They called these check swings back in the day.

As it should be. There was no break of the wrists. Whether the bat crossed the plate should be irrelevant. Too many strikeouts has ruined the game

Now if you barely move the bat they’ll call it a swing.

A lefty facing Koufax…

Imagine how many more strikeouts he would have had with today’s “check swing”!

He didn't break his wrists on the swing. That's how they called it when I played.

I see nothing wrong with this

My theory is the change in the way check swings are called can be traced back to the overhead TV shots during the 1992-93 World Series from the Toronto Sky Dome.

If the wrists didn’t“break” it was never called a swing no matter how far the bat went around.That was an advantage to the batter.But the umpires had much larger strike zones for the pitcher back then. Now comparatively pitchers are squeezed. That’s one reason for more home runs.

Hahahah! "Half swing. He held up".

Back in the day, umps would judge check swings by whether or not the batter "broke his wrists."

Yet still, look at Koufax's numbers.

Don Mincher I think

That is Sandy Koufax. Hitters today would look just as silly.

Few instances of a big league hitter being absolutely made to look this ridiculous exist.

he didn't "break his wrists"

While this is extreme, today they call a strike when it clearly wasn't a swing in a meaningful sense. There are enough strikeouts without calling it so tight

Is that Harmon Killibrew batting?

The bat was pointing to 1st base

Interestingly there is no hard and fast rule as to what constitutes a check swing

The most egregious "check swing" ever cost the Yankees the 1960 World Series. Game 7...Hal Smith "check swing" called a BALL. THIS WAS CALLED A BALL! Look again!!! The very next pitch he hits a 3 run HR against Ralph Terry & Mazeroski HR wins game 7 for Pirates.

This had to inflate batting averages and deflate strikeouts in significant ways compared to today

He did not break his wrists. That used to be the rule,

If the bat crosses the plate it's a swing. That's how it should be.

Today that would have been strike 10.

makes Koufax look even better

How many times was Sandy robbed.

"He held up" 🤣

@AveHayess He missed it I saw it. Strike!

Awesome post...thank you! I remember that era in baseball...it was great!

Y dicen que en esa época no lanzaba duro, no joda esa bajo a 95 millas

Everybody dressed like their next stop was church...

A check swing is not defined in the baseball rule book.

@70sBaseball Now nothing is a check swing.

Interesting And Koufax still KO a bunch 👍👍

Sandy Sandy Sandy