The history of baseball can be divided into eras, each defining a particular aspect of the game. These periods include the Spitball Era, the Landis Era, the Baby Boomers Era, the Artificial Turf Era, and the Camden Yards Era. Here are the highlights of the various eras:
The Twenties Era includes the years 1915 to 1929. The decade between these two is not considered to be an era, but instead a transitional one. The 1920s, which is also referred to as the Landis Era, was one of offensive eras. The average ERA in that decade was 3.47, significantly lower than any of the preceding or following eras. It would be misleading to use these numbers without a detailed look at the baseball season during this time.
After the Depression Era, the average ERA remained between 3.5 and 4.0 for twenty years. The ERA climbed to 4.29 in 1987 and fell back to 3.73 the following year. The ERAs also varied widely. However, the 1950s and 1960s were generally considered offensive eras. In addition to the offensive era, the ERAs of the pitchers are also shown. Generally speaking, the 1990s were offensive eras, as the offense was geared toward scoring runs.
After the first professional team was formed in 1869, baseball was considered the national pastime in the US. The first modern World Series was organized in 1872, and the National and American Leagues were founded in 1872. During this era, the game enjoyed its golden years, as stadiums were constructed and the game became more competitive. By the 1920s, there were new players in the league and larger stadiums were built. This new era of baseball was known as the “Century Era.”