The "record-breaking" seasons have all been from National Leaguers, even though the AL is supposedly more of a hitter's league. Even McGwire suddenly increased his production by 20 percent, the moment he switched leagues.
Recently, Donn Clendennon, the old slugging first baseman from the Mets and Pirates, was in the booth during a Mets game, chatting with Seaver. Clendennon was complaining about watching some "145-pounder jacking the ball."
There seem to be very few routine fly balls any more. I've been watching major league ball since 1968, and from the sort of swing, the sort of pitcher, and the crack of the bat, I'm conditioned to the ball flying a certain way. So are the older announcers. Most "routine" fly balls, which a few years ago would die in the shallow outfield, keep carrying to the warning track, or out of the park, especially all these soft, opposite-field shots. And in August, I saw Derek Jeter fist a ball into Yankee Stadium's center field stands. Now, I am second-to-none in my admiration for Jeter, and yes, he's a strong guy. But no one's that strong.
McGwire was on the rise when he came over. Griffey went down when he came over.
The National League had more of the big cookie cutter stadiums and more turf in the 60s and 70s. They've gotten rid of a lot of that.
I think there are alot of reasons for the current power binge. But there was a binge between 1920 and 1941, too. Check out these stats. Almost all of the top power seasons for Homers, RBIs, and Slugging fall in either the 1920 to 1941 or the 1987 to 2001 bulges.
And all of the players with 5000 at bats and a lifetime .600 slugging percentage played part of their careers during the 1920 to 1941 period.
Interesting, huh?