Sports history through data 📊 | MLB ⚾ NBA 🏀 PGA 🏌️ | Era-adjusted analysis • statistical deep dives • separating mythology from the numbers
Albany, NY
Joined November 2014
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Top 10 sluggers, Ruth Era (1920-1929): 5′11″, 184 lb.
Top 10, 2014–24: 6′2.5″, 235 lb.
Source:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets…
Babe Ruth was an all-time great. But treating sepia-toned nostalgia as proof that today’s players are lesser ignores how much athletes (and training) have changed.
Respect the legend.
Compare the eras honestly.
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⚾️ YANKEES: 1923–2001 vs. 2002–2026
1923–2001
79 seasons
🏆 36 AL Pennants
🥇 26 World Series Championships
2002–2026
25 seasons
🏆 3 AL Pennants
🥇 1 World Series Championship
The difference:
1923–2001 → 36 pennants | 26 titles
2002–2026 → 3 pennants | 1 title
📊 79 seasons vs. 25 seasons
The Yankees won 12× more World Series in the first era despite playing just over 3× as many seasons.
That’s the standard the modern Yankees are measured against.
Christopher Sean retweeted
⚾ MOST CAREER STARTS WITH 7+ HITLESS INNINGS
MLB regular season, 1908–2025
Nolan Ryan — 23
T-2. Randy Johnson — 8
T-2. Justin Verlander — 8
T-4. Bob Feller — 6
T-4. Sam Jones — 6
T-4. Ken Holtzman — 6
T-4. David Cone — 6
T-8. Grover Cleveland Alexander — 5
T-8. Dean Chance — 5
T-8. Tom Seaver — 5
T-8. Dave Stieb — 5
T-8. Max Scherzer — 5
Definition: Starting pitcher completed at least 7.0 innings without allowing a hit. The bid did NOT have to become an official no-hitter.
Sources: Retrosheet play-by-play/event files (1908–2025); Chadwick Baseball Bureau for Retrosheet data processing/player identification; Lahman/SABR database for statistical and player cross-checking.
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“The barbarians never take a city till someone holds the gates open for them. And it’s your own preachers who will do it for you and your own multicultural authorities who will do it for you. Resist, resist it while you can.”
-Christopher Hitchens, 2009
⚾ MOST CAREER STARTS WITH 7+ HITLESS INNINGS
MLB regular season, 1908–2025
Nolan Ryan — 23
T-2. Randy Johnson — 8
T-2. Justin Verlander — 8
T-4. Bob Feller — 6
T-4. Sam Jones — 6
T-4. Ken Holtzman — 6
T-4. David Cone — 6
T-8. Grover Cleveland Alexander — 5
T-8. Dean Chance — 5
T-8. Tom Seaver — 5
T-8. Dave Stieb — 5
T-8. Max Scherzer — 5
Definition: Starting pitcher completed at least 7.0 innings without allowing a hit. The bid did NOT have to become an official no-hitter.
Sources: Retrosheet play-by-play/event files (1908–2025); Chadwick Baseball Bureau for Retrosheet data processing/player identification; Lahman/SABR database for statistical and player cross-checking.
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Christopher Sean retweeted
Shawn,
Unfortunately, Jon is wildly misinformed (or totally uninformed) about the last 20 years.
POST 1/3
Christopher Hitchens’s most devastating argument against Christianity wasn’t simply “there’s no evidence for God.”
It was this:
If Christianity is true, God watched Homo sapiens suffer through disease, famine, violence and ignorance for roughly 98,000 years with “complete indifference.”
Then, with 2,000 years left on the clock, God finally decided to intervene.
Here’s how Hitchens put it: 🧵
Full debate/source — Christopher Hitchens vs. William Lane Craig, Biola University (2009).
Hitchens’s argument begins here, at 1:08:09:
youtu.be/0tYm41hb48o?t=4089
POST 3/3
And here is the problem Christianity still has to answer:
If salvation through Christ is necessary, why did an omniscient, omnipotent and benevolent God wait roughly 98% of Homo sapiens’ existence before revealing it?
