My State of the Union of American Legion Baseball

Since the world is all about politics right now, I thought now would be a good time to give some thoughts and opinions on American Legion Baseball.

As many of you know, I have been a part of Caldwell County Post 29 for seven years now and I have seen some great things and some really bad things in American Legion Baseball. I feel that many of the hangups in American Legion Baseball come from the top. Let me start with the good things...

I love the pregame. The Code of Sportsmanship needs to be modernized. But at Caldwell, I know we have a word of prayer to keep the players safe and it gives an oppertunity for reflection on things going on. The Anthem played at its loudest levels still should make people shiver in their spines. I think they upper level teams are enjoyable to watch because they get the "don't breathe until the last note is played" mentality.

I love the competition. Not to take a swing at any other form of summer baseball, but you cannot tell me there is a better rivalry than Area IV baseball. Its ACC basketball or SEC football in a prep stadium. Playing for your personal stats and to make just yourself look good is one of the major problems in the world right now. Giving all you have for your team and community and putting your team on your back is something special... Love them or hate them but Chris Mason did that. Ralph Roberts did that. I think their careers are better because of it.

I learned the other night about the family atmosphere of atleast our team. Its wild that Caldwell Post 29 is so evenly talented this year. There is not a soul on our roster that doesn't have an arguement why they shouldn't be playing more. Anyway, while we were taking BP, we have a little squable. It was nothing that involved punches, just some pushing and shoving... but by game time the same guys in the fight earlier, were high fiving and getting behind eachother... Its the "me and my brother can fight, but you better not attack my brother" type mentality. You cannot tell me that exists on a team where your role is to only look good in front of some scouts...

Now my dislikes... There has got to be some new blood added into the Area Directors and State Director. I feel that they are all too comfortable in their jobs and I think there is some old vedettas that will not be layed to rest until they are gone. I honestly think Roy Waters is never going to forgive Caldwell County for the Protest of 2004. Caldwell made Roy make a bad decision and made Roy look bad making the decision. Then when the State Tournament was in Garner last year and the 2004 State Championship banner was still on a fence line showing that Roy didn't really hold to his decision... made him look ignorant again. Some of the directors are old and worn out and unhealthy... add some new blood.

My next dislike is the State Tournament in general. I don't think it should be at a school at all. The State Tournament needs to be at a Grand ball park. Rutherford Co. has an absolute masterpiece of a field/stadium right now. Why not have it at a minor league baseball park all the time? Why not have it at a college park like the HS championships. (UNC? NCSU?) As long as Legion looks small time, it will remain small time.

Finally, I think teams should do more to promote themselves in the communities. I know for a fact, everyone in Caldwell County knows these guys because of what the News Topic and WJRI do to promote the players. There was a full article a couple weeks back about a kid in Caldwell County chosing not to play Legion because of his oppertunites to play in Ohio. It was that big a deal around here. The players are out in the community raising money for the program. They are giving lessions and selling food at Wal-Mart to raise money for Omaha. They are truly superstars in small towns.

I am leaving my soapbox now... thank you for your time.

 

I agree with a lot of what you said, but the bottom line is that Legion ball is falling apart... atleast in the East. Coming from Caldwell County, you strongly believe in Legion ball and all it stands for. You believe the stands should be packed night after night. What you should do, is take a trip to watch someone other than Caldwell/Cherryville/Rowan/etc. play one night. It's a different world. It's a sad world matter of fact. I ain't old but I grew up with Legion ball... it's about all I know when it comes summer time. You have the same teams year after year in the state tournament because those are the programs that turn their attention to JUST Legion baseball. These are the teams that say, "Hey, how's the Legion team lookin' this summer?" when it's only January. Some post's don't even have living Legionaires which also makes it tough.

If I knew the solution to building Legion ball back to what it was, I would be a popular man.

 

They shouldn't have a state tournament. Rowan had a better team than Wayne when they played in Salisbury in 2002, so I do not have a problem with the outcome. But I firmly believe we were better than Cherryville last season. Losing the first one puts you in too big a hole. Plus, who makes and loses money in this new arrangement compared to the old one?

