Those pay raises might hurt the players of yesteryear , opposed to helping them .... you got remember when Babe Ruth played the average ballplayer made peanuts ... some had to work another job just to support their families ...Sure Ruth made big bucks back then , but the average smoe made jack shit ( and jack left town )
Players back then played for the sheer love of the game and competition of it , Not a fat paycheck and magazine covers
Foolish statement. Be as nostalgic and dreamy as you want, but face the facts.
MLB was 100% white back then. Its now what? Under 40%? So even if the number of roster spots has doubled , the talent pool to pick from has increased many times that.
Its freakin evolution. Few players from 80 years ago, even 50 yars ago would be able to make a MLB roster in 2007.
With MLB salaries escalating at a rate many times the average mans wages do, the competition increases - even further raising the talent level. Some of the worlds most gifted best baseball players most likely never played because they had farming to do.
Baseball was more pure in the 20's thats for sure , but those players were a joke compared to today. Most the stars from the 50's even would be average players on todays teams.
Great players would still be great players.
Overall, however, it is not even close. Players are much better today. They are better trained, have better technology, have more players to pick from (all races and countries), and yes, despite what you may think, work much harder. Many players from the past just showed up at spring training after not doing a thing in the off season. Today, players are in great shape all year around.
Overall, however, it is not even close. Players are much better today. They are better trained, have better technology, have more players to pick from (all races and countries), and yes, despite what you may think, work much harder. Many players from the past just showed up at spring training after not doing a thing in the off season. Today, players are in great shape all year around.