Christians: what is the strongest answer to Hitchens’s argument?
Not a sermon. Not “God works in mysterious ways.”
An actual answer to the argument.
POST 2/3
“Actually, I guess it’s time we intervened!! We can’t go on like this. Why don’t we have someone tortured to death in Bronze Age Palestine? That should teach them; that should give them a chance at redemption.”
“You’re free to believe that, but I think the designer who thought of doing it that way is a very, or was a very cruel, capricious, random, bungling, and incompetent one.”
— Christopher Hitchens
We finally have actual pitch-count data for pitchers going back more than a century.
And the results are fascinating.
These are NOT estimates or reconstructed pitch counts.
They’re calculated only from games for which complete pitch-by-pitch data survives. (Retrosheet PBP).
Minimum 5 documented starts. Regular season + postseason.
The sample sizes for early pitchers are obviously much smaller, but the historical contrast is remarkable.
Full 41-pitcher table below 👇
🤖 Made with AI
Would love to get some eyes on this from the baseball research/data community.
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The early-era results are especially interesting. If anyone knows of additional surviving primary-source pitch counts that aren't represented in Retrosheet, I'd love to add them.
The question this raises:
Were deadball/pre-war pitchers really throwing dramatically fewer pitches per 9 — or are the surviving games creating a selection effect?
Mathewson: 97.8 P/9
Coveleski: 104.1
Bender: 116.2
Grove: 118.9
Alexander: 121.5
Walter Johnson: 132.2
That is a HUGE spread.
How is Yordan Alvarez’s 2026 season getting almost NO attention?
He currently leads the AL in:
• AVG
• OBP
• SLG
• OPS
• HR
• BB
• Total Bases
Do you understand how absurd that is?
Only TWO players in AL/NL history have ever led their league in all 7 in the same season:
Babe Ruth — 1924
Ted Williams — 1942, 1947
That’s IT!!
Yordan is threatening to join Ruth and Williams—and somehow one of the greatest offensive seasons ever is barely a national story.
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Christopher Sean retweeted
I’m not arguing that pitching velocity hasn’t increased. It has. I’m arguing that we’re leaving out another major part of the equation: what players are being incentivized to optimize for has changed.
Luis Arraez is a great example. He’s won 3 batting titles and has elite bat-to-ball skills. But he doesn’t hit a ton of home runs, doesn’t provide huge slugging numbers, and isn’t a major stolen-base threat. Despite being one of the best pure contact hitters in baseball, he’s moved around multiple organizations.
Now imagine that same type of player 30-40 years ago, when hitting .300 or .330 was one of the first things people talked about when evaluating a great hitter. I think that skill set would’ve been viewed very differently.
Players adapt to what the game rewards.
If teams suddenly started giving $700 million contracts to guys who hit .330, even if they only hit 5–10 home runs, do we really think player development and hitting approaches wouldn’t start changing?
Of course they would. Remember, these are the best players in the world.
Their ability to adjust and adapt is part of why they reached that level.
And we can see the exact same thing with pitchers.
Organizations showed pitchers that velocity has tremendous value. So pitchers started optimizing for velocity. Training changed. Development changed. Guys started chasing 95, 97, 100+ because velocity creates opportunities and value.
If organizations suddenly placed a much bigger premium on crafty pitchers who commanded multiple pitches and lived on the corners, development would shift toward optimizing those skills too.
Hitters aren't any different.
Today we emphasize OBP, SLG, OPS, exit velocity and damage. So hitters are going to optimize for those outcomes and accept certain tradeoffs that come with them.
So I’m not saying increased velocity has had zero effect on batting average.
Of course better velocity and pitching make hitting more difficult.
What I’m saying is you can't explain the evolution of hitting by only looking at what pitchers are doing. You also have to look at what hitters are being rewarded for doing.
Pitchers adapted to what the game values. Hitters adapted to what the game values.
The players didn't suddenly forget how to play baseball.
