Baseball changes over the years

[Doc]

Ball parks going from all grass, to almost half of them artificial turf, back to almost all grass.

When the astroturf ruled, pre- post modern revitalization era: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, St Louis, Montreal, Houston, San Francisco, Toronto, Seattle, Kansas City, Minnesota, Chicago White Sox infield. Some teams switched back at some point.

Now there are only 5 teams that play on an artificial surface: Toronto, Tampa Bay, Texas, Arizona, and Miami. All the domed stadiums.

I can understand football being played on the new artificial stuff with the abuse the field takes but baseball, the pastoral game, is meant to be played on grass and dirt. So glad to see all of the new parks and the beautiful grass inside them.

[Wildwoodcoach]

Even though the average pitcher goes 6 or 7 innings, the clubs seem to be sticking to
5 days between starts. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that years ago it was 4

[Wildwoodcoach]

Back in the day I don't remember as many Arm Surgeries.Of course the name Tommy John wasn't used .
Also, most pitchers didn't have a variety of pitches like they do today.

[Doc]

Back in the day I don't remember as many Arm Surgeries.Of course the name Tommy John wasn't used .
Also, most pitchers didn't have a variety of pitches like they do today.

You remind me of those guys who developed bad arms but never knew what was wrong. Think of the guys with shoulder issues who had torn rotator cuffs but doctors were unable to diagnose that situation. (I think that’s what may have been Gene Alley’s problem but no one had any idea about torn cuffs back then.). Lots of pitchers faded from the game but never knew what their injury was specifically. Medical advances over the past 50 years have definitely changed the game for the good.

[Wildwoodcoach]

Remembering when there were eight teams in each league. The two first place teams played in the World Series.
No divisions winners, no wildcards

[Surgnbuck]

I guess rule changes could go crazy in here. But one huge change is there are no knuckleballers. To this day, I still don't understand why more guys don't at least practice it. Can you imagine if someone had one passable enough he'd throw it maybe only 3-4 times in a game? Just enough to give the batters a little more to think about. I know it's a hard pitch to pull off, but growing up, there were always a handfull of them in the majors. Heck, I remember you had both Joe and Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough, Wilbur Wood, Tom Candiotti, then Tim Wakefield and R. A. Dickey kept it going.

[Wildwoodcoach]

I guess rule changes could go crazy in here. But one huge change is there are no knuckleballers. To this day, I still don't understand why more guys don't at least practice it. Can you imagine if someone had one passable enough he'd throw it maybe only 3-4 times in a game? Just enough to give the batters a little more to think about. I know it's a hard pitch to pull off, but growing up, there were always a handfull of them in the majors. Heck, I remember you had both Joe and Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough, Wilbur Wood, Tom Candiotti, then Tim Wakefield and R. A. Dickey kept it going.

Very good point!

[Ecbucs]

another change (minor one) is the introduction of batting gloves and base running gloves. I don't remember exactly when first batting gloves were used but guessing early 1970's. Anyone remember if Lou Brock used them at end of his career?

I don't think Omar Moreno wore gloves on the basepaths.

[Bobster]

100 pitch limits.
Relievers designated for specific innings.
"Opener" pitchers.
Managing the bullpen to accommodate saves for the closer.

[Wildwoodcoach]

Two feats that will never be duplicated
Nolan Ryan 235 pitches in one game
Robin Roberts- Started and finished both ends of a DH
Threw well over 300 pitches that night and pitched 17 innings