How would Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and othÂer famous ballplayÂers of bygone eras fare if put on the diaÂmond today? VariÂaÂtions on that quesÂtion tend to come up in conÂverÂsaÂtion among enthuÂsiÂasts of baseÂball and its hisÂtoÂry, and difÂferÂent peoÂple bring difÂferÂent kinds of eviÂdence to bear in search of an answer: staÂtisÂtics, eyeÂwitÂness accounts, analoÂgies between parÂticÂuÂlar hisÂtorÂiÂcal playÂers and curÂrent ones. But the fact remains that none of us have ever actuÂalÂly seen the likes of Ruth, who played his last proÂfesÂsionÂal game in 1935, and Gehrig, who did so in 1939, in their prime. But now we can at least get a litÂtle closÂer by watchÂing the film clip above, which shows both of the titanÂic YanÂkees at batÂting pracÂtice on April 11, 1931.
What’s more, it shows them movÂing at real-life speed. “Fox MoviÂetone sound camÂeras made slow-motion capÂtures of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig at batÂting pracÂtice durÂing an exhiÂbiÂtion pracÂtice in BrookÂlyn, New York,” writes uploader Guy Jones (whose othÂer baseÂball videos include Ruth hitÂting a home run on openÂing day the same year and Ruth’s last appearÂance at bat a decade latÂer). “With modÂern techÂnolÂoÂgy, we can witÂness this footage adjustÂed to a norÂmal speed which results in a very high framÂerÂate.”
In othÂer words, the film shows Ruth and Gehrig not just movÂing in the very same way they did in real life, but capÂtured with a smoothÂness uncomÂmon in newsÂreel footage from the 1930s. For comÂparÂiÂson, Jones includes at the end of the video “more footage of the pracÂtice (shot at typÂiÂcal fps) and the origÂiÂnal un-editÂed slow-mo capÂtures.”
UnforÂtuÂnateÂly, what this film reveals doesÂn’t impress observers of modÂern baseÂball. “Ruth and Gehrig in no way look like a modÂern ballplayÂer,” writes The Big LeadÂ’s Kyle Koster. “Ruth is off-balÂance, falling into his swing. Gehrig rouÂtineÂly lifts his back foot off the ground. Again, it’s batÂting pracÂtice so the comÂpetÂiÂtive juices weren’t flowÂing. But even by that stanÂdard, the whole exerÂcise looks slopÂpy and inefÂfiÂcient.” Cut4’s Jake Mintz gets harshÂer, as well as more techÂniÂcal: “Tell me Ruth’s cockaÂmamie swing mechanÂics would enable him to hit a 98-mph heater.” As for the Iron Horse, his “hack is a litÂtle betÂter,” but still “absurdÂly low” by today’s stanÂdards. It goes to show, Mintz writes, that “these two legÂends, while undeÂniÂably tranÂscenÂdent in their time, would be good Double‑A hitÂters at best if they played today.” We evolve, our techÂnoloÂgies evolve, and so, it seems, do the games we play.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Home Movies of Duke EllingÂton PlayÂing BaseÂball (And How BaseÂball Coined the Word “Jazz”)
Read Online HaruÂki Murakami’s New Essay on How a BaseÂball Game Launched His WritÂing Career
Fritz Lang’s M: The Restored VerÂsion of the ClasÂsic 1931 Film
ImmacÂuÂlateÂly Restored Film Lets You RevisÂit Life in New York City in 1911
Based in Seoul, ColÂin MarÂshall writes and broadÂcasts on cities, lanÂguage, and culÂture. His projects include the book The StateÂless City: a Walk through 21st-CenÂtuÂry Los AngeÂles and the video series The City in CinÂeÂma. FolÂlow him on TwitÂter at @colinmarshall or on FaceÂbook.
These critÂics are ridicuÂlous. Yes, Ruth with that closed foot swing could nevÂer hit a 93MPH slidÂer on the black but HE NEVER HAD TO DO THAT IN HIS BASEBALL CAREER. ThereÂfore, to comÂpare Ruth & Gehrig to modÂern baseÂball is absurd. This is like me sayÂing, “AbraÂham LinÂcoln, while tranÂscenÂdent in his time, would be a good small time mayÂor at best if he lived today.”
Open CulÂture, why not just present this cool video of these two AmerÂiÂcan icons & let it be? There was no need to include this unnecÂesÂsary modÂern day scoutÂing report.
UnforÂtuÂnateÂly, openÂculÂture is run by leftÂies. They have to ediÂtoÂriÂalÂize. I wonÂder if this will make it past their monÂiÂtors.
I agree this is VERY cool footage. This should be watched respectÂfulÂly not critÂiÂcalÂly. One of the first games I saw at FenÂway was when Ted Williams was manÂagÂer of the WashÂingÂton SenÂaÂtors. I too have a high appreÂciÂaÂtion of those who made this game what it is. I will nevÂer comÂpare eras because it’s foolÂish.
Nice attempt to turn a comÂpleteÂly apoÂlitÂiÂcal post into a politÂiÂcal one. You should at least save your trolling for posts that actuÂalÂly have a politÂiÂcal subÂtext.
In the meanÂtime, we’re glad that, despite the lefty comÂmenÂtary, you’re still getÂting good use of the site.
OC
In 1931 we are still workÂing on high-speed phoÂtogÂraÂphy. Kodak was workÂing on high-speed filmÂing but there was no high-speed film in 1931. We had sound on a record for film back then and they had to be startÂed at the same time. Plus you can tell the sound is faked. But it’s still cool to see.