The point is not to find an equal to Ruth

Author: Chris94 (38699 Posts - Original UHND Member)

Posted at 5:30 pm on May 5, 2026

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The point is that the league was weaker without Black players.

In 1927 there were 16 teams but only 119 million Americans. Today there are 350 million of us - and lots of international players.

The numbers suggest that the competition is tougher today.

Replies to: “The point is not to find an equal to Ruth”

I can't imagine what Babe Ruth's stats would be like if he was granted the same privileges as Ohtani - Hensou - 4:36pm 5/5/26 (27) [View All]
- Good topic, good discussion - Mark - 8:50pm 5/5/26
- It’s hard to compare the different eras… - justknox - 6:40pm 5/5/26
  - Indeed. Yes, Fat Babe was well over 215. - Hensou - 7:04pm 5/5/26
- Can't agree here, my friend. But imagine if Ohtani were allowed to play golf w 52 clubs in his bag! [NT] - BaronVonZemo - 4:52pm 5/5/26
  - What is your disagreement based on? [NT] - Hensou - 4:54pm 5/5/26
    - Two things.... - BaronVonZemo - 4:59pm 5/5/26
      - For the majority of his career Ruth was 6 '2" and 215 pounds. - Hensou - 5:05pm 5/5/26
        
        I was adding more to my post - sry. But that is a fair point-it'd be like judging Bird from his last - BaronVonZemo - 5:16pm 5/5/26
        
        The only minority player who was Ruth's equal was Josh Gibson - Hensou - 5:24pm 5/5/26
        
        The point is not to find an equal to Ruth - Chris94 - 5:30pm 5/5/26
        
        Ask Satchel, Oscar, Buck, etc. - Hensou - 5:37pm 5/5/26
        
        No one said that anyone was [NT] - Chris94 - 5:52pm 5/5/26
        
        You suggested MLB was weaker without Black players. I suggest Ruth would still dominate. [NT] - Hensou - 6:06pm 5/5/26
        
        No, I suggest that any "privilege" that Ohtani has is outweighed by those Ruth had [NT] - Chris94 - 7:09pm 5/5/26
        
        You seem to be arguing with yourself. - Hensou - 7:31pm 5/5/26
- His numbers would have been the same - Chris94 - 4:45pm 5/5/26
  - He truly is a phenom. So much so that MLB looked the other way on the gambling issue- - BaronVonZemo - 4:57pm 5/5/26
  - That is not logical. It is not correct. - Hensou - 4:53pm 5/5/26
    - I love the Babe. But the game is much harder today. - Chris94 - 4:57pm 5/5/26
      - Ruth stopped pitching because he wanted to play everyday. To do that he had to play the field. - Hensou - 5:17pm 5/5/26
        
        I have always argued that the Babe was the best player ever - Chris94 - 5:25pm 5/5/26
        
        Babe played his late game in 1935. 91 years ago. Look at his 1927 stats. 99 years ago. - Hensou - 5:33pm 5/5/26
        
        Sorry - I thought "100 years" obviously meant "since Ruth" [NT] - Chris94 - 6:03pm 5/5/26
        
        Please say what you mean and mean what you say. Otherwise, we take you at face value. [NT] - Hensou - 6:10pm 5/5/26
        
        Also, as I mentioned above, Ohtani never faced pitchers from the higher mound which is a big deal - BaronVonZemo - 5:21pm 5/5/26
        
        Here's a neat side story. [NT] [LINK] - Hensou - 5:25pm 5/5/26
        
        Great stuff. [NT] - BaronVonZemo - 8:05pm 5/5/26

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