I know Kentucky has always been a basketball and football state, but the arguement can be made in the last 10-15 years, that baseball may be the states best sport.

 

For years, the state of Kentucky has been well represented on the professional and Div. 1 level.

 

Just this year, Corey Hart was selected to the National League All Star team, Joe Blanton was an important piece to the Phillies World Series title run, AJ Ellis and Corey Wade were members of the Dodgers, Paul Byrd was a solid contributer to the BoSox, and Trevor Miller was a valued member of the Devil Rays bullpen.

 

Ben Revere, Collin Cowgill, Jon Shelby, all from Lexington, have already been selected as top prospects for their prospective organizations.

 

Not to mention, baseball programs across the state are developing unmatched baseball facilities that high schools and most colleges across the country would love to have.

Hunhh? Basketball!!!!

Of the three sports, football, basketball, and baseball, BASEBALL is definitely the best path for a college scholarship. Too many average athletes think they are going to be the next Rex Chapman or Tim Couch when they are in grade school and give up on baseball after they get out of Little League.

 

2008 LCA graduate Robbie Ross signed for $1,575,000 with the Rangers. He's 5'11", 190 pounds. What if he had decided he wanted to be a QB / PG in middle school? 5'11", 190 probably isn't going to be starting basketball or football in the SEC. He could have gone to any team he wanted to play college baseball though.

No... No. No.

overall, no. The Past couple years, Yes. But definitely not overall

From a development standpoint, to playing College and Professional, than it very well could be. You have a lot of talent, which gets to play at various Divisions, in College.

 

Popularity wise, no but still the greatest game, in my book.

Of the three sports, football, basketball, and baseball, BASEBALL is definitely the best path for a college scholarship. Too many average athletes think they are going to be the next Rex Chapman or Tim Couch when they are in grade school and give up on baseball after they get out of Little League.

2008 LCA graduate Robbie Ross signed for $1,575,000 with the Rangers. He's 5'11", 190 pounds. What if he had decided he wanted to be a QB / PG in middle school? 5'11", 190 probably isn't going to be starting basketball or football in the SEC. He could have gone to any team he wanted to play college baseball though.

This is such a great observation. We are losing so many kids to year around sports or spring football or summer basketball. I am for the kids playing all the sports they can and my hat is off to the players that choose to do so and to the coaches that support this decision. I also feel we are losing many gifted African-American players for possibly the same reasons . Definitely great opportunity for college scholarship.

Please understand, I am not sayinng baseball is the most popular sport but I do feel the talent that has been produced over the years is very impressive. Div. 1 rosters from Arizona State to Yale are littered with Kentucky products. Not to mention the instate Division 1 programs success over the last few years and now the presence of major leaguers from the Bluegrass making major contributions to their organization.

 

Along the lines of the previous posters, i would love to see more African Americans play this great sport. With the increasing cost of the sport, the competition for participation, and the year around emphasis for all sports, this makes it very difficult.

 

It would be fun for the Herald Leader or Courier Journal to track all of the College players like they do for minor leaguers. As such, I wonder how KY's division 1 numbers compare to other states and to the other sports in KY.

From a development standpoint, to playing College and Professional, than it very well could be. You have a lot of talent, which gets to play at various Divisions, in College.

 

Popularity wise, no but still the greatest game, in my book.

 

Well said, Strike 3. I think you are right on track.

 

I have a hard time believing that the question was really posed, though. Baseball may be turning out more professional players than football and basketball, even at the MLB level, in Kentucky than producing NBA or NFL players. Baseball has made significant strides in some ways, but is significantly behind football and basketball in popularity in Kentucky. The NFL Network recently came to Louisville to film a show on the St. X vs Trinity game for the "Best High School Rivalry" show. The game drew almost 39,000 fans. Football and basketball is discussed in the Courier-Journal and on the Rivals website, but baseball is not much at all. The Courier-Journal's coverage for football and basketball is different than for baseball. Possibly, too, when you look at how big baseball is in other states (particularly down South and out West), the difference is substantial. A beat writer for the C-J once wrote about the increased attendance at a U of L vs U of K baseball game drawing 3-4000. LSU, Arkansas, and Mississippi State lead the country in average attendance at about 7000 per game. Louisvill was estatic to host a super-regional NCAA baseball game 2 years ago an fill their stadium, but the attendance does not compare when Mississippi does the same and draws 26,000 for a game.

Well said, Strike 3. I think you are right on track.

