Inside the Majors

A look at news and trends in the Big Leagues

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• Baseball Is It Still America’s Pastime
• Baseball: How Much Has It Changed Over The Years
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Baseball: How Much Has It Changed Over The Years

Baseball has fluctuated over the years from a heavily defensive game to a heavily offensive game. In the era of Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb and Cy Young, homeruns and high-scoring games were much rarer than they are today. Players such as Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx may have excited America with their offensive prowess, but they were few and far in between.

It wasn’t until 1969 that the rules were changed to give batters advantages over pitchers. The pitcher mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10 inches tall, and the strike zone was reduced from knees to shoulders to the tops of the knees to the armpit. In 1973, the designated hitter rule was instituted in the American League to provide more offense.

From the 1980s to the present, athletic training has become more specialized and better, allowing players to reach their maximum physical potential in ways that earlier athletes couldn’t. Unfortunately, we also have to note the rise of steroid and other performance-enhancer usage. Many players, including Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco, have either admitted to or been accused of using steroids to boost their offensive numbers.

These changes, advances and developments have turned baseball into a pitcher’s nightmare, but have made the game more exciting for the casual audience. Baseball is cyclical, though, and it is only a matter of time before the pendulum swings back in favor of the pitcher. Who knows what the future will bring?