionary acceleration over the past century, either. It's essentially the same genetics, just with better inputs (training, nutrition, tech).
Babe Ruth with a personal trainer, weight room and better diet would have done fine in the modern era. He was naturally strong, without pumping iron and the baseballs were not as "lively" as they are today. Pitchers back then were not reaching 100mph but they were still in the mid to upper 80's. He used extremely heavy bats- way way heavier than modern day players use today. No doubt, had Ruth played today with a much lighter bat, his bat speed would have been on par with the best power hitters of today.
99.9% of active MLB players are far better than Babe. He played against insurance salesmen who pitched 65 mph...
LOL!!!! 65????
I was a mediocre high school pitcher back in the mid 70's (yes that may be ancient history to you) and my fastball was a whopping 76-79mph.
Major leaguers back in Babe Ruth's era were throwing much harder than that. You kids think Ruth was playing slo-pitch softball. Get a clue.
Nolan Ryan and J. R. Richard were throwing over 100 MPH 50 years ago. You don't think there were a number of pitchers 30 years before pitching close to 100 MPH?
I'd say 95% of players in Ruth's time wouldn't be in the MLB today. Drop any MLB player today as they are into the MLB in the 1920's and 1930's and we'll all know that person's name and Babe Ruth would be secondary. Look at the running version of this. No human had ever broken 4 minutes in a mile back then. The top guys today could run barefoot, trip and fall twice, and still break 4 minutes.
But today's track stars are running in Super Shoes and on super bouncy tracks.
It's not just the supershoes and tracks, it's mostly the training. Let's see how fast today's runners would be with the same diet and training as those guys in the 1929s.
Those old runners were not pros. They earned no money from running so they had full-time jobs, many doing manual labor. How fast would Jacob be if he worked in a factory all day?
Yeah, this shows the poor understanding of baseball skills by people posting here. Anyone read The Sports Gene? What it takes to hurl a baseball or to hit one are traits unique to a narrow fraction of the population. It's roughly the same talent pool size and there wasn't some unique, isolated population of baseball talent discovered that would change that. It's not like humans have hit an evolutionary acceleration over the past century, either. It's essentially the same genetics, just with better inputs (training, nutrition, tech).
Babe Ruth with a personal trainer, weight room and better diet would have done fine in the modern era. He was naturally strong, without pumping iron and the baseballs were not as "lively" as they are today. Pitchers back then were not reaching 100mph but they were still in the mid to upper 80's. He used extremely heavy bats- way way heavier than modern day players use today. No doubt, had Ruth played today with a much lighter bat, his bat speed would have been on par with the best power hitters of today.
Babe Ruth was a 6'2" 215 absolute unit. maybe he liked hot dogs, whisky, and hoooors - what of it? he would be a Hall of Famer today, with better food, drugs, and hookers
All you "genetics" people need to put up or shut up. Human genome has been mapped for decades already. Which genes are the "sports genes?" What's the common gene for an elite MLB baseball player?
If there was one, someone would have found it by now, and you'd have already made sure to mention it. Fact is, phenotype - sports ability, "talent," personality, whatever - is rarely determined by genotype at all. Genes are like a hand of pinochle, switched on and off during development, in response to the environment and who knows what else.
There's no evidence, not one shred, that elite athletes got there from how they were born, instead of how they grew up.
Of course you can't compare eras. Of course Babe Ruth wouldn't make MLB if he rolled into Spring Training for the Yankees in 2026 in 1920's shape. No one would. If he was born in 1990 and had a decent upbringing, he would be very good, but it's a lot more competitive now. Can't compare eras. He might be one of the best or not. Can't compare.
Of course you can't compare eras. Of course Babe Ruth wouldn't make MLB if he rolled into Spring Training for the Yankees in 2026 in 1920's shape. No one would. If he was born in 1990 and had a decent upbringing, he would be very good, but it's a lot more competitive now. Can't compare eras. He might be one of the best or not. Can't compare.
Also, not just 1920's shape, but never seeing the variety of pitches that are thrown now compared to then would be the biggest problem.
If you want to compare athletes from 90 to 100 years ago versus those of today, look at Jesse Owens marks:
100 meter - 10.3 (tied WR)
200 meter - 20.7 WR
400 meter relay - 39.8 WR
The 100 and 200 meters are roughly what the fastest Texas prep runs each year. The 400 meter relays is a bit slower.
Take that with a grain of salt.
But I am one who feels that yesterday's players would do better today than most people give them credit for.
Maybe take that with a grain of cinder, eh? Owens ran on completely different surfaces. Let's see what those Texas prep kids could run on cinders, after digging out their starting blocks with a little spade. Owens also faced more challenging social conditions than most athletes do today (although I suppose Nikki Hiltz race in front of the president would be equivalent to Owens racing in Berlin in 1936). He tied or broke 3 world records at the Olympics (with a 4th on the relay) You can't just throw the times up there and draw conclusions from them. Owens was the best sprinter of his era, that we know.
All you "genetics" people need to put up or shut up. Human genome has been mapped for decades already. Which genes are the "sports genes?" What's the common gene for an elite MLB baseball player?
If there was one, someone would have found it by now, and you'd have already made sure to mention it. Fact is, phenotype - sports ability, "talent," personality, whatever - is rarely determined by genotype at all. Genes are like a hand of pinochle, switched on and off during development, in response to the environment and who knows what else.
There's no evidence, not one shred, that elite athletes got there from how they were born, instead of how they grew up.
You are the dumbest poster in the thread. The book “The Sports Gene” was mentioned in two earlier posts. It goes into a lot of detail explaining the role of genetics. Read the book and you’ll hopefully understand why you train and train, yet remain a schlub who is horrible in all athletic endeavors.
If you want to compare athletes from 90 to 100 years ago versus those of today, look at Jesse Owens marks:
100 meter - 10.3 (tied WR)
200 meter - 20.7 WR
400 meter relay - 39.8 WR
The 100 and 200 meters are roughly what the fastest Texas prep runs each year. The 400 meter relays is a bit slower.
Take that with a grain of salt.
But I am one who feels that yesterday's players would do better today than most people give them credit for.
Maybe take that with a grain of cinder, eh? Owens ran on completely different surfaces. Let's see what those Texas prep kids could run on cinders, after digging out their starting blocks with a little spade. Owens also faced more challenging social conditions than most athletes do today (although I suppose Nikki Hiltz race in front of the president would be equivalent to Owens racing in Berlin in 1936). He tied or broke 3 world records at the Olympics (with a 4th on the relay) You can't just throw the times up there and draw conclusions from them. Owens was the best sprinter of his era, that we know.
Owens said Hitler actually treated him well. It was Roosevelt who treated him like garbage whn he came back to America. Look it up. The whole “Hitler hated Owens etc” story was cooked up by media people who were agitating for war even then.