Baseball History Thread

[OleMissCub]

Can someone explain why pitchers in the 30s-60s could pitch on two days' rest and both ends of a doubleheader without breaking down? I'm looking at Cy Young's wins record on Unbreakable Records on ESPN and it seems like he and others back then were a different species or something

 

Well, what you are implying about pitchers back then and their rubber arms is a bit exaggerated. I think their innings pitched is often times higher than modern pitchers because relievers weren't used as much back then. As a starting pitcher back then, you were generally expected to try and pitch a complete game, win or lose. This actually isn't an idea that is too far away from where we are now. For example, the most complete games last year was 7; in 1998 it was 15; in 1988 it was 15; in 1978 it was 23, and in 1968 it was 30!

 

Let's look at some of the great pitchers throughout history based on their 162 game averages:

 

Cy Young (1890-1911): 32 games started, 290 IP

Christy Mathewson (1900-1916): 31 GS, 274 IP

Mordecai Brown (1903-1916): 27 GS, 265 IP

Walter Johnson (1907-1927): 30 GS, 273 IP

Pete Alexander (1911-1930): 31 GS, 272 IP

Lefty Grove (1925-1941): 28 GS, 249 IP

Carl Hubbell (1928-1943): 30 GS, 252 IP

Dizzy Dean (1930-1947): 28 GS, 244 IP

Bob Feller (1936-1956): 31 GS, 246 IP

Warren Spahn (1942-1965): 31 GS, 251 IP

Whitey Ford (1950-1967): 31 GS, 230 IP

Bob Gibson (1959-1975): 32 GS, 261 IP

Juan Marichal (1960-1975): 33 GS, 257 IP

Ferguson Jenkins (1965-1983): 32 GS, 243 IP

Nolan Ryan (1966-1993): 33 GS, 231 IP

Tom Seaver (1967-1986): 33 GS, 249 IP

Jim Palmer (1965-1984): 32 GS, 248 IP

Steve Carlton (1965-1988): 33 GS, 244 IP

Roger Clemens (1984-2007): 33 GS, 236 IP

Greg Maddux (1986-2008): 33 GS, 230 IP

Randy Johnson (1988-2008): 33 GS, 233 IP

Pedro Martinez (1992-2008): 31 GS, 218 IP

 

some modern guys:

Zambrano: 32 GS, 214 IP

Halladay: 32 GS, 228 IP

Oswalt: 33 GS, 223 IP

Santana: 28 GS, 210 IP

 

The basic games started and innings pitched really hasn't changed all that much throughout history.

[OleMissCub]

Can someone explain why pitchers in the 30s-60s could pitch on two days' rest and both ends of a doubleheader without breaking down? I'm looking at Cy Young's wins record on Unbreakable Records on ESPN and it seems like he and others back then were a different species or something

 

Awful hitters who didn't require any effort to get out. Lots of them.

 

Take the 1946 Cardinals. They had Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter, and Whitey Kurowski, but their other 5 hitters OPS'ed under .700. And they led the league in runs.

 

I don't know if that's really the right answer. I'm not saying you are wrong, because clearly there are better hitters today than back then due to the talent pool increase. However, your Cardinals example was pretty narrow and was just looking at one team in a single year. Let's look at NL league OPS by decade. Now, we have to remember that the very low .OPS in '06 and '16 is due to the fact that slugging wasn't very high in those days i.e. deadball era.

 

1906: .658 (league slugging .330)

1916: .655 (league slugging .341)

1926: .757

1936: .823

1946: .717

1956: .748

1966: .725

1976: .715

1986: .731

1996: .735

2006: .785

[javy knows my name]

No, it's much, much different today. I didn't expect the GS to be at all different, but the difference in IP is HUGE. I'll bet if Zambrano was allowed to pitch 260-270 innings a season, his arm would fall off. The stats you posted totally fly in the face of your basic claim. Also, the argument you make about "expectations" and a lack of relievers is a tautology. The expectations were there because they had done it in the past and set a precedent, and the relievers weren't there because they didn't need to be.

