Are Babe Ruth's stats inflated?

Question

Everyone generally agrees Ruth is by far the best player ever to play baseball, but I just have to ask, if minorities were allowed to play in the Major Leagues during Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Rogers Hornby's time, would their stats have been as good? Ever since the 50's after Jackie Robinson, haven't the best hitters been minorities? (Aaron, Mays, Robinson, Clemente, Gwynn, Griffey Jr., Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, etc.) I wonder how Ruth would have done against all the best players in the country (and the world), not just against the best white players.

Answer 1

Ruth numbers would have been better. Generally speaking, except for a hand full of exceptional black players, the ***** Leagues were not as good as the major leagues. The legend of the ***** League has been so completely blown out of proportion over the years it's not funny. A prime example is the legend of Josh Gibson. All one needs to do is research the ***** Leagues to find out the truth.

I'm sure many of you will thumbs down my answer because you don't like hearing the truth by if you do, you're only lying to yourselves.

Answer 2

Babe Ruth Stats

Answer 3

i'm a believer that Babe Ruth became the excellent all-around participant interior the historic previous of substantial league baseball. That stated, i do no longer think that the huge style 3 could be retired for all communities via fact of him. the belief of retiring a large determination could basically be for the group that chooses to accomplish that. Jackie Robinson, on a similar time as a large baseball participant, did no longer have his huge style retired with the aid of all communities via fact of his enjoying means, yet via fact of what he did to finally combine baseball. If it became basically for his enjoying means, it ought to no longer have been retired even for the Dodgers. Babe Ruth did replace the interest, yet basically on the enjoying container. Others have replaced the interest as properly. Maury Wills reintroduced the stolen base; Dennis Eckersly replaced alleviation pitching. Babe Ruth's occupation would not warrant retiring the huge style 3 for all communities.

Answer 4

Any desparity that could come from Ruth playing with minorities would just be compensated for by today's ballparks and today's rules. Many people forget that the parks that Ruth played in had rediculous demintions. It's reported by many baseball historians that Ruth flew out over 400 feet on many occasions...that's well beyond most outfield fences today. Also, when Ruth played the strike zone was much larger...Ruth came into the league during the dead ball era, a time in which people wanted to see games of 1-0 bunt fests. They wanted to see defense and pitchers were given a much greater advantage. In fact Ruth is the one that put an end to the dead ball era. It's because of Ruth, because of the home run that fans fell in love with, that the strike zone is so small today...giving a greater advantage to the hitter. Ruth finished his career with a .342 average, an OPS of 1.159, and 714 HR...even with the better athletes and pitching of today, I doubt Ruth's numbers would have declined much at all. Face it the guy was an absolute phenom.

Answer 5

No, I think things even out. True, there were no minorities then, and it's also true that relief pitchers were not utilized as often. But you have to realize that there were 8 teams in the AL when Ruth played, which means there was no watered-down pitching, and many better pitchers per team. Also players did not wear helmets then and none of the body armor, like say, Barry Bonds wears. There was no diving over the plate, and no fights when pitchers came up and in, it was part of the game. Today, pitchers have to pretty much lay the ball across the plate to hitters who have no fear of being hit. Like I said, things tend to even out.

You have to look at the fact that Babe routinely outhomered entire TEAMS during the 20s, so it's clear that he was pretty special.

Answer 6

First of all, it was what it was. Ruth had no say in who could and couldnt play. Ruth would still have been successful if the Majors had been integrated. He would have hit home runs off Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell would have gotten hits off of Walter Johnson.
Ruth was hitting home runs in parks like Cominsky that was 440 at Center, Griffith Park in Washington that was 421, and even Yankee Stadium was 461 to dead away center when it opened. He also batted .342 for a career. Also unlike today, every athelete wanted to play professional baseball so they had the pick of the litter. He also went to Japan in 1934 to play some exhibition series and at the age of 39, he still lead that team against the Japanese best in home runs and batting average. Dont blame Ruth for what might have been. He simply was the best their ever was

Answer 7

Blacks really isn't the reason..look at this..back in his day pitchers pitched the whole game and more usually..they didn't have relievers or closers..so I am sure some of his hr's were off tired pitchers..but on the other hand they were against the bwst pitchers due to the fact alot less teams were playing compared to now..it is watered down now with all the teams..even in the 70's if it weren't for expansion alot of players would never see the majors if only 16 teams were playing..I think that Ruth deserves the title as one of the best..he hit every hr without steroids..heck he was even hung over alot I am sure..he did like to party too.

Answer 8

First of all his stats are not inflated and had he taken much better of himself throughout his career he would have even better stats.

Secondly, Babe is by far baseball's most popular icon and hero but he was not baseball's best player.

Ty Cobb was baseball's best player weather people like him or not.
#1 All-time ba -.366
#2 All-time hits - 4,189
#2 All-time runs scored - 2,246
#4 All-time stolen bases - 892
#5 All-time rbi's - 1,937

Answer 9

Well, the players today travel in planes. Babe Ruth had to ride in a train. It is just numbers and a teenager today really could care less about Babe Ruth or for that matter Mark McGwire. It is all relative to "present day" reality. Nobody really cares about the past...only one's own past is important.

Answer 10

That is insane to think like that. It isn't the Babe's fault that black players weren't allowed to play during his playing days. Yes, he would have done as well. It wouldn't have made a difference who was on the mound. The Babe would have socked as many home runs. His stats aren't tainted, at all.