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Comments (47) on “Deadball Era Baseball Game Footage (1900-1920)”

  6. The best players/athletes could always adapt, over time. Athletes today in EVERY sport are stronger, faster etc., thanks to modern diets, training methods, equipment, etc. etc. And thus, for example, if a 21st century pitcher were suddenly transported to 1898 (when generally, the rules were the same as today), he would strike out almost every batter he faced (and break a few catchers' hands in the process). And if a player from 1898 were suddenly transported to the 21st century, he would have trouble hitting AND his pitches might get hammered.

    BUT

    If the great 19th century player were somehow transported into this century and had time to adjust to the better equipment, undergo a modern training regimen, etc. he'd ultimately do just fine.

    Great fielders would adjust most quickly to that aspect of the game. Better gloves and MUCH better field conditions would make their job easier. A great 19th century fielder could become a great 21st century defensive player fairly quickly.

    Likewise, a great baserunner would adjust fairly well to that aspect of the modern game as well, providing they were willing to listen and learn.

    Great pitchers, depending on their style, would have it somewhat more challenging. The guys who legally threw spit balls, scuffballs, etc wouldn't thrive. The fastball pitcher would improve, but might have to accept a role in the bullpen. The control/placement pitchers could eventually do very well (think Greg Maddux as a modern comparison). But it would take time.

    19th century hitters would have the most difficult time adjusting. It might take years (so they better be transported to modern times while still in their early teens).

    All speculation, of course.

    And Rick Libowitz is also right. A modern fielder, forced to use primitive/smaller gloves on bumpy, pebble strewn fields, would have a very tough time. Modern batters would have difficulty adjusting to the available hardware and facing dirty, scuffed, much deader balls. Modern pitchers would probably fare far better, of course, but would hate using the same ball inning after inning and would be appalled by the defense.

    Very interesting video.

  22. Someone should give all this old baseball footage the "They Shall Not Grow Old" treatment and edit it to full color with realistic playback speed. It's crazy what Peter Jackson did with all that old WWI footage and all this old baseball stuff would be just as good.

  24. Fun fact: In 1918 Babe Ruth set a World Series record of 29 2/3 scoreless innings streak as a pitcher which stood for 43 years. Whitney Ford broke in 1961. Ruth also led the league in homeruns becoming the only pitcher to do so. What a player!

  26. The 1904 New York Giants were not world champs. There was no World Series in 1904 because John McGraw refused to play Boston and there was no World Series that year

  28. With today's technology we can slow this down to the right speed and get the frames so they don't stutter much. Would be great to see that with this footage so it doesn't seem as cartoonish.

  31. It's crazy how baseball in the 70's was the same amount of years after this era as the 70's are to baseball now. I wonder how much baseball will have changed 50 years from now.

  46. Love the clips. My grandfather played semi-pro ball back in those days. Almost signed with the Tigers when Ty Cobb managed them but it just wasn't in the cards. It's too bad Ty never won a world title. The only thing missing from his resume.

    But there was no World Series in 1904 so it's a bit of a misnomer calling the Giants world champs. Helluva team though, with two 30 game winners, Joe McGinnity and Christie Mathewson, and six hall of famers. The Giants did beat the Philadelphia A's the next year in five games to win the World Series and Mathewson eclipsed 30 wins again. Wonder what kind of paycheck he would command today? 🤔

    It was sort of melancholy seeing Shoeless Joe. I know he admitted taking the money ($5,000) but the word is he tried to give it back and he claimed the lawyer the team hired duped him into signing the confession admitting his guilt (Joe was illiterate). Was he a dupe for the scam as well? He had the highest BA for the series on either side (.375), hit the only HR of the series and didn't make one error in the field. If he was in on the fix, he was pretty bad at throwing ballgames. One of those "what ifs" I guess no one will ever know for certain. Like John Cusack says at the end of the movie; "those guys are all gone now." My take, he was banned for life and he served his sentence. There's enough reasonable doubt to let him in the Hall. I read an outtake from an interview or something where the writer talks about him running into Ty Cobb later in life and he hung his head because he figured no one from the game would ever want anything to do with him. So sad that a man with that kid of ability felt that way. RIP Joe. I hope somewhere in Heaven there really is a field of dreams where you get to play with your head held high once more.

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