Yes, it certainly was the dead-ball era when nine home runs leads the league.
In 1909, American League teams averaged 3.44 runs a game. In 2011, American League teams averaged 4.46 runs a game. Yes, it still is the lively ball era.
One result of the lively ball era is that Cobb is slightly underrated as an offensive force.
Cobb ranks at the top of many offensive categories when one uses traditional statistics.
His .366 batting average is the best ever; he ranks ninth, with a .433 on-base percentage; he slugged .512 and is fifth with 5,854 total bases. Until Pete Rose broke his record, Cobb was first with 4,189 hits.
Cobb is second in runs scored, with 2,246, which is remarkable considering that runs were at a premium for most of his career.
Cobb is fourth in doubles, second in triples, seventh in runs batted in and fourth in ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - MLB By Harold Friend