Posted By:
Andrew ParksJay~
Pitchers today do not throw their hardest every pitch either. If they did, they wouldn't last. I think pitchers pitch with strategy and try to "coast" as much as they can like the pitchers of the early days. The reason that strikeout totals were lower is that BATTERS took a different approach then than they do today.
Mathewson (the fadeaway or screwball), Brown (his curve ball), Grimes (his spitball) and others lived on off-speed pitches and control. Johnson, Waddell, Rusie, Young and others lived on speed. However, then the offensive game was hit and run, bunt, hit behind the runner, steal etc etc...Extra-base hits were few compared to today. And batters merely tried to make contact.
Pitchers "coast" to conserve energy or whatever today just like the old days. Look at pitchers like Palmer, Hunter and Roberts who gave up gobs of homeruns...with the majority being solo shots. Sometimes they would coast at certain situations and it cost them, but always bear down hard with the bases juiced or two on.
The major difference in the game is the offensive mindset - therein lies your difference in strike-out totals, extra-base hits and run totals. Today most players unbutton the shirt and swing from the heels. Look at the guys who are striking out! Bellhorn would hjave broken the K rescord, Jose Hernandez, too...guys are striking out in the 150's and it's no big deal!
My vote goes to Van Haltren - check out this guys numbers!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/v/vanhage01.shtml>