The American Journal of Physics will soon issue results of a study on steroids made by Tufts University physicist Roger Tobin. To the best of my knowledge this is the first report showing actual percentages of physical advantages in steroid use...
According to Tobin, calculations show that by putting on 10% more muscle mass, a batter can swing about 5% faster, increasing the ball's speed by 4% as it leaves the bat. "A 4% increase in ball speed can reasonably be expected from steroid use and can increase home run production by anywhere from 50% to 100%" says Tobin. I'm guessing that it's closer to 50% than 100%. A 100% increase would produce home runs traveling 700 feet or more, I would think. Anyway, Tobin adds "an extra 10 pounds of muscle could add just enough extra to a batters swing to send the ball out of the park"...
Tobin did not do a study on Barry Bonds but believes that the number of home runs coincides with the dawn of the "steroid era" during the mid-90s and that the surge quickly dropped to more average numbers in 2003 when Major League Baseball instituted steroid testing...
You might be interested in reading the full report when it's published, I know I am. One thing that stands out to me is that I can understand hitters wanting an advantage but why in the world would pitchers? If a ball comes off the bat 4% faster using Tobin's 'ball off the bat' theory of increased speed, couldn't a pitcher also throw a pitch 4% faster. If the increased speed helps him strike more batters out fine but if the ball makes contact with the bat, how much faster will the ball travel off the bat? This is not a physics test - just wondering...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1937] Premiered on this date: "The Hobbit" is published by J.R.R. Tolkien...1957] "Perry Mason" starring Raymond Burr starts a run of 17 years (here's the show open: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViP2UGjdND0 )...1970] "Monday Night Football" debuts with Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson (who is eventually replaced by Frank Gifford) and "Dandy" Don Meredith. The first game features a Cleveland win over the Jets 31-21. This open is from 1973: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_EwidWjKtw ...
- 1938] A hurricane with no name: A surprise and unnamed category 3 hurricane slams into Long Island and southern New England claiming as many as 600 lives...
- 1949] From Maine to Mexico: Milton Berle becomes the permanent host of "The Texaco Star Theater" on NBC-TV. In this clip done in the 50s, "Melvin" Presley joins his brother Elvis on stage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78asaw-2G2g ...
- 1966] What's your name?: Jimmy Hendrix changes the spelling of his first name to "Jimi"...
- 1973] Confirmation day: Henry Kissinger is confirmed as Secretary of State by the Senate...1981] The Senate confirms Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female justice of the Supreme Court...
- 1981] Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Elton John signs a long-term deal with Geffen Records...
- 1982] Dropping the puck: The first hockey game is played in the Meadowlands with the Devils beating the Rangers 3-2 in an exhibition game...
- 1986] Emmy Gold: Winners at the 38th Emmy Awards include "Golden Girls", "Cagney and Lacey" and Michael J. Fox...
- 1998] Is "is" is?: This is the day that Bill Clinton actually said the following: "It depends on what the meaning of 'is' is?" in testimony about an affair with "that woman, Miss Lewinsky". Hokay..
- 1998] "Happy Trails": Olympic gold medal track star Florence Griffith Joyner dies in her sleep after suffering an epileptic seizure. FloJo was just 38...
Music Memories:
- 1961] Number One on this date: "Take Good Care Of My Baby" - Bobby Vee. This is just a video clip with a still of Bobby but the audio is great anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efMv1rwco8M ...1972] "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me" - Mac Davis...1983] "Tell Her About It" - Billy Joel...
- 1974] Released on this date: "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - BTO...
Commentary...
Another sad announcement about a member of the CBS Records family: Bob Altshuler passed away on Monday, September 17th at his home in Southbury (CT). Raised in Lawrence (MA) Bob was a dee jay at 16 and hosted a jazz show with his twin brother Bill. His love of jazz music was legendary and he had one of the largest private collections of the genre, actually donating some of his collection to the Library of Congress. Bob worked for 37 years in the music business (CBS, Atlantic, Prestige and Riverside), mostly in publicity and I'll always remember him for that big smile and gravelly voice. RIP Bob. Bob had retired in 1991 and was 84 at the time of his passing...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Nicole Richie (26), Ricki Lake (39), Faith Hill (40), Rob Morrow (45), Bill Murray (57), Stephen King (60), The Eagles' Don Felder (60), Henry Gibson (72), Leonard Cohen (73) and Larry Hagman (76)...