The game changed what it rewards, and the best players in the world adapted to those rewards
MLB SINGLE-SEASON RBI% LEADERS
1908–2025 | Minimum 100 RBI
Ranks 1–25
1. George Brett (1980)
27.25% | 118 RBI | 24 HR | 345 ROB
2. Al Simmons (1930)
26.85% | 163 RBI | 36 HR | 473 ROB
3. Rogers Hornsby (1925)
26.62% | 142 RBI | 39 HR | 387 ROB
4. Pie Traynor (1930)
26.47% | 117 RBI | 9 HR | 408 ROB
5. Al Simmons (1927)
26.12% | 108 RBI | 15 HR | 356 ROB
6. Ty Cobb (1911)
26.09% | 134 RBI | 8 HR | 483 ROB
7. Joe Medwick (1936)
26.01% | 140 RBI | 18 HR | 469 ROB
8. Babe Ruth (1929)
25.71% | 154 RBI | 46 HR | 420 ROB
9. Hack Wilson (1932)
25.65% | 122 RBI | 23 HR | 386 ROB
10. Joe Medwick (1937)
25.58% | 153 RBI | 31 HR | 477 ROB
11. Kirby Puckett (1994)
25.56% | 112 RBI | 20 HR | 360 ROB
12. Harry Heilmann (1929)
25.49% | 120 RBI | 15 HR | 412 ROB
13. Gavvy Cravath (1913)
25.12% | 126 RBI | 19 HR | 426 ROB
14. Al Simmons (1929)
25.05% | 158 RBI | 34 HR | 495 ROB
15. Al Simmons (1928)
25.00% | 110 RBI | 15 HR | 380 ROB
16. Frankie Frisch (1930)
25.00% | 113 RBI | 10 HR | 412 ROB
17. George Kelly (1924)
24.84% | 140 RBI | 21 HR | 479 ROB
18. Babe Ruth (1931)
24.79% | 163 RBI | 46 HR | 472 ROB
19. Glenn Wright (1930)
24.70% | 126 RBI | 22 HR | 421 ROB
20. Tommy Davis (1962)
24.61% | 153 RBI | 27 HR | 512 ROB
21. Harry Heilmann (1921)
24.58% | 137 RBI | 19 HR | 480 ROB
22. Al Simmons (1931)
24.54% | 128 RBI | 22 HR | 432 ROB
23. Hank Greenberg (1937)
24.37% | 184 RBI | 40 HR | 591 ROB
24. Pie Traynor (1928)
24.35% | 125 RBI | 3 HR | 501 ROB
25. Jimmie Foxx (1930)
24.24% | 157 RBI | 37 HR | 495 ROB
26. Joe DiMaggio (1937)
24.10% | 166 RBI | 46 HR | 498 ROB
27. Andrés Galarraga (1996)
24.07% | 150 RBI | 47 HR | 428 ROB
28. Tony Gwynn (1997)
24.06% | 119 RBI | 17 HR | 424 ROB
29. Frank Howard (1962)
24.04% | 119 RBI | 31 HR | 366 ROB
30. Chief Wilson (1911)
24.02% | 110 RBI | 12 HR | 408 ROB
31. Al Simmons (1924)
23.99% | 115 RBI | 8 HR | 446 ROB
32. Ken Williams (1922)
23.94% | 158 RBI | 39 HR | 497 ROB
33. Jimmie Foxx (1938)
23.94% | 174 RBI | 50 HR | 518 ROB
34. Bob Fothergill (1927)
23.91% | 113 RBI | 9 HR | 435 ROB
35. Joe Jackson (1920)
23.86% | 127 RBI | 12 HR | 482 ROB
36. Walker Cooper (1947)
23.84% | 122 RBI | 35 HR | 365 ROB
37. Dale Alexander (1930)
23.79% | 138 RBI | 20 HR | 496 ROB
38. Ray Boone (1953)
23.78% | 114 RBI | 26 HR | 370 ROB
39. Jeff Heath (1938)
23.67% | 110 RBI | 21 HR | 376 ROB
40. Larry Walker (2002)
23.67% | 106 RBI | 26 HR | 338 ROB
41. Ty Cobb (1908)
23.65% | 109 RBI | 4 HR | 444 ROB
42. Harry Heilmann (1927)
23.65% | 119 RBI | 14 HR | 444 ROB
43. Joe DiMaggio (1948)
23.61% | 154 RBI | 39 HR | 487 ROB
44. Hack Wilson (1930)
23.60% | 191 RBI | 56 HR | 572 ROB
45. Cecil Cooper (1980)
23.59% | 121 RBI | 25 HR | 407 ROB
46. Dante Bichette (1996)
23.54% | 140 RBI | 31 HR | 463 ROB
47. Chuck Klein (1930)
23.54% | 169 RBI | 40 HR | 548 ROB
48. Hal McRae (1982)
23.53% | 135 RBI | 27 HR | 459 ROB
49. Gavvy Cravath (1915)
23.46% | 119 RBI | 24 HR | 405 ROB
50. Brian Jordan (1996)
23.45% | 104 RBI | 17 HR | 371 ROB
RBI% = (RBI − HR) / ROB
ROB = runners on base when batter came to plate
Source: Retrosheet PBP.
