30 years ago my summers were filled with trips to the batting cages, playing catch with my dad in the backyard and practicing and playing games with my friends. Little league baseball was all that mattered.
Today, there are high schools all across the United States that are having trouble even fielding a team. Major League Comissioner, Rob Manfred, has even voiced his concerns and the effect this will have on Major League Baseball. Kids just don't play baseball anymore and here are the 3 Reasons Why.
- Kids are playing their favorite sport all year round. Whether it is basketball, football, hockey or soccer, kids are on traveling club teams as well as their school teams. The days of the 3 sport athlete are long gone. We grew up playing football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the summer. That just doesn't happen anymore.
- Kids are obsessed with video games, iPads, and cell phones. Baseball requires patience and is one of the slowest sports. For kids that are used to constant stimulation and instant gratification, baseball can seem boring. Baseball is also a thinking game that requires more concentration than football or basketball. Getting our kids off the electronics and back on the field is a focus for a lot of parents.
- Baseball isn't a flashy sport. 25 year old Mike Trout of the L.A. Angles has finished 1st or 2nd in MVP voting over the last 5 years. He has had the best statistical start to a MLB career in the history of the game. And I bet most readers of this blog could not pick him out of a line up. But Lebron James and Tom Brady would be recognized by almost everyone. Baseball has far fewer big time celebrities than basketball and football. Thanks to big money Endorsements, boys are more likely to be drawn to flashier, more in your face Sports.
So what does all of this mean? It is true that less kids are playing baseball in the United States. But in Latin America, kids are playing now more than ever. This has translated into Latin players dominating all over the field. The World Champion Chicago Cubs have some phenomenal Latin Players as does almost every team. The face of the MLB might look a little different, but the talent level remains high, thanks to our friends outside of the 50 states. Cheers!