The players of yesterday

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Posted By: boxingcardman

Obviously, Peter made a comment tinged with racial stereotypes. Doesn't make him a racist, though, just a twit . See Peter, I'm workin' for ya!

As far as comparing players over eras, I think it is a little more subtle than has been credited. There are major changes that also have to be considered that are not so readily defined:

1. Introduction of the DH
2. Relief pitching
3. Night games
4. Changes in the height of the mound
5. Decline of inside pitching.

Perhaps the most glaring area of difference between old time baseball and modern baseball is the pitching staff. Most teams carry a five man starting rotation, middle relief specialists and a closer. Clemens and Maddux are even more impressive given starting staffing standards in this era at 350 and 340 wins. The third guy usually mentioned with them is Randy Johnson and he's only at 284 wins; Glavine has 297. After those four guys, we have no one with a shot at 300 for the forseeable future.

Hitters face a very different game plan than they did in the old days. They routinely see three or more pitchers a game, each with different styles, strengths and pitches. Warren Spahn said that hitting is timing and pitching is upsetting timing. Modern hitters face a much tougher time than old time ballplayers simply because they don't get a 3rd, 4th and 5th look at a pitcher.

If you could go back in a time machine and grab them, I think the greats of every era would compete well in the modern era in baseball, more so than any other sport, simply because the physical requirements of the game haven't changed the way they have in other sports. I mean, can you imagine an offensive line of 210-230# players trying to stop a modern defense in football? They'd get killed. Ditto a 6' 195# heavyweight trying to fight a modern era 6'5" 250# fighter; most would never even reach the guy.