Game Differences, Then - Now

[jingram058]

I’ve been watching a lot of baseball game TV broadcasts from the 60s, 70s and some 80s. I’ve noticed quite a few differences between those games and the games of today. Below are some findings and opinions in no particular order, from observations of the old games vs today. I have copied these from Terence Morgan, lives in LA but attends "Baseball Camp" at Vero Beach in Florida every year. Yes, they still do baseball things there, even though the Dodgers do their spring training in Arizona.

BALLPARKS/FIELDS
- The natural grass/dirt infields were not as meticulously manicured as today. The lip of the grass to the dirt was not a sharp, distinct cut.
- The infield dirt was looser and drier. When a player slid in the base, there was more “dust.” Today it would have been better watered.
- Players did a lot of dirt manicuring with their toes. It seems they were constantly reaching out with their toe and smoothing the dimple in the dirt on the infield or batter’s box.
- The Pitcher’s mound was higher, advantage pitcher (pre-69)
- Dugouts had no protective netting from foul balls
- Photographers were allowed on the field near first base. They were so close they could interfere with a pop-up foul ball.

FANS
- Most men wore suits and ties or sport coats and ties. Sometimes fedora hats. No shorts or T-Shirts.
- Many more men attended than women
- Some men were smoking cigars or pipes
- Ball boys/men never gave a foul ball to a fan
- If a fan interfered with a fair ball, they were thrown out of the game (some still are today)

UMPIRES
- The bills of their hats of the umps on each base were short like the Home Plate ump (60s)
- Umps were much more animated - The strikes and out calls were more dramatic with higher hand waving
- The strike zone was shorter and wider
- A lot of strikes called then would be balls today (too wide then)
- A lot of balls then would be strikes today (is a higher zone now)
- AL Umps wore outside protectors

PLAYERS
- Batters dug in more. Sometimes with several digs with their feet to make a rut. If Drysdale or Nolan Ryan was pitching, expect a bean-ball to your head for such disrespect.
- Catchers blocked the plate, sometimes to their downfall.
- I was surprised how long it took to get a relief pitcher to come in. Even after the manager made the call, some pitchers stayed in the bullpen throwing several more pitches.
- Some players were seen chewing tobacco with the big wad in their cheek
- Most batters used two bats in the on-deck circle rather than the donut
- Most players wore helmets with no ear flap helmet
- Some players wore no helmets (Norm Cash 68)
- No batting gloves. Players reached down to get some dirt on their hands, in the batter’s box, and in the field.
- Players wore their stirrup socks the proper way (in my opinion). The stirrup sock was visible to at least the bottom of the calve or to just above it. No players had pants all the way down to their shoes.

THE GAME
- The game was much faster. Some games were less than 2 hours. Average 2 hours, 20 minutes. Get the ball, throw the ball. Get in the batter’s box, swing the bat. Even when a batter stepped out of the box, he paused, took a deep breath, did a swing, and got back in the box. The pitch soon arrived.
- Not as much nibbling at the corners. Just throw it and make them “miss-hit” it
- Not as many relief pitchers in a game
- More complete games
- World series games were played during the day even on weekdays. Horrid!
- Less screen clutter on TV. Not so many stats on the screen. No scrolls at the bottom. I really liked this.

I am sure there are a lot more differences. But these were my observations.

[Carter08]

More stolen bases and fewer home runs versus today. And unless I’m missing where it was used the shift is a newer development.

[Kzoo]

No 'walk up' music for every batter, or the promotional/fan interaction stuff every half inning hosted by a team's MC.

[butchie_t]

I would like to see the pitchers mound raised back up to no more than 15 inches higher than the base line.

B. T.

[Eric72]

No instances of, “…after further review, the call on the field…”