Why MLB Hitters Did Not Hit Home Runs Before 1919: Understanding the Game's Evolution

It is a common misconception that home runs were scarce in baseball during the early 1900s. In fact, there were more home runs per game in 1911, 1912, and 1913 than in the rest of the teens. This article delves into the reasons behind the discrepancy and explores why home runs were not as prevalent before 1919.

Different Philosophy in the Game

Historically, home run totals were lower in the 1800s and saw a significant drop again from 1906-09. This was not just due to the game's philosophy but also due to various factors that influenced the way the game was played.

The Ball and Ballparks

The game was truly different back then. The primary goal was to "score your run." This meant that players focused on getting on base and scoring, rather than hitting home runs. Throughout the 1800s, the ball was much different from today's standard. It was more like a sock filled with mashed potatoes, making long-distance hits less common.

The dimensions of early ballparks also contributed to the scarcity of home runs. For instance, Boston's South End Grounds had a left-to-right dimension of 250–445–500–440–255 feet. In today's Fenway Park, the center field fence (Pesky Pole) is only 302 feet from home plate, and it doesn't go any shorter in other current MLB parks. This meant that the distance to the foul lines was significantly longer, making it harder for players to hit home runs.

Ground Rules and Fan Involvement

Ground rules played a significant role in limiting home runs. In early ballparks, especially those with short dimensions down the lines, players often hit the ball into the stands and were beaten up by fans who took the ball back. This created interesting ground rules where certain hits were not counted as home runs but as doubles. For example, in Chicago’s early ballparks, a ball hit down the line—about 185 feet—was called a home run, which led to a significant increase in home run totals.

A perfect example of this is Ned Williamson, who hit only two home runs in 1883 but hit 27 in 1884, a record that stood as the MLB record until Babe Ruth came along. The rule change allowed such distances to be called home runs, and this significantly boosted home run totals. Conspiracy theorists might argue that Williamson was on PEDs, but the truth is that the rule change had a more significant impact.

Conclusion

As evident from the historical context, the scarcity of home runs before 1919 was due to a combination of factors, including the game's philosophy, the dimensions of the ball and the ballparks, and unique ground rules. Understanding these factors helps us appreciate the evolution of the game and the reasons behind the changes in home run totals over time.