Mordecai Brown by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Mordecai Brown

Page 183

Below are the only pitchers who achieved or exceeded the five straight feat. All are from the Deadball Era which is defined as 1901-1919, casting unwarranted aspersions obscuring the fact that this same “Deadball” was also used during the years 1876-1900, three of which produced the highest annual average scoring per team per game recorded, including the highest of 7.4 runs in 1894. The “experts” say that they have trouble adjusting to the pre-1901 rule changes, though rules have also been changed after that and recently, especially in regard to the pitcher’s distance from the plate, the height of the mound, decreasing the strike zone, and not being allowed to throw at the hitter.

In addition, it is nowhere explained why some of the highest batting averages in baseball history were put up in this “Deadball” era. 23 of the 40 highest batting averages ever recorded were put up before 1920, this “Deadball” era. Another 13 were posted shortly thereafter. If some old timers could bat higher than anyone playing after the 1940’s what was wrong with the modern rest?

Name Batting Average Year Rank

Hugh Duffy .440 (.43970) 1894 1

Tip O'Neill .435 (.43520) 1887 2

Ross Barnes .429 (.42857) 1876 3