The way MLB baseball is played these days has nothing to do with the 80s and the 90s.
That’s absolutely fine, though, because 80s and 90s baseball was already different than the 20s, the 40s, or the 60s.
The game changes, and so do the rules as a consequence of what happens in games.
Take a look at this play, for example.
Baseball in the 90s was just different. pic.twitter.com/edWrEeySQG
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) January 8, 2023
The fielder basically lifted the baserunner from the base to get the out.
That play, of course, would not be allowed in today’s game.
However, back then, it went through.
It happened in the 1991 MLB World Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves.
Kent Hrbek was the Twins fielder, and the Braves’ Ron Gant was running.
The controversial play took place in Game 2 of the Fall Classic.
That one was a one-run game won by the Twins in a series that finished 4-3.
As you can imagine, Gant was not happy with the call.
Hrbek later said that an off-balance Gant fell on him and pushed him.
To this day, the play still generates anger among hardcore, old-school Braves fans.
They were starting to rise in the National League as one of its top teams, but that talented roster with Tom Glavine, David Justice, Lonnie Smith, Gant, John Smoltz, Terry Pendleton, and others couldn’t bet a truly excellent squad led by Kirby Puckett and Jack Morris.
That tricky play just wouldn’t take place in today’s game, and in the unlikely event that an umpire didn’t see it, the instant replay crew would take it back in less than a minute.