TT's thing makes sense. If it required considerably less effort to get guys out then guys' arms could weather a season of 60-70 more innings pitched. Still pretty remarkable, though.

[OleMissCub]

No, it's much, much different today. I didn't expect the GS to be at all different, but the difference in IP is HUGE. I'll bet if Zambrano was allowed to pitch 260-270 innings a season, his arm would fall off. The stats you posted totally fly in the face of your basic claim. Also, the argument you make about "expectations" and a lack of relievers is a tautology. The expectations were there because they had done it in the past and set a precedent, and the relievers weren't there because they didn't need to be.

TT's thing makes sense. If it required considerably less effort to get guys out then guys' arms could weather a season of 60-70 more innings pitched. Still pretty remarkable, though.

 

I have very little doubt that pitch count was much lower back then, mainly due to the fact that people didn't K very much in those days.

[javy knows my name]

No, it's much, much different today. I didn't expect the GS to be at all different, but the difference in IP is HUGE. I'll bet if Zambrano was allowed to pitch 260-270 innings a season, his arm would fall off. The stats you posted totally fly in the face of your basic claim. Also, the argument you make about "expectations" and a lack of relievers is a tautology. The expectations were there because they had done it in the past and set a precedent, and the relievers weren't there because they didn't need to be.

TT's thing makes sense. If it required considerably less effort to get guys out then guys' arms could weather a season of 60-70 more innings pitched. Still pretty remarkable, though.

 

I have very little doubt that pitch count was much lower back then, mainly due to the fact that people didn't K very much in those days.

Ah, that works for me

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Can someone explain why pitchers in the 30s-60s could pitch on two days' rest and both ends of a doubleheader without breaking down? I'm looking at Cy Young's wins record on Unbreakable Records on ESPN and it seems like he and others back then were a different species or something

 

Awful hitters who didn't require any effort to get out. Lots of them.

 

Take the 1946 Cardinals. They had Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter, and Whitey Kurowski, but their other 5 hitters OPS'ed under .700. And they led the league in runs.

 

I don't know if that's really the right answer. I'm not saying you are wrong, because clearly there are better hitters today than back then due to the talent pool increase. However, your Cardinals example was pretty narrow and was just looking at one team in a single year. Let's look at NL league OPS by decade. Now, we have to remember that the very low .OPS in '06 and '16 is due to the fact that slugging wasn't very high in those days i.e. deadball era.

 

1906: .658 (league slugging .330)

1916: .655 (league slugging .341)

1926: .757

1936: .823

1946: .717

1956: .748

1966: .725

1976: .715

1986: .731

1996: .735

2006: .785

 

Those are some pretty significant differences. 1946-1966 has an average OPS of .730(just averaging your 3 numbers). That's 55 points of OPS for every single player, league wide, it's a huge deal. The disparity is even greater when you consider there were 16 teams in '46 and '56, and 20 in '66, and 30 in 2006.

[OleMissCub]

I'll bet if Zambrano was allowed to pitch 260-270 innings a season, his arm would fall off.

 

A part of me wonders if this is really true though (not that I would DARE want to find out!!). Because pitchers are such huge commodities these days and are such investments, I think they are more closely monitored (and rightfully so) than they used to be for fear of injury.

 

Nevertheless, here are some of the pitchers that have gone 285+ IP in the last 40 years whose arms didn't fall off:

 

Jack Morris: 293 IP in 1983

Bert Blyleven: 3 times (high of 325 IP in 1973)

Steve Carlton: 5 times (346 IP in 1972)

Dennis Martinez: 292.3 in 1979.

Catfish Hunter: 4 times (328 IP in 1975)

Nolan Ryan: 3 times (332 IP in 1974)

Wilbur Wood: 5 times (376 IP in 1972) - HOLY S---!

