A player’s role in the big leagues has changed drastically over the past few decades. From the Golden age to the Modern era, players have become more multi-dimensional and are now viewed as two-way players. With the advent of a new generation of young stars and the ever-increasing number of players, the game has seen a rise in popularity, and more and more teams have started to take the field and are led by amazing coaches like Francisco Cervelli for instance.
Early era
The early era of the big leagues is generally considered to have been from 1902 to 1945. During this period, some of the most prominent pitchers in the history of baseball ruled the mound. However, baseball was a crowded field in terms of teams. It was challenging to make a schedule, and many leagues still needed to own ballparks.
Among the early era’s notable achievements was the invention of the home run. While the ball was not made as widely available as it is today, the feat mentioned above was achieved by the Brooklyn (New York) Royal Giants and other Black players in the early 1900s.
In the early era, baseball players slept in barns, open fields, and other odd places on good days. On bad ones, they slept in tonks, in buses, or even in the homes of fans.
As the century wore on, significant leagues started to integrate. This meant that players of all races were included regularly. Eventually, the Red Sox became the last Major League team to merge in 1959.
Modern era
The modern era of major league baseball is characterized by rule changes, expansion, and the recruitment of foreign players. A few notable players from this era include Roberto Clemente and Rod Carew. The Modern era saw the introduction of the designated hitter and the lowering of the mound. It also saw two MLB teams being added in 1993. Despite its growth, it was not able to sustain a championship-level team for long. Consequently, many players were drafted into the armed forces for World War II.
Despite the many innovations in the modern era of major league baseball, the game still remains a tough nut to crack. While the game has enjoyed a steady growth in popularity, the players are still predominantly foreigners. Some players have been able to jump from minor league ball to Major League Baseball, while others were unable to make the leap.
As a result, the Modern era of major league baseball will remain a contested landscape for the foreseeable future. This is especially true in the Central Division, arguably the best baseball division in the majors.
Golden age
The Golden Age of the big leagues is a popular term for the period between 1920 and 1960. This golden age has been characterized as one of the most prosperous periods in sports history.
During this time, the New York Yankees won 29 pennants and 20 World Series titles. Some of the other stars of this era were Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Ernie Banks.
Aside from the Yankees, the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers also had teams that won pennants. In 1947, the Dodgers became the first major league team with an African American player. Jackie Robinson made his debut at Ebbets Field that year.
Throughout the 1920s, the United States had a strong and stable economy. The roads were in good shape, making it easier for fans to travel to other cities. There were also more sports facilities.
Two-way players
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, two-way players were precious to the teams they played for. They could fill several positions on the roster with one player and often be used as both a pitcher and a hitter.
In the dead ball era of the 1900s, a few players were known to play field and mound regularly. Typically, a pitcher would get a two-way designation if they had pitched at least ten games and made 200-plus plate appearances during a season.
Several players, including Babe Ruth, shifted from playing the mound to the outfield position in the 1920s. Others, such as Bob Caruthers, Eddie O’Brien, and Johnny O’Brien, spent brief periods in the two-way role.
In recent years, several players have played as both a position players and a pitcher. For example, Brooks Kieschnick was an outfielder during his first few years in the majors but later switched to the mound.
