Is there a such thing as the greatest era in baseball?

[Cloud102]

A certain era with the best teams, players, and intensity?

[Rupert Murdoch]

I always contend that National League baseball in the 1950s was the strongest era in baseball history. It came after integration was firmly put in place so every ball player that played was the best of the best, truly the cream of the crop and before the expansion of 1962 which naturally watered down the level of play. Also, from 1956-1959, every team in the National League had at least one future Hall of Famer on their roster. The owners had complete autonomy over the players so even the bottom dwelling teams had great players. It was a much more even playing field then today. So, I would go with the 1950s as the strongest. This current era is actually a close second even with the steroid cloud and the enormous salary gap between the small and large market teams. There's been more foreign players coming over from East Asia, Latin America, Canada, Australia and other countries which has raised the level of talent in the game. Coaching and knowledge about the game have also grown by leaps and bounds. Those two eras stand a cut above the rest if you're just judging on the quality of play in the field alone.

[Bleeding Green]

I don't see how it can be anything but the current era. And the next era should be better. Larger talent pool = better overall talent and I think it's that simple.

Imagine if a country like China starts producing baseball players.

[craig01]

I don't think there is.

Each era has it's own unique stories.

[Dirty Water]

I don't think there is.

Each era has it's own unique stories.

This.

I would kill to see baseball played in the earliest eras as well as the deadball era.

[craig01]

I agree^^^^^^^

But I would have especially wanted to see the decades of the 30's and 50's.

[Gamer_4_life]

No comments.

[Huuminh]

I don't think Era is the greatest in baseball...

[SneadFrank]

Baseball fans have always been infatuated with a good power pitcher. There is nothing like the sound of a 98 mph fastball crashing into the catcher's mitt for a third strike. When most players careers lose steam at the end he had his best years.