Bonds Hits No. 713, Moves Within One Of Ruth

CBS2CHICAGO ^ | 7 MAY 2006 | AP

[Marius3188]

Thanks for somone finally bringing that one out. The size of stadiums has shrunk big time. Yankee Stadium did favor 'Ruth' in his day, but overall, 490 for Center Field!!!


Yankee Stadium
1923-1936

* Left Field Line - 285 ft.
* Straightaway LF, corner of main stand - 395 ft.
* Straightaway LF, corner of bleachers - 460 ft.
* Center Field - 490 ft.
* Right Center - 429 ft.
* Straightaway RF, bleacher gate - 350 ft.
* Right Field Line - 295 ft.

Yankee Stadium 1988-present

* Altered to make Monument Park more accessible
* Left Field Line - 318 ft.
* Straightaway LF - 379 ft.
* Deep Left Center - 399 ft.
* Center Field - 408 ft.
* Right Center - 385 ft.
* Straightaway RF - 353 ft.
* Right Field Line - 314 ft.

[Echo Talon]

How many Home Runs again did Ruth hit based on the big ballparks of the 20's where for example batters had to hit it 403 ft to clear left field at the Senator's ballpark, how about the Big Ballpark in the Bronx where Babe crushed his homers at home. A long out to left or center would be a HR in most modern ballparks that Barry has faced. How about the trips to St Louis' Grand Avenue where center field yawned 430 ft away.

Also, the balls are wound so tight these days that they fly farther than they used to. The old baseballs were more like a mush ball compared to todays "golfball" style action.

[kinoxi]

please explain further post #57...

[pepperhead]

Was there any good Latin pitchers back then?

[Echo Talon]

I am completely biased in this matter. Part of it is to counter the Sports MSM’s East Coast bias.

I'm in MN hardly east coast bias.

[stillonaroll]

Ruth, being on of “theirs,” having played in New York almost his entire career, is especially venerated by the East Coast sports media. They don’t give Hank Aaron sufficient props, as he played outside elsewhere.

Even these days, I’m sick of “plays of the day” on highlight shows that ignore West Coast games.

[A message]

1931 rules change.

. A fair ball that bounces through or over a fence or into the stands is considered a ground-rule double instead of a home run. [6.09]

Ok, I learned something.

But this will get real ugly if Bonds gets close to Hank's record.

[stillonaroll]

MSM = mainstream media.

[Mr. Mojo]

but if you had offered the athletes of yesteryear better performance from a needle I'm guessing that most of them would have jumped at the chance to shoot up.

Maybe, maybe not. With the huge money in the game these days the edge steroids can give a player could mean the difference between languishing in AAA or being a multi-millionaire in the Bigs.

Back in Ruth's time all but a handful of players had to take winter jobs -- most made only a few thousand annually, max. Baseball was literally "just a game" to them, so they'd be far less likely to risk destroying their health to get that edge.

[Echo Talon]

oh, I thought you were talking about us... I believe most people beliebe Ruth is the better athlete.
Give Ruth some roids and a record to chase and see how may homers he gets. :)

[GOP_Raider]

Now I'm really hungry...

[kinoxi]

finding a better channel usually suited me.

[MPJackal]

"They didn't do it because they didn't know about them or they weren't available, but if you had offered the athletes of yesteryear better performance from a needle I'm guessing that most of them would have jumped at the chance to shoot up."

Thought Police on Patrol. George Orwell, call your office.

Actually, when I was into sports back in the day (mid 70's-mid 80's) performance enhancing drugs were frowned upon. I still remember our opinion of the USSR and their she-male womens Olympic team.

[GOP_Raider]

Has Barry faced any ballparks like that?

Well, to be fair, he did play in one (Candlestick Park) that wasn't kind to hitters for a few seasons.

[hole_n_one]

But this will get real ugly if Bonds gets close to Hank's record.

1 is pretty damn close.

[Lancey Howard]

Ruth is also one of the all-time leaders in steals of home.
I wonder how many times Bonds stole home?

[hole_n_one]

You're an idiot........

go to bed before you type anything else.

[Luke21]

ESPN did their usual "alternate universe" liberalism, trying not to show anyone booing Bonds tonight. The folks still got their signs up before the camera could cut away and one guy leaned over the dugout with a thumbs down, after Bonds homered, while lying Joe Morgan insisted the fans in Philly gave him a standing ovation. There was no curtain call, no sustained applause, nothing that would accompany a standing ovation. ESPN just outright lied. Typical lib media.

Bonds is a cheating jerk that is despised by a large percentage of baseball fans as an affront to the game. I went to a Diamondback game recently and even the laid back, unemotional Phoenix fans booed every appearance of Bonds.

[A message]

Still has 42 to go before he ties Aaron.

[Lancey Howard]

The comparison with Ruth really isn't valid because back then they didn't throw 90mph

Is that a joke?