Timeline Countdown: 2 days until autumn in New York, 12 days until the MLB playoffs and 33 days until the World Series opener...
Saturday and Sunday, September 22 & 23, 2007...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1642] Harvard graduates its first class: A grand total of 9 (all male) students graduate with degrees (9/23)...
- 1939] "Happy Trails": Sigmund Freud dies in London at 83 of a physician assisted morphine overdose. Freud was suffering from cancer of the mouth (9/23)...1980] Irving Berlin dies at the age of 101 (9/22)...1987] Bob Fosse suffers a fatal heart attack at 60 (9/23)...1999] George C. Scott passes away from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm at 71 (9/22)...2001] Isaac Stern dies from congestive heart failure at 81 (9/22)...
- 1952] The real Rocky: Rocky Marciano wins his biggest fight to date by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round to win the heavyweight championship (9/23)...
- 1957] Premiered on this date: "Maverick" starring James Garner for the first of 5 seasons (9/22). Here's the show open (notice the crude slide they used which I helped mail from the ABC mailroom): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AKMP16meGk ...1961] NBC-TV's "Saturday Night At The Movies" debuts with "How To Marry A Millionaire" (9/23)...1962] "The Jetsons" debuts on ABC-TV. It's the networks first program in color, running for just one season (9/23). Here's a one-minute promo for the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeKx7q8D5co ...1964] "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." debuts, making stars of Robert Vaughn and David McCallum for 4 seasons (9/23)...1964] "Fiddler On The Roof" starring Zero Mostel opens on Broadway (9/23)...1969] "Marcus Welby MD" debuts on ABC-TV with Robert Young for 7 years (9/23)...
- 1962] Legalized larceny: The Dodgers Maury Wills breaks Ty Cobb's 47-year old record for stolen bases in a season with his 97th steal (he will total 104 for the season) (9/23)...
- 1967] The Beatles on TIME: The Fab Four adorn the cover of Time Magazine (9/22)...
- 1969] Joining the 600 Club: Willie Mays of the Giants becomes the second player besides Babe Ruth to hit his 600th home run (9/22)...
- 1969] Paul is dead hoax: The London Daily Mirror reports that Paul McCartney is dead. WABC's Roby Yonge believed it. Listen to this aircheck in which Roby also announces that he has already been fired (9/23): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNam3ahXXWI ...
- 1975] You missed me: Sara Jane Moore fails in an attempt to shoot President Gerald Ford outside San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel. It's the second attempt on his life in 17 days (9/22)...
- 1985] Farm aid: Inspired by John Cougar Mellencamp, the first 'Farm Aid' concert raises $10 million. In addition to Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Neil Young perform (9/22)...
Music Memories:
- 1962] Live from Carnegie Hall: Bob Dylan makes his first appearance there as part of a Pete Seeger concert (9/22)...
- 1962] First Brit top 20: The Springfields (featuring Dusty) become the first British group to reach the U.S. Top 20 with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" (9/22)...
- 1965] Recorded on this date: "I Hear A Symphony" - Supremes (9/22)...
- 1966] Released on this date: "Have You Seen Your Mother Baby" - Rolling Stones (9/22)...1967] "People Are Strange" - Doors (9/23)...1972] "All The Young Dudes" - Mott The Hoople (9/23) Here they are in a live performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvOUAYYYw7U ...1997] "Candle in The Wind" - Elton John (9/22)...
- 1967] Number One on this date: "The Letter" - Box Tops (9/22)...1975] "I'm Sorry" - John Denver (9/22)...
- 1983] Reunited and it feels so good: After being apart for 10 years, the Everly Brothers reunite in London's Royal Albert Hall (9/22)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
(9/22) Scott Baio (45), Joan Jett (47) (JJ loves R&R: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3T_xeoGES8 ), Andrea Bocelli (49), Debby Boone (51), Joni James (77) (legendary New England radio personality Dickie Robinson recently interviewed Joni: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk3JPBfq7RU and Tommy Lasorda (80)...
(9/23) Harry Connick Jr. (40), Chi McBride (46), Jason Alexander (48), Bruce Springsteen (58), Paul Petersen (62), Julio Iglesias (64) and Mickey Rooney (87)...
Timeline Countdown for Sunday, September 23, 2007: Autumn in New York arrived this morning, 10 days until the MLB playoff opener and 31 days until the World Series opener...
