andycummings65 wrote:I think Marc means that the rules of the game Sweeney pitched by are much different than they are today or even were in 1894. If the baseball rules in 1876 were the same as 1894 or 1947, I’d say add those cards too.
But they aren’t. Sweeney pitched underhand to batters who got to tell him where to lob it. Greg Maddux he ain’t. Single seasons aren’t the issue for me; it’s the rules those single seasons were played under. Love the 1894 cards and up—add them.
But it’s very true to say there is NO comparison between Sweeney and Pete Alexander.
Just because something has been debated before doesn’t mean an argument has lost its logical points.
Andy, hard to tell what someone means to say vs what they do say.
Were I arguing your side of the case it would be as you are saying 1894 bc of the rules change.
the counter argument to that however is simply that the majority of the community does not care enough about the rules changes not to have those players.
And for the second part its not an issue of comparing Sweeney to Alexander for 2 reasons
1) isn't the issue more with the card itself?-- just like you can argue so and so had a great season that their card simply does not reflect the opposite is true too- the seasons are supposed to be made comparatively within themselves (as they most of the time are) and if they are not, perhaps the fault lies with the card makers?
2) you can easily make an argument between players of any 2 eras --Does George Mikan belong in a game with Shaq?
Athleticism has changed radically in the last 40 -50 years- radically, accounting for just as much as rule changes.