Dead Ball Era (pre-1920)

Definition

This period, spanning from the dawn of the Modern Era to 1920, was characterized by the dominance of pitching and defense, in contrast to higher-scoring eras that preceded and followed it.

Pitchers had the advantage of being able to use spitballs and throw pitches with various other outside substances that not only created movement, but also darkened the baseball and made it harder to see for opposing hitters. While it was technically illegal to doctor a baseball, the rule was seldom enforced. There were also harder-throwing pitchers than in previous eras, including Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Smoky Joe Wood.

There were great hitters from the Dead Ball Era, as well, though they mastered the contact-oriented game that also relied on speed and aggressive baserunning. Those included Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins and Shoeless Joe Jackson.

A confluence of factors contributed to the end of the Deadball Era. The emergence of slugger Babe Ruth played a pivotal role in transforming the game from a pitching/defense-dominated sport to one in which scoring -- particularly by way of home runs and extra-base hits -- proliferated. Unlike the hitters that preceded him, Ruth hit home runs with extraordinary frequency. When he became a full-time position player during his final season with the Red Sox in 1919, he set a record by hitting 29 home runs. After being sold to the Yankees, he nearly doubled that output in 1920, smashing 54 homers and ushering in the Live Ball Era.

That same year, Major League Baseball also began cracking down on the use of doctored baseballs, banning spitballs for most pitchers and enforcing stricter rules on applying foreign substances. In addition, new baseballs were put into play whenever balls became defaced or overused. All of this diminished the pitcher’s edge and further opened the door for offensive growth.