Question What year did the modern era in baseball start? Why the distinction?
Answer Howdy- different experts, none of them wrong, claim at least four different dates.
1. When the pitcher's mound was moved to 60'6" in 1893 (the least favored but most sensible choice, the one used by many record books).
2. 1901, when the two-league system was reborn- and stood the test of time (most record books which ignore pre-1900 baseball use this cut-off)
3. 1920, when Babe Ruth changed the face of baseball forever (not counted for "record" purposes by Sporting News, Elias & etc., but considered by most historians the true dividing line in the sport.
4. There are some who say expansion and the concommitant dilution of talent marks the beginning of the "True" modern era.
I myself go with number three, but give high marks to 1893 and fully understand the rationalization behind number 4. I think number 2 is bunk.
