[lex24]

I think Gibson's great season a few years later in 1968 was the primary reason they lowered the mound 5 or 6 inches the next year.

1968 was the year of the pitcher.  Yes, Gibson's ERA was otherworldly.  But other pitchers were dominant as well, which led to the mound lowering. Back then, people were following Denny McLain's performances as he inexorably headed toward a 30 win season.  He ended up with 31.  Marichal was close behind - it was a little like McGwire and Sosa of 1998.  Marichal ended up 26-9 IIRC.

BTW, I just remembered another big example.  The 1968 All-Star game.  I watched it, in part because I was a youngster and also because back then the players played hard to win.  That game ended 1-0 in favor of the NL.  The only run was by Willie Mays, who singled, went to second on a errant pickoff throw, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a double play.  That was it - not even a single RBI the entire game.

MLB had been building to ‘68 for a few years. The Atlantic writer that did the 100 top players (great writer, but he omitted Marichal, which was insane.  But I forgave him.  Barely.  And only cause his stories are fantastic) in his article on Koufax talked about how around ‘64 they changed the strike zone.  To the top of the shoulders and bottom of the knees. (The reason- games were getting too long!) Mounds were higher and generally not regulated. Dodger stadiums mound was the Everest of pitching mounds.  Koufax at Bluehead Stadium went something like 50-10 with about a 1.5 ERA over several years.  Not taking anything away from Koufax, he was incredible. But I found the strike zone part particularly interesting.  Taking away anything over the belt as a strike has had a h.u.g.e.  impact on the game.  And not for the better.



Edit: The Athletic is my go to sports page. Fantastic. The top 100 is worth a years subscription in and of itself. But I truly couldn’t understand how he could leave Juan out - and include guys like Phil Niekro, Blyleven and I believe Mussina. And sorry Stanford fans, there simply was no comparison between Marichal and Mussina. (And Niekro ? Seriously?) Add the fact that he is the Father of the Dominican’s to Major League Baseball (particularly pitchers) and it’s a puzzling omission.

[lex24]

I think Gibson's great season a few years later in 1968 was the primary reason they lowered the mound 5 or 6 inches the next year.

1968 was the year of the pitcher.  Yes, Gibson's ERA was otherworldly.  But other pitchers were dominant as well, which led to the mound lowering. Back then, people were following Denny McLain's performances as he inexorably headed toward a 30 win season.  He ended up with 31.  Marichal was close behind - it was a little like McGwire and Sosa of 1998.  Marichal ended up 26-9 IIRC.

BTW, I just remembered another big example.  The 1968 All-Star game.  I watched it, in part because I was a youngster and also because back then the players played hard to win.  That game ended 1-0 in favor of the NL.  The only run was by Willie Mays, who singled, went to second on a errant pickoff throw, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a double play.  That was it - not even a single RBI the entire game.

MLB had been building to ‘68 for a few years. The Atlantic writer that did the 100 top players (great writer, but he omitted Marichal, which was insane.  But I forgave him.  Barely.  And only cause his stories are fantastic) in his article on Koufax talked about how around ‘64 they changed the strike zone.  To the top of the shoulders and bottom of the knees. (The reason- games were getting too long!) Mounds were higher and generally not regulated. Dodger stadiums mound was the Everest of pitching mounds.  Koufax at Bluehead Stadium went something like 50-10 with about a 1.5 ERA over several years.  Not taking anything away from Koufax, he was incredible. But I found the strike zone part particularly interesting.  Taking away anything over the belt as a strike has had a h.u.g.e.  impact on the game.  And not for the better.



Edit: The Athletic is my go to sports page. Fantastic. The top 100 is worth a years subscription in and of itself. But I truly couldn’t understand how he could leave Juan out - and include guys like Phil Niekro, Blyleven and I believe Mussina. And sorry Stanford fans, there simply was no comparison between Marichal and Mussina. (And Niekro ? Seriously?) Add the fact that he is the Father of the Dominican’s to Major League Baseball (particularly pitchers) and it’s a puzzling omission.