Posted By:
john/z28jdI think more people here will bring up the 162 vs 154 schedule because we collect vintage cards and have more of a connection to the players who played back then.Im willing to bet alot of money that 99 percent of the people at the Seattle game couldnt name a 19th century player not named Connie Mack or Cy Young so they dont care if Sislers name stays in the record books or not.
Since we all have an appreciation for the old game we have a different thinking.I dont think players now have it any harder because of specialists,and night games or whatever.Players back then had different 'hardships' to prevent them from hitting .400 or whatever.I think Ichiro is a throwback player of which you dont see many today.Singles hitters dont get paid as much and defense isnt as appreciated as it was back then.
I just think Sisler shouldnt be forgotten because he obviously had a much better season than Ichiro,not only in average but he finished 2nd in the AL in rbi's,homers,doubles and triples that year,while Ichiro just piled up singles.The only way to include Sisler's name in the record book still would be to have him listed as 154 game record,unless you can think of another.I would still leave his name there,even if you just put his name below Ichiro's and dont make any mention why,it doesnt hurt anyone to know about baseballs past now does it.