So I'm browsing baseball reference today and I'm looking at this "adjusted era" stat and the best of all time and at #4 is this pitcher named Jim Devlin from the mid 1870s.
So obviously pitchers stats are CRAZY from back then (dude threw 68 and 61 complete games in back to back years), but the thing I don't get is this.
This guy only played 3 years and has a 1.90 career ERA. So I looked closer and dude gave up 776 runs but only 296 of them were earned. Each year he gave up like twice as many unearned runs and earned runs.
What was going on back then? Bad gloves and no one could field a ball or what? Anyone have any explanation how this was?
So I'm browsing baseball reference today and I'm looking at this "adjusted era" stat and the best of all time and at #4 is this pitcher named Jim Devlin from the mid 1870s.
So obviously pitchers stats are CRAZY from back then (dude threw 68 and 61 complete games in back to back years), but the thing I don't get is this.
This guy only played 3 years and has a 1.90 career ERA. So I looked closer and dude gave up 776 runs but only 296 of them were earned. Each year he gave up like twice as many unearned runs and earned runs.
What was going on back then? Bad gloves and no one could field a ball or what? Anyone have any explanation how this was?
So I'm browsing baseball reference today and I'm looking at this "adjusted era" stat and the best of all time and at #4 is this pitcher named Jim Devlin from the mid 1870s.
So obviously pitchers stats are CRAZY from back then (dude threw 68 and 61 complete games in back to back years), but the thing I don't get is this.
This guy only played 3 years and has a 1.90 career ERA. So I looked closer and dude gave up 776 runs but only 296 of them were earned. Each year he gave up like twice as many unearned runs and earned runs.
What was going on back then? Bad gloves and no one could field a ball or what? Anyone have any explanation how this was?
So I'm browsing baseball reference today and I'm looking at this "adjusted era" stat and the best of all time and at #4 is this pitcher named Jim Devlin from the mid 1870s.
So obviously pitchers stats are CRAZY from back then (dude threw 68 and 61 complete games in back to back years), but the thing I don't get is this.
This guy only played 3 years and has a 1.90 career ERA. So I looked closer and dude gave up 776 runs but only 296 of them were earned. Each year he gave up like twice as many unearned runs and earned runs.
What was going on back then? Bad gloves and no one could field a ball or what? Anyone have any explanation how this was?
Stats and scoring criteria from that era are really weird. That's why you often hear "In the modern era" when stats are discussed. A lot of things changed in the early 20th century. BarneysDad has a good observation. You definitely have too much time on your hands. If you really want to appreciate stats look at the 1950's, after integration but before expansion. Only sixteen teams, five levels of minor league play, it was a great achievement just to make the major leagues, much less be in the class of a Mantle, Mays, Musial or Williams. There was only ONE form of "post season" stat, the World Series itself. And, there was no great money in the NFL or NBA yet, all the best athletes that wanted to play pro focused on baseball. What any of the players of the 1950's did, versus the competition they faced, was remarkable. Have fun.
Now and then even a BLIND squirrel can find an acorn
Stats and scoring criteria from that era are really weird. That's why you often hear "In the modern era" when stats are discussed. A lot of things changed in the early 20th century. BarneysDad has a good observation. You definitely have too much time on your hands. If you really want to appreciate stats look at the 1950's, after integration but before expansion. Only sixteen teams, five levels of minor league play, it was a great achievement just to make the major leagues, much less be in the class of a Mantle, Mays, Musial or Williams. There was only ONE form of "post season" stat, the World Series itself. And, there was no great money in the NFL or NBA yet, all the best athletes that wanted to play pro focused on baseball. What any of the players of the 1950's did, versus the competition they faced, was remarkable. Have fun.
Stats and scoring criteria from that era are really weird. That's why you often hear "In the modern era" when stats are discussed. A lot of things changed in the early 20th century. BarneysDad has a good observation. You definitely have too much time on your hands. If you really want to appreciate stats look at the 1950's, after integration but before expansion. Only sixteen teams, five levels of minor league play, it was a great achievement just to make the major leagues, much less be in the class of a Mantle, Mays, Musial or Williams. There was only ONE form of "post season" stat, the World Series itself. And, there was no great money in the NFL or NBA yet, all the best athletes that wanted to play pro focused on baseball. What any of the players of the 1950's did, versus the competition they faced, was remarkable. Have fun.
Stats and scoring criteria from that era are really weird. That's why you often hear "In the modern era" when stats are discussed. A lot of things changed in the early 20th century. BarneysDad has a good observation. You definitely have too much time on your hands. If you really want to appreciate stats look at the 1950's, after integration but before expansion. Only sixteen teams, five levels of minor league play, it was a great achievement just to make the major leagues, much less be in the class of a Mantle, Mays, Musial or Williams. There was only ONE form of "post season" stat, the World Series itself. And, there was no great money in the NFL or NBA yet, all the best athletes that wanted to play pro focused on baseball. What any of the players of the 1950's did, versus the competition they faced, was remarkable. Have fun.
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