Generational Transitions

[KG Erwin]

I noticed this in my newest association -- in the mid -1980s, there were many 60s & 70s stars still on major league rosters: Pete Rose, Tom Seaver, Phil Niekro, Reggie Jackson, Steve Carlton, Tommy John and Tony Perez amongst them, all over 40 years old. Within a year or so all would be retired.

However, at this time a real "changing of the guard" was taking place, with the emergence of players like -- Orel Hershiser, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmiero, Greg Maddux, Bret Saberhagen etc.

I suppose every 40 or years or so, something similar to this occurs in MLB. I haven't delved into this too deeply, but another sudden talent influx happened between 1946 and 1951.

Going back further, there was another similar talent spurt in the first decade of the 1900s --Mathewson, Wagner, Cobb, Jackson, Speaker et al.

So, the next generational "spurt" will be happening at about the time most of us will be pushing up daisies -- around 2020-2025.

Does this theory hold some merit?

[SirWolf1960]

I think with starting pitching, we might be on the edge of that right now. We have people like Glavine, Johnson, Schilling, and several other older starting pitchers who will retiring in the next couple of years. It will be interesting to see which young pitchers step up to fill the void.
 
Steve

[menippus]

So, the next generational "spurt" will be happening at about the time most of us will be pushing up daisies -- around 2020-2025.

Don't worry, as I'll only be 43 then, I'll hold a seance and tell you how it goes.

[Frozen Stiffer]

KG,

Exercise more. Eat better. Don't smoke. Don't drink. Take care of yourself.

You'll be around long enough to report your findings to us.

[:)]

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Frozen Stiffer

KG,

Exercise more. Eat better. Don't smoke. Don't drink. Take care of yourself.

You'll be around long enough to report your findings to us.

[:)]

LOL! You don't wanna know about my lifestyle. (Lights cigarette and takes swig of beer).

Seriously, though, (and this is conjecture), the number of MLB teams and the dilution of talent, for whatever reasons, mean that we may never see another periodic talent influx like that seen in the 20th century.