THE MAG.COM PRESENTS:
ALL WORLD POWER RANKINGS

Getty Images

"Me talk pretty one day."

WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURES, THE NHL IN 2005 TOPS ALL

Tiger Woods is missing the rest of 2008. GASP! What's professional golf without Woods right now? It's mostly a bunch of dudes walking around. We hate layoffs/abscences, be they economic, relational (Ross and Rachel!) or sporting (Jordan!) With this in mind, we decided to rank some of the most significant departures/breaks in history—when the departure of one element profoundly affected the broader whole. The model: Tiger leaves, golf suffers. (And yes, we know: Tiger's coming back—and taking down Jack's record!—and not all these people returned.) As always, number one should be a bit obvious.

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY)		WHAT	WHY
	1 (24)	NO MORE "SOAKING"	We omitted some rules that were altered in the early years of baseball, because formative years are just that. Still, in its initial form, the runner was out when he was "soaked," or drilled with ball between bases, instead of tagged or forced. This rule, we feel, in current form, would be fascinating, and make boppers with speed like Alfonso Soriano, or the Pirates version of Barry Bonds, valuable. The "Clemens Rule", wherein pitchers throw the bat at runners, never really got started, or stuck.
	2 (19)	"BALL THREE, TAKE YOUR BASE" RULE	In the early game, the runner was given first base after three balls, a rule which makes Greg Maddux scoff, and other pitchers shudder. The rule became four balls after earlier versions of three, and then in 1887, when they tried 5 balls, 4 strikes. The California Penal league has the 10 balls, 1 strike rule, apparently.
	3 (29)	PUT A CORK IN IT	In 1910, a cork center was added to the ball, and all balls became standardized. This is sort of a grouping of a dozen years, because during this period they finally got their balls in order, overall—they soon dumped spitballs, they started using more than a couple per game so they weren't dirt covered, pitchers couldn't dirty a new ball—so to speak, essentially modernizing the game. Gaylord Perry was just a conscientious objector.
	4 (9)	THE DESIGNATED HITTER	In 1973, the American League added the DH, and by most accounts from people who know baseball, altered the game permanently, on the field and off. The rule could be called one to add more offense, but it's more in place now to keep stiffs who can't field around for a few more paychecks. It's more of an unofficial legacy clause for the one-trick pony. We forget this was an "experimental" rule at the time. Seriously, what 1973 "experiment" really stuck for you? Oh, you still drop acid? Hey, that's cool. We're not here to judge.
	5 (21)	LOWERING THE MOUND	In 1968, baseball responded to its declining popularity by trying to bump up scoring, and thus lowering the mound five inches. Now, we've spawned a culture of freakishly tall pitchers like Randy Johnson and Chris Young bent on ruling the world! Well, it really just bumped offense, ever-so-slightly, and really just made the never-ending pursuit of offense via shorter mounds or equine-grade steroids more official-ish.

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY)		WHAT	WHY
	11 (59)	MINIMUM HR DISTANCE	It's overlooked, but in 1925, they set true minimums for home run distance, making it 250 feet. It seems archaic, but you have to believe the folks who built Citizens Bank Park in Philly had to take note, wondering aloud, "What if we tell them the '125' down the line is really yards!?" It seems important now, even as Chase Utley's pop flies that land 10 rows deep persist.
	28 (244)	FACE THE BATTER	In 1879, the pitcher had to face the batter before he pitched to him, like a karate match. This intrigues us, just because it opens up the whole pre-fight brawl possibility that we so enjoyed about the Mike Tyson weigh-in era. This was made for Clemens-Piazza, and yet they killed it. We protest!

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT		WHAT
		BATTING HELMET REQUIRED - (Seems like someone takes a head shot once a month now. Sosa's lid once got shattered!)
		NO GAMBLING - (Hear us out. Imagine betting on who is throwing the game. Talk about meta!)

Print Article . Email Article. Subscribe to The Magazine