Pitching dominated professional baseball for the first half century of play. But in 1920, the major leagues adopted use of a new baseball, one that was more uniformly and tightly wound, and the balance of power shifted in favor of hitters. During the next decade, scoring and home runs steeply and steadily increased, going up, and up and up just like the Dow Jones and the hemlines of the 1920s.
The Dow Jones peaked in 1929 before rudely crashing back to earth. Baseball offense peaked a year later, during the memorable summer of 1930, a year that prodcued previously unimaginable offensive statistics.
Team Hitting and Scoring Skyrocketed in 1930
A quick review of National League team statistics begins to tell the story. Six teams hit better than .300, and the league as a whole batted .303. The other two teams hit .281 apiece. National Leaguers swatted 892 home runs and scored 7,025 runs, both new records.
The Phillies, who lost 102 games and finished in dead last, hit .315 as a team and scored more than six runs per game. Unfortunately, their pitching staff had an ERA of 6.71. The Cardinals hit .314, scored 1,004 runs, and won the pennant.
While these team numbers and averages are impressive, the individual seasons of some of the league’s best hitter puts the 1930 season into even better perspective.
Chuck Klein and Lefty O'Doul Slug Phillies into the Cellar
Phillies right fielder Chuck Klein, in only his second full season, hit .386 with 40 home runs and 170 RBI. He had 445 total bases (the fourth-highest total ever), whacked an NL-best 59 doubles and scored158 runs, which is still the modern National League record. His teammate Lefty O’Doul hit .383 and led the league with 254 hits. But the Phillies pitching staff had an ERA of 6.71. Thus, the last place finsih.
Bill Terry Hits .400
Any self-respecting baseball fan knows that Ted Williams wa the last player to hit .400 in a season. But few realize that Bill Terry, first baseman and later manager of the new York Giants, is the last National league player to break the magic mark. During the slugger's paradise of a season that was 1930, Terry batted .401.
Hack Wilson Sets All-Time Record With 191 RBI
Hack Wilson, a man built like a beer keg and reportedly familiar with its contents, smacked 56 home runs, a new National League record stood until 1998. But the statistic that says the most about Wilson and the 1930 season is Hack's 191 RBI. Never before or since, has any big league player met or exceeded that total.
There were certainly other great offensive years in the game's history, but it's hard to argue with anyone who picks 1930 as the best ever.
James Lincoln Ray - Real Name: James Lincoln Ray Jim has been the Feature Baseball Writer for Suite101 since March, 2007, where he has written more then ...
