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rockondlouie wrote: ↑03 Mar 2026 12:41 pm

Ozziesfan41 wrote: ↑03 Mar 2026 11:11 am Players from different past eras would still be good because they would have access to the same things players today have nutritional information weight lifting science all the information on pitchers tendencies they would be accustomed to high velocity. Players today if they played back then wouldn’t have the nutritional information or weight training information or all the information on pitchers tendencies good players would be good in any era.

If you've been blessed w/superior "hand/eye contact" it doesn't matter if it was in the early 1900's or today, any major league level hitter can square up a fastball even one's in the upper 90's.

The Greats of those days would be the Greats of today too.

The J.A.G.'s may not have made it into today's MLB though.

JMO

I agree with Rock. The great hitters of any era would be great today. They may not hit for quite as high an average because the starters don't pitch 9 innings, but Ted freaking Williams and Stan the Man would still hit.... I suspect the Babe would have a slightly different training regimen, but he would still be the Babe. Pitchers.... great pitchers would still be great. Some of the journeymen probably wouldn't make it....

It isn't so much about how great players would respond. They are who they are-the cream.
It's everyone else.
The average speed of a fastball is significantly (and measurably) greater today than in the 1900's.
It was 70-80mph in the 1900's. By the 1980's, fastballs occasionally reached 90 but were rare. Average today is 94.5 and many hit 100 mph.
Anyone who had trouble getting around in those days would be utterly doomed today.
Dal Maxville, for example, might hit .095 in today's game (he hit .175 in 1969).

Greg Maddux.
Would be destroyed by the ABS system being introduced this year.

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Melville wrote: ↑03 Mar 2026 19:16 pm Greg Maddux.
Would be destroyed by the ABS system being introduced this year.

I was going to mention him for the same reason. Probably add Glavine as well as any of others of the corner nibbler school of pitching.

Tom Seaver consistently threw his fastball in the 95–98 mph range during his prime, with some reports indicating it was a "rising" fastball that felt even faster to hitters.

Bob Gibson’s fastball generally averaged around 91–92 mph, with top speeds in the 95–96 mph range during his prime, particularly in the 1968 season

Sandy Koufax's fastball was generally estimated to be in the 95–98 mph range during his prime, with some reports suggesting it could peak near 100 mph

Nolan Ryan’s fastball was regularly clocked at 100+ mph during his career,

Don Drysdale's fastball typically ranged between 90 and 95 mph

his prime in the 1970s and early 1980s, Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton threw a live fastball consistently in the mid-90 mph range

There were less teams in the 60’s>>>70’s>>>80’s….more concentrated talent. Most of you here have really no idea what you’re babbling about
Concerning pitch speed in those Stone Age eras listed above.
The Astros had Nolan Ryan and JR Richard throwing to you at 100mph+ during those soft tossing series

Melville wrote: ↑03 Mar 2026 19:16 pm Greg Maddux.
Would be destroyed by the ABS system being introduced this year.

I understand what you are saying, but Maddux was so good and so smart that he would certainly figure out a way to continue to thrive as a pitcher. Pitching off the corners of the plate wasn't his only skill.

Cap Anson, Willy Keeler, Three Finger Brown.

During his dominant peak with the New York Mets (roughly 1984–1985), Dwight Gooden’s fastball consistently reached 95–98 mph

Goldfan wrote: ↑03 Mar 2026 20:34 pm During his dominant peak with the New York Mets (roughly 1984–1985), Dwight Gooden’s fastball consistently reached 95–98 mph

I wonder how many stolen bases Brock would have, if Oli was his manager?
Can you imagine Oli managing those teams in the 80’s. Coleman and McGee, not running, waiting on Ozzie and Herr to hit a three-run homer!

Rogers Hornsby. I think he could only hit .300 in the grave.