Ohtani or Ruth?

[bk400]

Originally Posted by robw1959

It's always fun to chime in on stuff like this, but there's really never going to be someone as good as Babe Ruth again. He's the greatest home run hitter of all time not just because of the numbers, but because he outhomered entire teams on many occasions. People who make these comparisons forget one crucial fact - the fences were typically 450' from home plate in Ruth's day. Enough said.

Hmm, I read the opposite. The Polo Grounds was 258 feet to right field, and the House that Ruth Built was 295 to right field. It seems to be the case that dead center field in certain parks were deeper that it is today, but that's likely more than made up for by ridiculously short fences to right.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Ohtani is amazing but it's still Ruth

[bnorth]

Ohtani and it isn't even close. It is like comparing a pro to a novice. To be fair ALL top athletes are better now than 100 years ago.

[packs]

Originally Posted by bk400

Hmm, I read the opposite. The Polo Grounds was 258 feet to right field, and the House that Ruth Built was 295 to right field. It seems to be the case that dead center field in certain parks were deeper that it is today, but that's likely more than made up for by ridiculously short fences to right.

If you hit the ball exactly down the foul line and off the foul pole, yes but if you hit the ball just a few sections over you had to hit the ball 344 feet. If you hit the ball to right center on the wrong side of the bullpen it had to go at least 407 feet.

The dimensions of old Yankee Stadium make what DiMaggio did seem incredible. Any ball pulled into the left field bullpen had to go at least 400 feet.

[gregndodgers]

Ohtani.

Ask yourself this question: how many players either today or throughout history can throw the ball at 100 mph, shutout a good team for 6 innings, and then hit a home run out of the stadium?

Answer: 1

[jacksons]

Originally Posted by gregndodgers

Ohtani.

Ask yourself this question: how many players either today or throughout history can throw the ball at 100 mph, shutout a good team for 6 innings, and then hit a home run out of the stadium?

Answer: 1

But why should this single game performance by Ohtani be the measuring stick? I’m confused. Ohtani is a tremendous talent obviously that has been primarily a DH and unfortunately for all of us, has not been able to throw to the best of his ability consistently due to injury, either as a defender or a pitcher. Hes one of the greatest of the modern era for sure. But Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS isn’t why.

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by bk400

Hmm, I read the opposite. The Polo Grounds was 258 feet to right field, and the House that Ruth Built was 295 to right field. It seems to be the case that dead center field in certain parks were deeper that it is today, but that's likely more than made up for by ridiculously short fences to right.

I'll direct you to Bill Jenkinson, who thoroughly researched Ruth's home runs on a spray chart projecting every one of them to the dimensions of modern ballparks (as of 2007, which is when he authored his book). He concludes that his home run totals for 1921 alone and for his entire career, given modern ballpark dimensions for every American League park in which he played, would have been 104 and 1158, respectively, with the friendlier modern dimensions. Yes, the right field foul pole was closer, but "for every home run he gained to right field, Ruth lost at least three to center field and the adjoining power alleys." Center field was at least 490 feet from home plate during Babe Ruth's entire career at Yankee Stadium.