Since blacks couldn't play baseball in the "glory days" of MLB, weren't the 30s and 40s overrated, even Ruth?

Answer 1

Babe Ruth was not overrated! You can't help it if America was going through a time that they didn't accept others for their skin color. It wouldn't change the kind of player he was. Racism still happens today too, but maybe not as much. So don't be nieve and think discrimination and racism happened only back then. Remember 9/11? Anyways, Jackie Robinson was an amazing player! He played in the 40s even though he suffered a lot because he was black. Plus, if there was a league for black people then you would have to say the same thing about their players being overrated because there weren't white people in the league. I love all those that have left their mark in baseball even if it was really hard. Go Jackie Robinson!

Answer 2

People forget that Babe Ruth was also damn fine pitcher, but he was a better hitter. He would have hit well even if the black players were playing then. Also, Ruth played from 1914-1935. He didn't play in the forties at all. Babe Ruth can't be overrated. If he played today, he would still hit a bagillion homers and have a high batting average. He's like a combination of David Wells and David Ortiz. I am not saying that the players from the 30s and 40s aren't overrated, but then again, there's not that many that people remember outside of baseball nuts like me. The only person that's immensely popular to this day from the 40s is Joe DiMaggio and he would have been good with the black players in the league. Also, Jackie Robinson came into the National League in 1947, so you can't completely discount the 40s either. I think the very best players, like Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and a few others would have been great no matter what, but some of the others, maybe even one of my beloved Cardinals, Rogers Hornsby, may be be overrated. There's no certain way to tell for sure. Maybe the black players of that era were overrated too since they only played against black players. History is what it is and to discount someone because he is white is just as bad as to discount someone because he is black or hispanic or anything else.

Answer 3

I think that the 30's and 40's were way overrated. If a fat guy like Babe Ruth could pitch every other day, play outfield and everywhere else and hit 714 HRs, then every other player must have been terrible. If he played today, I bet he wouldnt even make it to the MLB.

And with your question, alot of the outfielders today are black because they are usually the fastest and have great arms. If they could have played in the 30s and 40s, there would be quite a few more names in the Hall of Fame, and maybe even some new records.

Answer 4

Definitly not overrated. I do think that baseball would have been even better if blacks were involved in the Majors. On regards to Ruth. He is the best player to ever live. He won atleast 20 games twice and had an ERA of less than 2 in 1916 (1.75) We all know what he did with hitting HR's. But he batted over .350 8 times during his career. He also had 136 triples. So to say Ruth is overrated is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

Answer 5

The players that were good were good. The players that might have had a chance to play in the bigs missed out because of the racism that developed but not all the black players were good enough to play in the bigs. The 30-40's could have been better with some of the players but Ruth would still be Ruth and given the equipment and balls used today he might have been much better. You cannot judge one decade against another because there are too many intangibles to be considered.

Answer 6

I absolutely agree!! Hank Aaron, Andrew Jones, Roberto Clemente and many others from different ethnic backgrounds were not around then because they were banned from the Major Leagues. Recently, black players from the "old days" who played in leagues for black players have been honored by MLB. Because of their banishment in the early days, it is difficult to say that Babe Ruth was the greatest player ever. In studying his career, I would say he was highly talented for sure, but I also believe he has been overrated.

Sorry, but I have to call them as I see them.

Answer 7

I THINK SO. EVERYONE WAS ALWAYS CONCENTRATIONG ON RUTH. FOR WHAT? HAS EVERYBODY FORGOTTEN ABOUT HANK AARON? BABE RUTH WAS NOT THE GREATEST OR THE BEST SO WHY IS HE PUT ON A PEDISTOLE LIKE HE IS?