Why is this?

fourdog hit the nail on the head about the term "showcase". The term itself has become watered down over the past few years. Anyone that puts on tournaments can drag in a few local college guys and call it a "showcase". Our high school team has played in "showcase" tournaments the past 2 falls, but in reality they were nothing more than what we used to refer as Open Tournaments. There is no way that a legion team could compete in these "elite" tournaments that the top showcase teams from NC play in.

There are still some pockets in NC where legion baseball is of a very high quality. But those pockets are becoming much smaller. I look at who makes it to the state tournament every year in legion and the majority are the same teams year in and out. Kudos to these programs that have managed to build something good and hang on to it. When I look at the legion teams in our immediate area here in the mountains, and see rosters made up of a lot of freshman and sophmores, that says a whole lot.

 

Lets see.....this is the 3rd year of TBR Preps Baseball.....right.....or is it the 4th year. At my age it's hard to remember.:banginghe :banginghe :banginghe

 

yep, and I get sucked in every year. Darn how does that happen. I guess I just forget. :banginghe

 

Yeah Mudcat...showcase is going the same route as AAU teams did. Son doesn't make team or dad is upset with the coach....boom...new showcase team. The elites will stay strong, but there will always be new one's forming and some of the old one's going away

 

Speaking of old teams going away......has anyone heard what will happen to the Anglers now that Freddy Suggs has joined the Copperheads. I know when my son played with Freddy.....he WAS the Anglers.

 

Braves,,, yea folks are really passionate about this subject. The thing we all need to remember is that NOBODY is wrong whatever choice they make. Each player needs to look at his specific situation and do whats best for him.

Again, I will say I like the concept of showcase ball, it works. However, one misconception that some may have is if they believe legion ball is going down, we need to remember that legion ball has been around North Carolina some 80 years. Over that time, sure theres been many teams fold or struggle financially, some lose interest, or whatever. However, when I tell folks to come to a Kannapolis or Rowan County game, I'm not just singling out those 2 programs. Just in this area alone, last summer Lexington finished 2nd in the state with a lot of kids coming back this year so I'm pretty sure they're excited about legion ball, South Rowan always packs in the fans, Mocksville/Davie does well, Albemarle has standing room only crowds, and this year Concord just named an excellent coach Ronnie Bost who will surely get that program back up to standards.

In Mecklenburg, Coach Rummage has Pineville among the top programs around the state,,, and everyone knows what kind of crowds Shelby, Cherryville and Caldwell get.

Showcase is an excellent avenue for certain kids in certain situations, but legion ball is still giving many many kids an opportunity to play baseball most every night thru June & July, and most teenage boys I know LOVE going to the ballpark every night. Also, just in the last few years legion started a junior legion program to include even more of the younger players. So actually, many of the legion teams now have 2 teams, a Jr. team and an older team.

Just need to keep discussions like this civil and remember that nobody is wrong here,,, there's definitely room for both legion and showcase.

 

something to think about

You know....it just occured to me that "dilution of talent" is almost a natural occurance in baseball....or in just about every sport for that matter. Since we're talking baseball here, lets look at some of the facts.

Rec ball....I can remember when there was very little or no "rec ball".....other than what we played in Grandpa's cow pasture. Now there are "rec ball" leagues everywhere.

Little League....used to be the premier league for 11-12 yos. Now we have Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, and other similar leagues. It depends on your perspective as to which is "premier" now.

AAU....used to be the place all the most talented kids were "invited" to play. Now with USSSA and others entering the fray it's become "talent diluted" also. Especially since all one has to do is pay a fee to join and start their own team.

High School....come on....admit it....how many new high schools have sprung up since you played HS baseball. Isn't that "talent dilution"???

Legion....no doubt about it. In my time I've seen it go from the purest form of HS baseball talent to an also ran. I watched teams spring up by the dozens in the 70s, 80s, and into the 90s and the fear of dilution was rampant, but for the last 5-10 years there has been an overall decline in teams. Why?? The lack of financial support. There are a few new teams, but for every new team several other teams dissolve nationwide. There are still some hot pockets of legion baseball but I'll bet even they have seen some effects of the new showcase craze.

Showcase....at this point it is the top dog for HS baseball talent. There are a lot of reasons for it's popularity. For college coaches and scouts it's about economics. They can travel to a showcase and see numerous highly talented players in one venue rather a few players at any one single game of any other kind. For players it's the opportunity to play with and against the best talent out there and have a better chance to be seen by that one coach or scout that can help them reach the next level of play....whether it be college or pro. But....like it has already been stated, showcase isn't without it's own "dilution of talent". More and more showcase teams spring up every year for the same reasons it happened in legion.......to paraphrase "it's the sincerest form of flattery".