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MLB CAREER RBI% LEADERS
Minimum 1,000 Career RBI
Ranks 1–50
1. Al Simmons
21.81% | 1,841 RBI | 307 HR | 7,035 ROB
2. Joe DiMaggio
20.96% | 1,530 RBI | 361 HR | 5,576 ROB
3. Harry Heilmann
20.85% | 1,562 RBI | 183 HR | 6,613 ROB
4. Lou Gehrig
20.40% | 1,985 RBI | 493 HR | 7,312 ROB
5. Pie Traynor
20.39% | 1,284 RBI | 58 HR | 6,014 ROB
6. Ty Cobb
20.29% | 1,787 RBI | 110 HR | 8,265 ROB
7. Babe Ruth
20.20% | 2,214 RBI | 714 HR | 7,424 ROB
8. Rogers Hornsby
20.18% | 1,595 RBI | 301 HR | 6,412 ROB
9. Bobby Veach
20.17% | 1,199 RBI | 64 HR | 5,627 ROB
10. Joe Medwick
20.15% | 1,384 RBI | 205 HR | 5,850 ROB
11. Hack Wilson
20.09% | 1,062 RBI | 244 HR | 4,071 ROB
12. Jim Bottomley
20.03% | 1,436 RBI | 219 HR | 6,076 ROB
13. Bob Meusel
19.86% | 1,080 RBI | 156 HR | 4,652 ROB
14. George Kelly
19.53% | 1,035 RBI | 148 HR | 4,541 ROB
15. Hank Greenberg
19.45% | 1,273 RBI | 331 HR | 4,842 ROB
16. Jimmie Foxx
19.36% | 1,920 RBI | 534 HR | 7,158 ROB
17. Bill Dickey
19.35% | 1,205 RBI | 202 HR | 5,183 ROB
18. Bill Terry
19.31% | 1,083 RBI | 154 HR | 4,810 ROB
19. Earl Averill
19.11% | 1,163 RBI | 238 HR | 4,841 ROB
20. Home Run Baker
19.00% | 1,011 RBI | 96 HR | 4,816 ROB
21. Goose Goslin
18.99% | 1,618 RBI | 248 HR | 7,215 ROB
22. Hal Trosky
18.86% | 1,015 RBI | 228 HR | 4,172 ROB
23. Joe Cronin
18.73% | 1,436 RBI | 170 HR | 6,759 ROB
24. Johnny Mize
18.70% | 1,338 RBI | 359 HR | 5,236 ROB
25. Gabby Hartnett
18.65% | 1,186 RBI | 236 HR | 5,093 ROB
26. Dante Bichette
18.65% | 1,141 RBI | 274 HR | 4,650 ROB
27. Tony Lazzeri
18.60% | 1,206 RBI | 178 HR | 5,526 ROB
28. Bing Miller
18.52% | 1,014 RBI | 116 HR | 4,848 ROB
29. Juan Gonzalez
18.39% | 1,407 RBI | 434 HR | 5,291 ROB
30. Ted Williams
18.33% | 1,839 RBI | 521 HR | 7,190 ROB
31. Del Pratt
18.21% | 1,013 RBI | 43 HR | 5,326 ROB
32. Kiki Cuyler
18.21% | 1,067 RBI | 128 HR | 5,157 ROB
33. Bob Johnson
18.16% | 1,283 RBI | 288 HR | 5,479 ROB
34. Charlie Gehringer
18.12% | 1,443 RBI | 184 HR | 6,947 ROB
35. Kirby Puckett
18.12% | 1,091 RBI | 207 HR | 4,879 ROB
36. Carl Furillo
18.10% | 1,070 RBI | 192 HR | 4,850 ROB
37. Heinie Manush
18.06% | 1,178 RBI | 110 HR | 5,914 ROB
38. George Sisler
18.01% | 1,199 RBI | 102 HR | 6,090 ROB
39. Tris Speaker
17.99% | 1,559 RBI | 117 HR | 8,015 ROB
40. Albert Belle
17.99% | 1,238 RBI | 381 HR | 4,764 ROB
