Players have been using performance enhancers going back into at least the 1950s - notably, various forms of amphetamines.
Hank may in fact be someone who never did anything. But regardless, dozens of his HOF peers did use those substances and as such are little different from players of the current era who have used either the same or more refined substances.
And of course, all the hitters playing with the help of various substances were facing an equal percentage of pitchers using same.
Hank may in fact be someone who never did anything. But regardless, dozens of his HOF peers did use those substances and as such are little different from players of the current era who have used either the same or more refined substances.
And of course, all the hitters playing with the help of various substances were facing an equal percentage of pitchers using same.
cheating or getting an edge has been around for as long as the game has been played. If they penalize players of the past 10 or so years for something MLB head people let happen and knew about(i'm convinced in my mind they knew and wanted it, they want asses in the seats and money, money, money), then you have to re-write all the books and records for each decade and/or era.
yeah that's true, but there is old sports writers and probably old columns written about players, especially certain ones that were most likely shady.
i just know cocaine was used fairly openly and as a pick-me-up in the early 1900's.
and even if we aren't talking about stimulants/drugs, there is vaseline, tobacco juice/spit, pine-tar, sandpaper, chalk/powder, etc.
Then you throw in corrupt players with mob ties. Mob influence i would suspect was more prevalent back then.
Dimensions of the fields, travel conditions, medical advice and/or care or lack of, equipment, etc.
number of players and teams, how often you seen the same guys, how less some played because of war service, the lack of talent during war time for some with replacement players.
There are so many variables one could factor in it is absurd to try and penalize an era of players that were just doing what everyone else around them basically was doing.
i just know cocaine was used fairly openly and as a pick-me-up in the early 1900's.
and even if we aren't talking about stimulants/drugs, there is vaseline, tobacco juice/spit, pine-tar, sandpaper, chalk/powder, etc.
Then you throw in corrupt players with mob ties. Mob influence i would suspect was more prevalent back then.
Dimensions of the fields, travel conditions, medical advice and/or care or lack of, equipment, etc.
number of players and teams, how often you seen the same guys, how less some played because of war service, the lack of talent during war time for some with replacement players.
There are so many variables one could factor in it is absurd to try and penalize an era of players that were just doing what everyone else around them basically was doing.