In short.....there are always going to be new baseball venues ...it's what has kept the sport growing through the years one way or the other. The important thing for any player who aspires to play at the "next level" is to play with and against the best possible competition that they can. Can it get expensive??? You bet you last dollar it can. But so does everything else. We do live in a capitalist country you know. All of the baseball venues that I've mentioned here cost money. Even if you don't pay one cent, somebody has to pay the bills.

 

Showcase/Legion

There are good parts to both types of programs. I personally believe the verdict is still out on showcase teams. Why, not because of their success or lack of, but just because it is the latest greatest toy out there. Am I trying to shortchange showcase, absolutely not.
I get tickled at the posters about their passion about each form of baseball. Personally I think you have got to do what is in your kid's best interest. Whether that is showcase or legion. Once again that is a decision that each family involved has to make.
Quiet honestly I don't think you should compare the two. I do think you need to weigh the good and bad of both and then make an educated decision what is best for your goals at that time. But to compare Legion and Showcase is to compare Apples and Oranges .
In the area that I live in, Legion and Showcase are both very strong, and they coexist quiet well.(Copperheads, Carolina Sox, Megastars, and On Deck) (Pineville Legion, Kannapolis, Stanly County Legion, etc...) We need to learn from their example and be tolerant of each other.

 

Funny

I have read with amusement this thread and it kind of reminds of when I was a kid and we used to argue about which was better the Army or Marines - (this was way back when GI Joe was the man). We used to play war in my neighborhood and we would pick sides - Army or Marines. Probably not very PC right now but that was a long time ago. We would get into these big arguments about who was the toughest - the Army or the Marines and then we would pick sides and play pretend war.

This argument about which is best 'Travel" or "Legion" is very similar. My son has played both and I believe it is a personal decision that a family makes and it is fine either way. However, when I see comments like "going all the way to the top" if you play travel ball vs. "long bus rides" if you play legion is a little much for me. Please define "all the way to the top." Are you talking to the Major Leagues or maybe even higher like the Hall of Fame or perhaps higher - whatever that might be?

Times change and legion is not what it once was and that is mainly because players have more options today. Does that mean legion is a poor product? No, but no one can argue that legion has the quality depth that it once enjoyed years ago. I have seen a couple of comments about there is not a legion team in the country that could match up with these local travel teams - please!! There are some outstanding legion teams across the country that could match up very well with any travel team. That is not a knock on our local travel teams but rather a testimony to the fact that there are some outstanding baseball players across this country.

The bottom line is that if you want to play travel ball - go for it. If you want to play legion - go for it as well. Just because you play on a travel team does not guarantee you a ticket to the top and just because you play on a legion team, you are not destined for "long bus rides." We enjoyed both and both are viable options in a world full of options.

One other note, it is kind of ironic that college baseball and the minor leagues are full of long bus rides.

 

Totally off topic (in a way), but I was discussing this with rcbbfan and he encouraged me to share my thoughts.

---------------------------------
I have a different take to the problem with American Legion and it’s baseball program, I think American Legion itself is dying. Belonging to the American Legion was a matter of pride, and socially accepted --- even honored --- after WWI, WWII and Korea. Starting with Vietnam and after, the culture in America began changing. The “Greatest Generation”, (the WW2 vets), were the heart and sole of the Legion, but the returning vets from Nam weren’t honored. Instead of returning to recognition for their sacrifices, they were scorned. I know. As the older membership began dying off, many posts began diminishing and there aren't as many new vets coming along to replace their ranks.

The conservative American values (baseball, mom and apple pie) so revered in the 50’s and 60’s are now endangered species. Mom is shared between a mom, step-mom, foster mom and baby sitter. Many kids, the only know one grandmother as the single parent family has become commonplace. No one cooks anything, much less apple pie --- baking is a lost art --- better head to Shoney's if you want Apple Pie. It’s not a mainstay of the American diet anymore.

As for baseball, it’s left the inner city. Basketball has more "flash", football is the big money sport and the NCAA seems to hate baseball. Youth follow the sports of their heroes. Their heroes don’t play on a diamond anymore. They glide on a snowboard and talk trash during basketball games.

Cultures change over time, so the institutions that serve those cultures must adapt else they deteriorate --- and that is happening to American Legion. It runs the risk of not being relevant anymore in today’s society, because today’s society doesn’t honor their values or sacrifices.

So, the American Legion is in a period of declining membership and declining posts. It’s justifiably proud past is becoming a thing of the past. There isn’t the large core of members who maintain the values of the past. Some posts are thriving --- but the number is diminishing. As the Legion diminishes, its goals must change. What will they need to concentrate on? They have declined from being a major political force in America to an after-thought on the political campaign trail. The change has been gradual, but, unless the culture of America changes, the process will accelerate.

Argue all you want about Legion baseball versus showcase ball. They both have an important place. One's not necessarily better than the other. They are just different. I’m much more concerned about the Legion itself.