I was looking at the top ten all time, and the one thing that struck me was how the recent players' (Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Griffey etc) big years (in no particular order 73, 70, 66 60 something a couple times, high 50s numerous times) greatly exceeded (except for the one Ruth 60season) the high numbers of the other top twentiers-ers from the pre late 90s era (ie, Aaron, Ruth, Mays, F. Robinson, Foxx, Killebrew, Mantle, even G. Foster, Bench, Jackson, Schmidt, et al etc) whose numbers were more in the 30s-40s per year with the occasional foray into the 50s which was an anomaly. There must be some reason for that, and I am not saying its drugs, as logic would dictate that if performance enhancing drugs help hitters, then they help pitchers. Same with fitness/lifestyle (for example I watched Clemens stuff the Jays last night at whatever age he is at now).
I don't know the reason for this jump, but you might want to look at the ball, the bats etc, because all of a sudden guys like the first 4 I mentioned above have recently way outperformed the latter HOFers. Did they all get to be probably at least 30% better HR hitters than the previously best of all time (ie the previous 70 years). All in the last ten years?
Balls and bats is what I say. Although you could also the speed of the modern fastball as a factor as well.
I don't know the reason for this jump, but you might want to look at the ball, the bats etc, because all of a sudden guys like the first 4 I mentioned above have recently way outperformed the latter HOFers. Did they all get to be probably at least 30% better HR hitters than the previously best of all time (ie the previous 70 years). All in the last ten years?
Balls and bats is what I say. Although you could also the speed of the modern fastball as a factor as well.