Is baseball the hardest sport to have repeat great seasons (individual performance wise)?

Question

In my last question people mistaken it for team perspective but i actually meant individuality performance.

I do think its hard to have multiple great seasons in baseball. So many players have one great season then never have a great season after having one. I do think its the hardest sport to have repeat great seasons.

Answer 1

Not for a good player. You may have some player that has a season where they stay healthy and have all of the hits fall in and then the next season they have multiple nagging injuries and all of their hits are right at players.



The best example of a player repeating great season would be Vinny Castilla. In 1996 he had 40 home runs, 113 RBI's, and batted .304. Then the following season in 1997 he had 40 home runs, 113 RBI's, and batted .304.

Answer 2

Ted Williams once said that the hardest thing to do in all sports is to hit a round ball with a round bat. He also mentioned that someone who fails 7 out of 10 times is a league leader in baseball. In any other sport, failing 7 of 10 gets you a spot on the airplane heading home after being cut (unless you're Shaq at the freethrow line.)

That being said, every sport requires tons of practice time. Pitchers learn a hitter's weak spot. Hitters learn a pitcher's tells. Teams learn how to defend a certain player, be in basketball, football, beach volleyball or baseball. Once someone begins to rest on their laurels and expect last year's practice to make up for some rest this year, they are going downhill. You always hear about how great someone's work ethic is and how much they practice, how they are the first to show and the last to leave practice when you talk about the true superstars. That's not exclusive to baseball.

Answer 3

I think the great players, the Hall of Famers, have gone above this standard.



Take a guy like Ichiro..he's having a quiet year this year, but that's after 10 consecutive amazing seasons. How about Doc Halladay and CC Sabathia...both on track to win 20 again, and both probable Hall of Famers.



Then guys like...Cliff Lee, Tulowitski, Carlos Gonzalez...Lee has never strung together 2 great seasons, while Tulo and Cargo are really great examples of what you said.



Although I partially agree with you, I also feel the HOF level players disprove it too.

Answer 4

I tend to disagree. With baseball it can be hard to have consecutive great seasons, but if you put the work in, you'll be successful. I think it would be harder in football because your greatness depends on 10 other guys! If they don't do their job, no matter how good you are, you won't succeed. Baseball is pratty much ( as a batter or pitcher) a 1 on 1 endeavor. Either the pitcher is better or the batter is better. If your offensive line stinks, it doesn't matter who the QB, RB or Receiver is.

Answer 5

It depends on the team in question. If you are a large market team like the New York Yankees or the Philadelphia Phillies and have the money to spend on payroll to bring in prized free agents and depth, then yes it is easy to have repeat seasons. On the other hand when you are a low budget, small market team like the Florida Marlins, then it is extremely difficult to repeat a successful season.

Answer 6

People's Opinions.. Some say you are born with the talent.. To me, Whats Right is Work Hard, Practice, And You Be Better As Long As You Understand

Answer 7

Ted Williams believed it was more difficult than, for example, golf.

Answer 8

Golf or baseball is.

Answer 9

Yes it is.

Answer 10

I would agree.