Legion baseball in the Triangle is nowhere as it used to be. I talked to a former Legion coach who also coaches high school baseball, and there is a great deal of ill feeling against the organization. Our latest commissioner said last season he was going to try to reivive thing there, but I don't know how many teams they have this season. I remember going to Garner in 1998 to see them play Pitt for the area title. There were less than 100 spectators. Area I East lost Snow Hill and Beaufort County.

I don't know how much newspaper coverage has to do with it, but unlike others don't believe Legion baseball has a right to get extensive writeups. You have to get the fans to the game, thus earning a large story in the paper.

As far as the attendance, I can speak for our part of the state. Wayne has the best attendance of anyone, and we're not in the class of the better western programs.

 

I really enjoyed the East vs West 7 game series', but I believe the format now is just as entertaining.

What is the most important thing in a double elimination tournament? Don't lose the first one.

 

Clearly the best team usually wins when you play a 7 game series. I do believe the double-elimination tournaments provide excitement as far as 8 different teams colliding at one ballpark and meeting a lot of people,,,, but like others have said, in baseball too many crazy things can happen and one slipup can put you in the loser's bracket with a long road to hoe. So while the "hot" team may win a tournament, I believe in baseball the 7-game series usually shows you the best team.

As for newspaper coverage, I've said it many times, if teams want newspaper coverage, then someone from the organization has just got to embrace a sportswriter, put him on your speed dial, and involve him enough that he will feel a part of your organization, make him feel that it is newsworthy, that folks are interested. If they think enough people care, they will print it.

Unfortunately many legion programs suffer from "folks just passing through",,, you know when a few parents offer to help because their kids are playing, but those parents are gone just as soon as their kid ages out. This happens, and I believe it has a lot to do with why you see some programs come and go.

If you look at the better programs, they have a stable group of workers who know what to do and they don't mind doing it, and these people are not doing it JUST FOR THEIR SON, they do it so that there is a team, these are the people you want to find.

 

We cannot get teams in our half of the state to do something as simple as report scores. I have offered to place on my blog all scores for our half of Area I. I get one team to cooperate. Even the commissioner can't get teams to consistently give him the scores so he can put them on the Legion site.

Why are people so sorry in this regard?

 

Reporting scores is easy if the umpire booking agent can have one person to call the scores to that will post them. Area III does it due to Tommy Caudle, Josh Reep, each umpire, and especially JT Bost. The umpires call in the scores each night and JT sends an email every night or 1st thing the following morning. Remember the responsible person of a program has numerous things the night of a game and calling scores to the newspaper or someone to post them is last on the list at 10:30 at best and more realistic on away nights is midnight or worse.

A lot of problems with legion programs stem from lack of personel. Teams come and go for various reasons but I believe the more successful programs must have at least three people highly dedicated to the kids and their program.

#1- An AD that can provide the funds needed to run the team and organize the schedule to accommodate parents, players and the integrity of legion baseball. Next he needs to find a coach without local conflicts and in it for the kids.

#2- A coach that can teach the game at this level and do what is right for the players as well as have them hold their breathe until the last note of the National Anthem.

#3- A person to keep stats and report them on a consistent basis to all local newspapers and the team.

Rowan is the perfect example of multiple folks doing their part and reporting back to their responsible person. The AD has folks to count on every home game to work the gate and concessions. Coach Gantt is respected and does it for the right reason. Howard keeps the stats and broadcasts each game on the radio. When each person can do their part and communicate with the others, then you have a successful legion program. Commitment is the key ingredient for longevity.

 

Absolutely,,,,,,,, Rowan is the type program that everyone else in this area strives to duplicate. Obviously you need more than a couple people doing things, you must have numerous people who are willing to work for the TEAM.

As one said, the night of a game, if you are heavily involved, the last thing you may think about is calling a newspaper and reporting a score,,,,,,, there again, I don't know what people did before cellphones, because I have made more than one phone call at 11pm while driving home from Timbuktoo.

If you want your program to have all this and that, you either do it, or it wont' happen.