41. Chuck Klein
17.95% | 1,201 RBI | 300 HR | 5,020 ROB
42. Manny Ramirez
17.93% | 1,829 RBI | 555 HR | 7,104 ROB
43. Vic Wertz
17.87% | 1,183 RBI | 266 HR | 5,131 ROB
44. Del Ennis
17.86% | 1,280 RBI | 288 HR | 5,554 ROB
45. Stan Musial
17.75% | 1,958 RBI | 475 HR | 8,357 ROB
46. Ryan Braun
17.73% | 1,155 RBI | 352 HR | 4,529 ROB
47. Miguel Cabrera
17.71% | 1,879 RBI | 511 HR | 7,724 ROB
48. Willie Stargell
17.70% | 1,541 RBI | 475 HR | 6,022 ROB
49. Bob Elliott
17.65% | 1,201 RBI | 170 HR | 5,840 ROB
50. Paul Waner
17.65% | 1,324 RBI | 113 HR | 6,860 ROB
RBI% = (RBI − HR) / ROB
ROB = total runners on base when the hitter came to the plate.
Source: Retrosheet PBP
Minimum 1,000 career RBI
Two Questions:
1. Is Giancarlo Stanton a HOFer if he retired today?
2. Will he be if he gets 500 HR? How clearly deserving will he be? Or not? How strong will his candidacy be?
Giancarlo Stanton’s (456 HR) rank among the 41 MLB players with 450+ career HR:
WAA: 24.0 — 27th
G: 1,750 — 41st
PA: 7,273 — 41st
H: 1,642 — 40th
R: 951 — 41st
RBI: 1,183 — 40th
BA: .258 — 39th
OBP: .345 — 37th
SLG: .527 — 14th
OPS: .871 — 23rd
TB: 3,351 — 41st
XBH: 786 — 41st
TOB: 2,507 — 39th
Lou Boudreau 1948 never ever gets mentioned and yet it’s top 10 easily all time single season.
.355/.453/.534
34 doubles
6 triples
18 home runs
98 walks
NINE strikeouts in 676 PA.
—1.3% K rate. 1 strikeout every 77 times up!!
—Best fielding SS in MLB.
And PLAYER MANAGER!! Hardest job in all of sports! AND they won the World Series!!
—I can see conceive of someone who never ever takes pitches (esp with 2 strikes) striking out 9 times in 676 PA.
—I can conceivably see someone who only hits singles doing that.
BUT….a guy with:
1. Great Power- .543 SLG/6th in AL with 58 EBH.
2. Excellent plate discipline- 14.5% walk rate- 5th in the entire AL (98 walks).
IMPOSSIBLE!!
brown.edu/news/2021-09-01/co…
So the simplest way to visualize the opportunity cost is:
$8,000,000,000,000
Would have been enough to.
-Fix essentially the entire U.S. infrastructure investment shortfall
1. Eliminate ALL student debt.
2. Build millions of homes.
3. Modernize thousands of schools.
4. Make a gigantic investment in clean energy.
AND…
5. Spend hundreds of billions on science, health, childcare and veterans.
…all for approximately the same aggregate fiscal commitment attributed to the post-9/11 wars.
