I recently watched a New York Mets-Atlanta Braves game on TV. Doug Mientkiewicz, first baseman of the Mets, didn’t bat with batting gloves on. I thought it was kind of odd. The broadcaster noted it, also, and mentioned that Vladimir Guerrero, outfielder of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, doesn’t either. Anyone who watches baseball knows that Moises Alou, outfielder of the San Francisco Giants, hasn’t worn gloves his entire career — he urinates on his hands to “harden” them.
Could this just be an isolated fad by some players to show people how tough they are to hit without gloves? I certainly hope that it’s a trend that helps bring the old days of baseball back from the modernity of baseball. Babe Ruth never wore gloves, and he hit 714 home runs. Ted Williams never wore gloves, and he batted .406 in 1941. The old days of baseball featured many of the greatest baseball players of all-time, and these legends never wore gloves. Although they never had to face pitchers who regularly topped at the high-90s, they had to play everyday with the most basic of baseball equipment and excel with it.
I like to think that baseball players are becoming more enamored with baseball history and realize that the true way to play is the way they played originally from the 1900s to the 1950s. That means no more aluminum bats for the little leaguers and the high school and college players. That means no more vitamins and special diets. That means having to work another job on top of going to the ballpark every day.
This might just be a pipe dream, but I hope that more players embrace the old ways of baseball and reject the modern movement of lighter bats and bigger gloves. Granted, a lot of these players have multi-million dollar contracts and need to take good care of their health. But if you emulated Ted Williams and Babe Ruth as idols when you were a kid, then why not emulate them as adults and as players?
Article comments
1 - HW Saxton
I think that good arguments could be
made about the general "Wussafication"
of all sports in general these days.
It seems to me that every season esp. in
the NFL that new rules on penalties are
being brought into play.I think that a
lot of Pro players in all sports are
becoming more and more like spoiled ass
primadonnas and not acting like they are
the good role models to kids that they
could and should be.
2 - Tan Hoang
True. But have you ever batted without gloves? Damn, it hurts after like 5 contact swings.
3 - Tan Hoang
Basketball especially have been stringent on contact penalties. It's a main reason why I don't watch the WNBA. There's like a foul every 2 minutes. It's embarrassing.
4 - HW Saxton
Tan, I agree on all the penalties it is
embarassing to watch. And no I've never
had to hit fastballs without gloves but
I imagine that it would hurt.I'd never
really given it any thought until you
mentioned it.
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
Today's athletes may be spoiled, but Babe Ruth wasn't exactly a saint either.
Other reasons nobody hits .400 anymore since Ted Williams:
--8 more games a season
--Free agency
--More teams, decreasing familiarity of opposing pitching
--Increasing exposure and pressure from ESPN, the Internet and 24-hour talk radio
There's no need to revert to an earlier baseball state. The game is reaching the second Golden Age, and there are so many great players who hustle and dive for balls and go from first to third on a single. Teams still manufacture runs. The Tigers are averaging a triple -- the most exciting play in baseball -- almost every other game.
What I wish I would see more of are strong arms from the outfield. In the 80's, outfielders were gunning the ball from close to the warning track all the way to home plate with great efficiency and accuracy. Today there are probably one or two players who can do that regularly.
6 - Tan Hoang
You're probably going to have to explain that Free Agency reason. All of the others, I kinda see and understand. One more you could include: that no one really wants to. Withs HRs & RBIs as the popular stats for greatness adn superstardom, there isn't really an incentive to go out and make just contact with the ball and get singles. Players don't mind striking out tons of times if they get 40-50 HRs in the season. Let's face it, chicks dig the long ball.