What pitch count?

The H.S. baseball people in Texas are following a new state rule. Pitch count. Every class, every pitch. It is meant to keep young pitchers from throwing out their arms before they start shaving.

I don't remember hearing much about pitch counts when I played. I just heard "So, are you gonna walk everyone?" Old timers think pitch counts are for sissies. Perhaps pitch counts are for surgeons. Tommy John was just another pitcher until he became much more famous for moving body ligaments around. Tommy John even has an underwear line. It's just not THAT TOMMY JOHN. 

I am in favor of any rule that promotes good health. Nolan Ryan is said to have throw nearly 300 pitches in one game. No pitching coach was going to tell Nollie he was over any limit. Unless it was runs scored.

I LIKE BASEBALL HISTORY and Edward Achorn is a great baseball story teller. His book "59 in '84" is good spring reading. The year was 1884 and barehanded baseball was a big deal. Just 20 years past the Civil War and America had a pitching hero. CHARLES "OLD HOSS" RADBOURN won 54 games that season. He also won all 3 he pitched in the first ever World Series. They didn't have gloves let alone pitch counts. He won those 54 pitching for the Providence Grays. If your are a little short of knowledge when it comes to 19th century baseball you are hardly alone.

The book is about drinking, gambling, and fighting. Baseball players were thought to be border line thugs. In some cases there was no border line about it. You will especially enjoy the umpires of that era. Of course they could be bribed.  Dazzle your pals by telling them the time "OLD HOSS" of Bloomington, Illinois started 11 straight games and pitched 5 complete games in 5 days. Talk about pitch count.