Ferguson Jenkins: 7 times (328 IP in 1974)

Mickey Lolich: 4 times (376 IP in 1971)

Gaylord Perry: 8 times (344 IP in 1973)

Jim Palmer: 6 times (323 IP in 1975)

Mike Cuellar: 3 times (292 IP in 1970)

Jim Kaat: 2 times (303 IP in 1975)

 

I'm not counting Niekro who did it like a thousand times or something on account that he basically threw one pitch.

[OleMissCub]

Statistician Bill Burgess' most impressive hitting peaks:

 

1. Barry Bonds - 2001-2004 ---244 OPS+

2. Babe Ruth - 1920-1924 ---221 OPS+

3. Ted Williams - 1942-1949 ---209 OPS+

4. Rogers Hornsby - 1921-1925 ---202 OPS+

5. Ty Cobb - 1909-1913 ---197 OPS+

6. Lou Gehrig - 1927-1934 ---193 OPS+

7. Mickey Mantle - 1956-1962 ---191 OPS+

8. Honus Wagner - 1905-1909 ---187 OPS+

9. Stan Musial - 1943-1948 ---174 OPS+

 

His pitcher peaks:

 

1. Pedro Martinez, 1997-2003 ---215 ERA+

2. Greg Maddux, 1992-1995 --- 211 ERA+

3. Walter Johnson, 1910-1914 ---204 ERA+

4. Mordecai Brown, 1906-1909 ---196 ERA +

5. Bob Gibson, 1968-1970 ---185 ERA +

6. Roger Clemens, 1986-1992 ---164 ERA+

7. Sandy Koufax, 1961-1966 ---161 ERA+

8. Christy Mathewson, 1903-1909 ---155 ERA+

9. Grover Alexander, 1911-1917 ---150 ERA+

[TruffleShuffle]

1. Barry Bonds - 2001-2004* ---244 OPS

 

fixed

[bcl412]

I'll bet if Zambrano was allowed to pitch 260-270 innings a season, his arm would fall off.

 

A part of me wonders if this is really true though (not that I would DARE want to find out!!). Because pitchers are such huge commodities these days and are such investments, I think they are more closely monitored (and rightfully so) than they used to be for fear of injury.

 

Nevertheless, here are some of the pitchers that have gone 285+ IP in the last 40 years whose arms didn't fall off:

 

Jack Morris: 293 IP in 1983

Bert Blyleven: 3 times (high of 325 IP in 1973)

Steve Carlton: 5 times (346 IP in 1972)

Dennis Martinez: 292.3 in 1979.

Catfish Hunter: 4 times (328 IP in 1975)

Nolan Ryan: 3 times (332 IP in 1974)

Wilbur Wood: 5 times (376 IP in 1972) - HOLY S---!

Ferguson Jenkins: 7 times (328 IP in 1974)

Mickey Lolich: 4 times (376 IP in 1971)

Gaylord Perry: 8 times (344 IP in 1973)

Jim Palmer: 6 times (323 IP in 1975)

Mike Cuellar: 3 times (292 IP in 1970)

Jim Kaat: 2 times (303 IP in 1975)

 

I'm not counting Niekro who did it like a thousand times or something on account that he basically threw one pitch.

 

We probably won't be seeing any pitchers come close to this ever again (and we probably shouldn't, people aren't supposed to be throwing baseballs.). Is there who have gotten to the 285 mark since the 90's. I looked figuring Maddux has had some years where he has eaten some innings and he had three years where he had the upper 260's.

[OleMissCub]

Is there who have gotten to the 285 mark since the 90's.

 

Nope. The 10 highest IP since 1990:

 

Randy Johnson - 271.7 - 1999

Roger Clemens - 271.3 - 1992

Curt Schilling - 268.7 - 1998

Greg Maddux - 268.0 - 1992

Greg Maddux - 267.0 - 1993

Dave Stewart - 267.0 - 1990

Roy Halladay - 266.0 - 2003

Kevin Brown - 265.7 - 1992

Pat Hentgen - 265.7 - 1996

Roger Clemens - 264.0 - 1997

Pat Hentgen - 264.0 - 1997

 

Just for the hell of it, I wanted to compare the Cubs pitching staffs in the 30's to the staffs in the 90's and see how many pitchers on their staff's each year passed 200 IP. For some of the years I've put the number of relief appearances in parentheses to try and get a rough measure of how many times relievers were used.

