From: thf2@ellis.uchicago.edu (Citecheck Hell)
Subject: Youngsters in the Majors
Reply-To: thf2@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 14:43:49 GMT

In article <5773@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP> psg+@pitt.edu (Paul S Galvanek) writes:
>This comment and another I heard the during the Brewer / Orioles game, the
>announcer said that Robin Yount started his ML career at age 18, got me to 
>thinking. 
>
>It seems that not long ago it was fairly common to see 17, 18 and 19 year
>old kids playing at the major league level.  Now a days it's a rarity.

It's always been a rarity.  First, only the best major-leaguers make
into the majors that early -- others have to be closer to their peak
(and thus older) to have the quality to make the major leagues.  Even
the majority of Hall of Famers didn't start in the major leagues until
their early 20's.  That's why it's so special when a Yount or Thomas
or Gonzales comes around and tears up the league so early.

Blyleven and Ryan started when they were 19 (though Ryan didn't stick until
he was 21).  Brett got his first playing time at the age of 20, but wasn't
really full-time until he was 21.  Lloyd Moseby started when he was 20, but
he was playing for a team that was only winning a third of their games.
Jack Clark had a September callup as a 19-year old, but wasn't a starter
until he was 21.  Griffey Jr. started at 20, while his old man started at 23.
Juan Gonzalez and Alfredo Griffin played as 19 and 18-year-olds
respectively, but neither started until they were 21.  Brian Harper
played one game as a teenager, but didn't really become a starter until
he was 29.  Rickey Henderson started at 20.

>With guys like Yount starting their careers at 18 and playing 19 or more 
>full seasons to reach their various career highs (hit, hrs sbs whatever)
>is it realistic to expect the guys that come up today at 21, 22 or 23 years
>of age to be able to approach the career numbers of the older players.
>
>If you assume that most ball players aren't going to go past age 40 the 
>guy that starts in the majors at 18 has a huge advantage over the guy that
>doesn't start until age 24 when it comes to putting up career numbers.
>
>How old wer Ruth, and Arron when they started?

Ruth wasn't a full time outfielder until relatively late in his career --
he was too busy putting up sensational numbers as a southpaw.  Aaron
and Mays started as a teenager, I think.  (But Mays missed some time
to the army.)

Keep in mind, that most 18-year-olds don't accomplish too much.  Yount
was 250/276/346, and didn't break a 700 OPS until he was 21, with a
288/333/377. 

Incidentally, Yount's learned a great deal of patience at the plate;
his first season of 50 walks didn't come until he was 26, but he's
been getting 60-70 walks a year ever since.

Wanna see something eerie?

Yount, 1982:   331/379/578, 210 H, 46 DB, 54 BB, 19 GIDP, 114 RBI.
Ripken, 1991:  323/374/566, 210 H, 46 DB, 53 BB, 19 GIDP, 114 RBI.
-- 
           .........................................................
          ted frank | thf2@midway.uchicago.edu | standard disclaimers
         the university of chicago law school, chicago, illinois 60637
         here i sit looking for a warming smile in a house of cold wit
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball