With the new addition of the '20s and '30s to the batting game finder, all-time players who put up unique statistics at a time when the numbers were different than today move to the front of some pretty interesting lists. Couple that with the fact that only some players from that time neatly fit their entire careers into the '20s and '30s and you have the domination that is the subject of this post.

What am I talking about? Take a look for yourself.

Let's start with the all time leaders (1920-1939,1952-2009) in career cycles.

Meusel and Herman are in fact the record holders (along with 19th century player John Reilly), but don't let them distract you. The real action is going to come from one of the guys tied with 2, the one at number 11, Lou Gehrig.

Here are the leaders in almost cycles (missing the cycle by a hit)  from that same time period.

First those who missed by a single:

Half the list is Hall-of-Famers, including Gehrig.

Now those who missed by a double:

This time Gehrig has big lead.

Missed by a triple:

Gehrig again.

Finally, missed by a homer:

You didn't really expect Gehrig that time, did you? (Gehrig had 6).

Gehrig's dominance in these lists come with a disclaimer. Gehrig's entire career is now included in the PI game finder, many others are not. Babe Ruth is close on many of these lists and his pre-Yankees career is not included. Additionally, aside from Gehrig, only one player had at least 150 career triples and 400 career home runs. That player was Stan Musial, who played his prime seasons in the 1940-1951 void. How those players and others finally stack up against the Iron Horse is a search for a later time.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 21st, 2010 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Game Finders. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.