 

I have a hard time believing that the question was really posed, though. Baseball may be turning out more professional players than football and basketball, even at the MLB level, in Kentucky than producing NBA or NFL players. Baseball has made significant strides in some ways, but is significantly behind football and basketball in popularity in Kentucky. The NFL Network recently came to Louisville to film a show on the St. X vs Trinity game for the "Best High School Rivalry" show. The game drew almost 39,000 fans. Football and basketball is discussed in the Courier-Journal and on the Rivals website, but baseball is not much at all. The Courier-Journal's coverage for football and basketball is different than for baseball. Possibly, too, when you look at how big baseball is in other states (particularly down South and out West), the difference is substantial. A beat writer for the C-J once wrote about the increased attendance at a U of L vs U of K baseball game drawing 3-4000. LSU, Arkansas, and Mississippi State lead the country in average attendance at about 7000 per game. Louisvill was estatic to host a super-regional NCAA baseball game 2 years ago an fill their stadium, but the attendance does not compare when Mississippi does the same and draws 26,000 for a game.

 

H.S. Football is fan friendly because it is conveniently played one night a week Friday, at 7:30. Basketball typically plays two times a week, sometimes three - in an occasional tournament. Baseball gets an eight week window to play 36 games! Games begin the last week of March when it could be 70 degrees one day, snowing the next...so the early season scheduled varsity games usually begin at 5:00 or 5:30 so the teams don't get frosted on in the late innings. If it's above freezing then you play a j.v. game too.

I know Kentucky has always been a basketball and football state, but the arguement can be made in the last 10-15 years, that baseball may be the states best sport.

 

For years, the state of Kentucky has been well represented on the professional and Div. 1 level.

 

Just this year, Corey Hart was selected to the National League All Star team, Joe Blanton was an important piece to the Phillies World Series title run, AJ Ellis and Corey Wade were members of the Dodgers, Paul Byrd was a solid contributer to the BoSox, and Trevor Miller was a valued member of the Devil Rays bullpen.

 

Ben Revere, Collin Cowgill, Jon Shelby, all from Lexington, have already been selected as top prospects for their prospective organizations.

 

Not to mention, baseball programs across the state are developing unmatched baseball facilities that high schools and most colleges across the country would love to have.

 

Forgot to mention Brandon Webb, a former Cy Young winner, who was runner-up this year.

We that are passionate about Baseball, have to do a better job of promoting the student-athletes, whom play this great game. I've always said and firmly believe, "there is a school out there, at some level for everyone who is serious about playing in College".

 

Our great State, has tremendous Baseball talent but playing 4 days a week, then on Saturday, often times means the media doesn't follow like they should. Some areas, will have a weekly or bi-weekly newspaper and never have box scores, but just a brief article. Coaches have to submit information, stats, game promotions and do interviews, to help generate publicity.

 

Radio stations doing a game of the week, will bring in additional fans and allow others, to follow this great game. Webcasts are growing in popularity and I can see, Baseball being a great place for this area, to market.

We that are passionate about Baseball, have to do a better job of promoting the student-athletes, whom play this great game. I've always said and firmly believe, "there is a school out there, at some level for everyone who is serious about playing in College".

 

Our great State, has tremendous Baseball talent but playing 4 days a week, then on Saturday, often times means the media doesn't follow like they should. Some areas, will have a weekly or bi-weekly newspaper and never have box scores, but just a brief article. Coaches have to submit information, stats, game promotions and do interviews, to help generate publicity.

 

Radio stations doing a game of the week, will bring in additional fans and allow others, to follow this great game. Webcasts are growing in popularity and I can see, Baseball being a great place for this area, to market.

 

Strike3, your'e not biased to baseball are you?:thumb:

 

You are definitely correct about the media coverage. Baseball is definitely shafted in comparison to the other two sports. But it's the post season that drives the other two sports. There is no "drama" or build-up for the baseball playoffs, thus, nobody can even tell when baseball is in the playoffs with the exception of the parents and the loyal followers of the game.

If we're going by INDIVIDUAL talent you could make a case for it being the best sport in KY but if we're going overall and by TEAMS, the answer is no.

Passion,heart,desire,love,Kentucky. They all go with baseball and Kentucky is progressing nicely partly because of the increased visibilty of high profile players but mainly because of the core group of coaches and supporters that are now promoting baseball 12 months a year and more and more kids are realizing that you don't have to be 6'9'' or bench press 400 to compete and excel. Kids will change the sport of choice over time but it is still the dedicated summer league, traveling and long time high school coaches that have brought baseball to the limelight in Kentucky. Keep the faith! Rome wasn't built or conquered in a day.