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.

[UN-Owen]

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.

But now baseball is competing with football and basketball

Back in the day just about all the athletes went into baseball by default

[lobosloboslobos]

wow. this conversation is 6 years long. cool. appropriate for the topic.

so basically if you had to pick one decade that would win in a round robin against every other decade, who would it be? i would not be picking today's players that's for sure. i don't think they are nearly as mentally tough as players from the past, who weren't millionaires treated like royalty but faced much tougher circumstances day in and day out. and of all the major sports baseball is the one where the playing field is most level across the ages (apart from steroids and integration of course). I'd take the 50s. Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Dimaggio, Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Hodges, etc. I don't see anybody beating that team, although admittedly the pitching would be weaker than some other eras, notably the 60s (Koufax, Gibson, Marichal).

i'll come back in a few years and see if anyone else has added a comment to this thread...

[RSCD3_]

88-92

[FullForceMDs]

I would say the 1980's, with the combined great pitching & great athletes in the game, in that era.

[oaktownwarriors87]

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.

Agreed.

The talent pool has multiplied. Most old school players would struggle to survive in China and Europe, if they'd even get that far.

[countryboy667]

I'm old, so this will be totally discounted by younger fans today, but today's game sux.

Sissy-arse 100 pitch count.

Sissy-arse 200 innings max.

Specialized relievers for relievers for relievers ad nauseum.

Players with no loyalty to the franchises that gave them their big break (thanks, Curt Flood, you jerk!)

All too often, it's a HR or nothing.

Juiced ball.

Complete games rarer than the proverbial hens teeth.

Moneyball. Picayune analytics.

No such thing as clutch (I'd like to see someone explain that to Frank Robinson or Al Kaline.)

The DH

Interleague play.

Where are all the great black players?

Bleeeccchhh. That's why I don't watch anymore. Booorrringggg!!!

[countryboy667]

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.

Agreed.

The talent pool has multiplied. Most old school players would struggle to survive in China and Europe, if they'd even get that far.

Yeah...I'm sure Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, George Brett, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Al Kaline, Mike Schmidt, Hal Newhouser, Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, Jim Palmer, Juan Marichal, Luis Tiant, Don Drysdale, Juan Pizarro, Jim Kaat, Jack Morris, Jim Bunning, Bob Gibson, Rollie Fingers, and Dennis Eckersley would really struggle today...tell me some more jokes--the ones above were real belly-laughers...