These guys threw pretty hard, here are his numbers against them...

 

Jim Palmer (118 PAs): .352/.402/.429, 10 walks, five strikeouts, zero home runs.

 

Luis Tiant (113 PAs): .359/.411/.553, nine walks, eight strikeouts, three home runs.

 

Nolan Ryan (109 PAs): .301/.398/.441, 15 walks, 29 strikeouts, two home runs.

 

Ichiro's best season OPS was 130, Carew's career OPS was 131.

 

I get that Carew hit against guys that threw hard (although I wouldn’t say Palmer was a hard thrower, at least for the last decade of his career, after rotator cuff problems). And he probably still would have been a really good hitter. But during his career guys that threw 95+ were rare. Now each team has multiple guys, especially in the bullpen that can bring it. It’s getting tougher and tougher to compare eras because pitching staffs are much deeper and harder throwing these days.

I get that Carew hit against guys that threw hard (although I wouldn’t say Palmer was a hard thrower, at least for the last decade of his career, after rotator cuff problems). And he probably still would have been a really good hitter. But during his career guys that threw 95+ were rare. Now each team has multiple guys, especially in the bullpen that can bring it. It’s getting tougher and tougher to compare eras because pitching staffs are much deeper and harder throwing these days.

 

You also have less guys that can "pitch" now than back then. To say Carew couldn't hit these guys today would be like saying Willie Mays couldn't hit them.

 

One thing also, speed now is determined as it comes out of their hand, in the 70's it was measured at home plate. There is a Netflix show about this, says that just that difference makes a 4 or 5 mph difference in how pitchers speeds are measured. So a 93mph fastball in 1980 is comparable to a 97 or 98 today.

 

Ichiro's best season OPS was 130, Carew's career OPS was 131.

Jumper, I am confused by OPS. Thought that was On Base plus Slugging and didn't think you were making any point about slugging for these two mega contact hitters. Hamilton would be well served to learn from them as well as our hometown contact hitter, Pete Rose.