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Online now: 3 members: 4.5, Pieman, TABLE SETTER 11; 86 anonymousDiscussion: What Would George Hancock Think?
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| April 30, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | What Would George Hancock Think? With the changes to softball thoughout the years since its inception in 1887, what would George Hancock think about all the changes that have taken place with his game? Bags, Balls, Bats, Gloves, Cleats, Screens? The first softball was a rolled up boxing glove. Talk about a sock. The first bat was a stick. |
| May 1, 2010 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | George would absolutely love to be here to see the changes............... |
| May 4, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | I imagine being dead would do that to anyone. =) But would he like whats happened to the game? Would he even recognize it as softball? |
| May 4, 2010 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Well E4/E6, George would be surprised to say the least. I think there would be some head shaking and some smiles. There have been a lot of changes that don't get much banter about, but had a big impact on the game. I think most of the changes were for saftey, some were to include more players in the game. To go back to wood bats (that's what Dirty wants), I don't think so. I played with Ray DeMarini on Monday evenings in Portland OR on a senior team the year he turned 50. He changed it all. After using his sticks, there was no looking back on wood bats. I'm not sure I'd continue with just wood bats. A second home plate, played up until last year at BLD, think it was a good change; don't need taking out the catcher to prove who is the tougher. Free substitution, I can take it ot leave it. Gets more guys in the game. !st rule change on this was bad enough, re-entry rule! Now guys just coming and going at will. Pinch runners: should be considered a substitusion. It slows the game down waiting for pinch runners. You should have to be able hit, throw, run, and field. ASA limited it to 1 runner per inning per game. That was OK 7 different guys got to pinch run once per game. But, it allows more partisipation in the game. Moved the pitching rubber back. Changed the angle we now can pitch. Once again, saftey. Extra 1st base, another no harm saftey rule. 5 runs per inning. With a time limit, how else would you do it? Don't like but can live with it. Limits on HR's in older age brackets. If you are 70 and still hitting it out, go for it! Yup, ol' George would be surprised for sure. I'd love to see the look on his face when someone showed him how much a sponsor spends on a sponsored team that travels nationally.............. All in all, I think most changes make our game more competitive, safer, and more fun for us old guys. |
| May 5, 2010 diehard Men's 55 246 posts | I don't believe that ol' George would recognize the game of softbal that is played today. It seems that since George came up with the idea to play a form of baseball indoors to today, the game of softbal has almost constantly been a work in progress. Changes have been made to the game on a continuing basis since 1887. But, I do believe George would be proud, were he alive now to see, the popularity that the game of softball now enjoys. |
| May 5, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | goofball, please show when and where I said that. Unless you are even dumber than I imagine you know I never did. I have repeatedly said I don't care what bats are used, just as long as they don't make me dress like a hockey goalie or make my infield look like a miniature golf hole just to accommodate your and others fragile egos. Again, when did I say that about wood bats? |
| May 5, 2010 OTE24 Men's 65 123 posts | Who is this "they" that is making you dress up like a hockey goalie and making the infield look like a miniature golf hole? You can play anywhere You want in this country,under any rules You want to play. Do you have a problem with freedom of choice? Do the young guys move too fast for you? Remember, the game started out with a sock and a stick. Times change,rules and rule makers change. It's not the worst thing in the world. I've never met a senior player with a fragile ego,but I know one who desperately wants someone,anyone to listen to him. |
| May 5, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | For those comprehension-challenged: A. "They" would be the governing associations. B. As I thought I clearly said, "just as long as they don't make me dress like a hockey goalie or make my infield look like a miniature golf hole ". Nothing definitive in that statement. Nothing saying they are "making me" now. C. I will be playing against the "young guys" on Saturday, so thanks for asking but no that is not really a problem. D. If you have met a senior player who insists on the special bats then yes you have met a fragil ego. Any other reason for insisting on them? |
| May 5, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | For those comprehension-challenged: A. "They" would be the governing associations. B. As I thought I clearly said, "just as long as they don't make me dress like a hockey goalie or make my infield look like a miniature golf hole ". Nothing definitive in that statement. Nothing saying they are "making me" now. C. I will be playing against the "young guys" on Saturday, so thanks for asking but no that is not really a problem. D. If you have met a senior player who insists on the special bats then yes you have met a fragile ego. Any other reason for insisting on them? |
| May 5, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | No idea why that posted twice. :( |
| May 5, 2010 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | You have said more times than I care to look up, "silly special bats" "not the way the game was intended". Well, it was intended to be for the use of wood bats. Special bats came in with the Bombats, etc. Ray DeMarini took them on step further. Then composites went even further. If those aren't special in compoarison to the intended stick, I'll put in with you. They must be special, even I hit HR'S with the aluminum bats, never did with a wood bat. In fact, I don't remember ever playing with a fence when we used wood bats. |
| May 5, 2010 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Here's one quote, there are too many to name. "That is EXACTLY why I said "before the special bats contributed to changing/ruining the game". Yes, I am more than aware that now due to silly run limits we don't have to get three outs before we can bat again." The change in bats was to aluminum, then to composite. It has appeared you are against anything that changes the game, and aluminum did that. I didn't think that part of your view was silly, I assumed you were a purist. I've just always felt I enjoy swinging a composite: if you wanted to stay with the way the game was intended, so be it. |
| May 6, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | curve, during which previous eras were there special bats that only one group of players were allowed to use? Maybe I am forgetting something, but I can't think of any. |