 

1930: 3 (174)

1931: 3 (172)

1932: 4

1933: 3

1934: 3

1935: 4

1936: 3

1937: 3

1938: 3 (165)

1939: 2 (178)

 

1990: 1 (346)

1991: 1 (360)

1992: 3

1993: 1

1994: strike

1995: 1

1996: 2

1997: 1

1998: 3 (448)

1999: 2 (435)

 

Needless to say, it appears the increased role of relief pitching is the most obvious reason why innings pitched have gotten lower and lower every year.

[OleMissCub]

I posted some of these a while back in a separate thread, but don't see the pain in posting some of them again.

 

YOUR 1908 WORLD CHAMPION CHICAGO CUBS!!

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/cubsteam.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0069/s006934a.jpg

 

The West Side Grounds in 1908. Home of the Chicago Cubs 1893-1915.

Dimensions: left field 340 feet, center field 560 feet :shock: , right field 316 feet

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/CubsGiants.jpg

 

View from centerfield....that's so deep:

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/pan/6a34000/6a34400/6a34450r.jpg

 

Mordecai Brown (age 31), pitcher: (1908) 29-9, 44 games, 9 shutouts, 5 saves, 1.47 ERA, 0.842 WHIP, 160 ERA+

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0022/s002297.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/threefinger.jpg

 

Jack Pfiester (30), starting pitcher: 12-10, 117 ERA+

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0029/s002942.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0077/s007718.jpg

 

Ed Reulbach (25), starting pitcher: 24-7, 116 ERA+

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/08300/08343v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0032/s003237.jpg

 

Johnny Kling (32), catcher: 126 games, .276/.315/.382, 119 OPS+, 59 RBI, 16 SB

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0043/s004342.jpg

 

Frank Chance (31), first base/manager: 129 games, .272/.338/.363, 120 OPS+, 55 RBI, 27 SB

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0043/s004357.jpg

 

Honus Wagner sliding back into first base. Chance is the first baseman in this photo.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/wagnerslide.jpg

 

Johnny Evers (26), second base: 126 games, .300/.402/.375, 144 OPS+, 37 RBI, 36 SB

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/evers.jpg

 

Joe Tinker (27), shortstop: 157 games, .266/.307.391, 119 OPS+, 68 RBI, 30 SB

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/tinker.jpg

 

1908 World Series:

 

Chance meets with Tigers players and coaches before the game:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0535/s053543.jpg

 

Cubs players walk across the field before a game:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0068/s006880.jpg

 

A Cubs pitcher fielding a bunt:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0060/s006029.jpg

 

Tigers shortstop Charles O'Leary runs out of the box. Kling is catching.

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0546/s054675.jpg

 

Tigers centerfielder Ty Cobb runs out of the box. Kling is catching.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/cobb.jpg

 

Slagle hitting a pop up:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0060/s006084.jpg

 

The Peerless Leader leading off third:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0544/s054414.jpg

 

Leftfielder Sheckard running the bases while checking out the hot dame in the third row:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0544/s054430.jpg

 

Chance rounding third. Looks to be ignoring starting pitcher Jack Pfiester who is coaching third:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0544/s054417.jpg

 

Chance scoring a run:

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0557/s055757.jpg

 

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0068/s006869.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0058/s005873.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/s0058/s005881.jpg

 

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/fans.jpg

[Billy_Buck]

Thank you, OleMissCub, those are awesome and always welcome.

