A Generation of Doubt: Bulked-up Player & Broken Records
1980 & the 1980’s:
The decade of the 1980’s was the first in which MLB experienced a sustained attendance above the 40 million mark, managing to screw that
up, temporarily by a 50 day strike, called in 1981, when teams played
between 100 and 109 games and attendance dropped to 26.5 million.
The primary substance abuse problem in MLB is cocaine; and Peter
Ueberroth, 6th Commissioner in MLB history [1984-1988] seeks to
Institure a testing program; but it goes nowhere.
Ueberroth inherits a game in which there are 26 franchises; and 21 of
them are losing money. He averts an umpire strike and ends the “exiles”
previously imposed on two MLB greats, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays,
who have been exiled for working in Las Vegas.
By the end of Ueberroth’s term, all franchises are in the black or at break-
even financially; and he turns down another term, promoting Bart Giamatti
as his successor.
1980’s, HR/AB, by League:
There is a differential between the National League and American League in
this category because of the DH rule adopted in the AL but not in the AL.
NL % AL %
1980 1.88 2.41
1981 1.65 [strike season] 2.09
1982 1.96 2.67
1983 2.13 2.45
1984 1.94 2.54
1985 2.16 2.82
1986 2.32 2.96
1987 2.75 3.38
1988 1.95 2.47
1989 2.07 2.23
1990 2.31 2.34
NL % AL %
1991 2.19 Fay Vincent memo 2.52
1992 1.92 2.30
1993 2.52 NL expands to 14 2.68
1994 2.78 strike year; 3 Div. 3.21
1995 2.78 3.11
1996 2.89 3.47
1997 2.80 3.17
1998 2.89 NL expands to 16 3.19
*1999 3.25 3.37
*2000 3.39 3.42
*2001 3.35 3.21
2002 2.96 3.17
*2006 3.20 3.24
The seasons highlighted in bold print indicated HR/AB rates of sig-
nificant jumps to higher levels than before; and interested parties can
look up league HR leaders, their numbers and the surprises among the
top HR competitors in each league. I’m just pointing out eye-opening
leaps.
However, here are a few observations:
1. Expansion might be a catalyst for jumps;
2. Vincent’s memo had no effect, numbers suggest it was ignored;
3. Ironic that a League with NO DH closes on and even surpasses the
League with a DH in HR/AB, a condition that held in 2006 after
Everything hit the fan.
A look at the top 5 or so HR leaders in each league, from 1986 on
reveals an interesting cast or characters; and, given injury histories
and/or abruptly ended careers, suggests that just maybe some guys are
getting a complete pass undeservedly.
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