[OleMissCub]

I've seen lots of historical baseball photographs and I think the best two subjects for action shots are Willie Mays and Ty Cobb. Here are some of my favs from both:

 

Willie Mays:

"the catch"

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18820&d=1170545757

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24533&d=1180141202

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=26908&stc=1&d=1185738359

 

Robbing Ted Williams of a homer in the 1955 all-star game:

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31783&stc=1&d=1196011375

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34316&stc=1&d=1200766691

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34317&stc=1&d=1200766720

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35983&stc=1&d=1203430629

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37218&stc=1&d=1205009565

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37716&stc=1&d=1205695624

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40464&stc=1&d=1208713599

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/willie1.jpghttp://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/willie2.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/willie3.jpg

 

Ty Cobb:

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13062&d=1156211826

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=20971&d=1173494675

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16793&d=1167429951

 

The infamous spiking of Home Run Baker which set off a riot in Philadelphia:

http://www.umass.edu/pubaffs/jackie/cobb.gif

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/tycobb.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/tycobb6.jpghttp://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/99/12799-004.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/tycobb2.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/tycobb3.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/tycobb4.jpg

 

Considered by many to be the most famous photograph ever taken in Baseball history. The third baseman is Jimmy Austin of the New York Yankees. Taken in 1909 by photographer Charles Conlon, who later wrote of the incident: "Jimmy and I were very close friends. Jimmy turned, backed into the base, and was greeted by a storm of dirt, spikes, shoes, uniform, and Ty Cobb. My first thought was that my friend, Austin, had been injured. When Cobb stole, he stole. But in a moment I realized [Austin] wasn't hurt... then I began to wonder if by any chance I had snapped the play."

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/OleMissCub17/tycobb5.jpg

[OleMissCub]

Probably the best action sequence ever photographed was Jackie Robinson's steal of home during the 1955 World Series. The catcher is Yogi Berra and the batter is Gil Hodges.

 

http://i.a.cnn.net./si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0704/gallery.mlb.robinson/images/new1.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net./si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0704/gallery.mlb.robinson/images/new2.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net./si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0704/gallery.mlb.robinson/images/new3.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net./si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0704/gallery.mlb.robinson/images/new4.jpg

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37659&d=1205541670

 

Was he safe?

 

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37702&d=1205676699

 

There is good video of it in the Yogi Berra video that I made sometime back. It's at the .40 second mark. Yogi's reaction is priceless.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQwYDHKsG28

[Butterscup1679666578]

I posted some of these a while back in a separate thread, but don't see the pain in posting some of them again.

 

YOUR 1908 WORLD CHAMPION CHICAGO CUBS!!

 

I have that first picture in plaque form:

 

http://www.championshipplaques.com/images/MLB/WS2/08cubs.jpg

 

I'm waiting for the day that I can put a new one next to it...

[ELCABALLO45]

I heard this on baseball tonight..

 

Rick Ankiel became the 1st player since Babe Ruth to pitch ______ innings and have a 20 home run season.

 

I can't remember the number of innings, but that is crazy.

[OleMissCub]

I heard this on baseball tonight..

 

Rick Ankiel became the 1st player since Babe Ruth to pitch ______ innings and have a 20 home run season.

 

I can't remember the number of innings, but that is crazy.

 

Interesting, but not surprising really. I'm sure several pitchers moved to the field throughout the course of history, but the only one I can think of off the top of my head who spent significant playing time both pitching and playing the field, besides Ruth, is Smokey Joe Wood.

 

Although there is probably someone very obvious I'm missing.

[OleMissCub]

Grant Smith does some amazing historic baseball artwork. Here is some of his best stuff:

 

http://www.grant9smith.com/portfolio.html

 

Babe Ruth:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_wishYouWereHere.jpghttp://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_noNo.jpg

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_3strikes.jpg

 

Gehrig:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_lucky.jpg

 

Hack Wilson:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_pauper191.jpg

 

Josh Gibson:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_timeIsOfEssence.jpg

 

Cy Young:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_headacheFuneral.jpg

 

Satchel Paige:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_turnTheKey.jpg

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_overlookedUnfit.jpg

 

Ted Williams:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_648-406.jpghttp://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_thereGoes.jpg

 

Joe Jackson:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_innocentEyes.jpghttp://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_control.jpg

 

Honus Wagner:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_greatestShortstop.jpghttp://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_drownedByCost.jpg

 

Ty Cobb:

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_leaveInDitch.jpghttp://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_yourEyes.jpg

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_descentOfMan.jpg

 

I think his most haunting work. The subject is Christy Mathewson, who died of the effects of gas during WWI.

http://www.grant9smith.com/images/big_maybeNeverDie.jpg

[NCCubFan]

Willie Mays:

"the catch"

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=26908&stc=1&d=1185738359

He looks like a pitcher in this shot.

 

I saw Mays some past his prime since I started following baseball in 1969.

[OleMissCub]

Gentlemen, I present to you....from Bill James' Historical Abstract:

In April 2000, Major League Baseball aired a promotional spot in which Peter Gammons, pitching, struck out Harold Reynolds. Broadcasting on ESPN on April 19, Joe Morgan was frothing at the mouth about this commercial. "Harold Reynolds was a major league baseball player," Morgan said over and over. "Harold Reynolds was an all-star. Peter Gammons does not strike him out! It's just wrong, and I'm not going to keep quiet about it. It's wrong. Peter Gammons does not strike out Harold Reynolds."

 

Dear Joe:

Does the phrase "Get over yourself" mean anything to you? This is not to deny that you were a major league player, and even that you were a better player than Harold Reynolds, who I suppose must have been an All-Star sometime; what the hell, Dave Chalk made two All-Star games. This is not to deny that you were a brilliant player, Joe, but you are becoming a self-important little prick. Grow up, you little weenie. People make fun of one another; this is called friendship. This is life; only self-important twits take offense at that kind of thing. Jeez, man, get a life. Preferably not on television.

 

Your friend, Bill James.

[Coach C]

Gentlemen, I present to you....from Bill James' Historical Abstract:

In April 2000, Major League Baseball aired a promotional spot in which Peter Gammons, pitching, struck out Harold Reynolds. Broadcasting on ESPN on April 19, Joe Morgan was frothing at the mouth about this commercial. "Harold Reynolds was a major league baseball player," Morgan said over and over. "Harold Reynolds was an all-star. Peter Gammons does not strike him out! It's just wrong, and I'm not going to keep quiet about it. It's wrong. Peter Gammons does not strike out Harold Reynolds."

 

Dear Joe:

Does the phrase "Get over yourself" mean anything to you? This is not to deny that you were a major league player, and even that you were a better player than Harold Reynolds, who I suppose must have been an All-Star sometime; what the hell, Dave Chalk made two All-Star games. This is not to deny that you were a brilliant player, Joe, but you are becoming a self-important little prick. Grow up, you little weenie. People make fun of one another; this is called friendship. This is life; only self-important twits take offense at that kind of thing. Jeez, man, get a life. Preferably not on television.

 

Your friend, Bill James.

 

:lol:

 

Bill should send him another one, just for the hell of it.

[Coach C]

The 1923 Cubs.

 

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=38930&d=1207331625

[bhogg]

Man, I love Willie Mays. Willie is my Dad's favorite player. He got to see him once in SF, but Willie K'd 4 times. Not a very good memory for dear old dad.

 

I like Cobb, too. I'd love to go back in time and watch some games from the early 1900s.

[erik316wttn]

Man, I love Willie Mays. Willie is my Dad's favorite player. He got to see him once in SF, but Willie K'd 4 times. Not a very good memory for dear old dad.

 

I like Cobb, too. I'd love to go back in time and watch some games from the early 1900s.

 

If time travel is ever invented, screw killing Hitler. I'm going back in time and watching Cobb, Ruth, DiMaggio, Williams, Mays, Mantle, etc in their primes.