Blogs Ken Trahan LEGION GETS THE TRAVEL BLUES | LEGION GETS THE TRAVEL BLUES |
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| By Ken Trahan | |
| Monday, July 21 2008 | |
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Growing up in the New Orleans area, I was a huge fan of American Legion baseball. Sponsored by the various American Legion posts around the metro area, American Legion baseball was a source of pride for the home-based schools who were represented. Following and supporting a sport represented by and sponsored by those wonderful folks who served their country and helped to protect our basic freedoms was downright patriotic and wholesome.
Back in the day, the Rummel-based Schaff Brothers teams and the Jesuit-based Odeco Drillers and Tulane Shirts squads were the rage. Brother Martin-based Wendy's would come along to carry the torch as well. All three of these teams would reach the American Legion World Series, a tremendous accomplishment when you consider that they were teams consisting of players from just one school. They would often compete against teams comprised of players from several schools, virtual all-star teams. In 1960, the Jesuit-based Tulane Shirts team, led by Rusty Staub, captured the American Legion World Series national championship. In 2006, the Rummel-based Nationwide Restoration team, led by Robby Broach, would do the same. I do not expect to ever see a local team accomplish this feat again in my lifetime. That the Rummel team could do so in 2006 was remarkable when you consider the proliferation of travel teams in our area and state. Travel teams came into vogue in the 1990's and have exploded in this century. They were originally created for players who didn't have home-based schools in legion ball and for the benefit of those who were not likely to get playing time at the legion level for their respective schools. It has grown to encompass many of the top players available from respective schools or that would be eligible age-wise after graduating from their high schools. Why have many of the best players migrated to travel ball over their schools? The answer is simple--competition, being seen by scouts, a lack of publicity, and the opportunity to play when possibly facing denial from their schools. The Rummel-based Nationwide Restoration team which won the national championship in 2006 would have had a great chance to make a run in 2007 but three of the top contributors from the title team elected not to play again in 2007 despite being eligible. Those players included standout pitchers Broach of Tulane and Tyler Koelling, who recently signed with Southern Mississippi. The trio felt they had accomplished their goal in legion and wanted the exposure and experience that travel ball had to offer. In our area alone, there are many travel teams of note. Locally Danny Reihm's New Orleans Spice have won a pair of national titles in succession. Former Tulane and major league pitcher Jack Cressend, who recently joined Rick Jones' staff at Tulane, has had a solid team on the northshore. Former LSU pitcher Ronnie Rantz has a good team in the Baton Rouge area. Many have vilified these travel teams for "ruining" American Legion baseball. While I am chagrined by the reduced quality and emphasis on legion play, it is a progression that will not be reversed. Another issue for American Legion baseball is the virtual total lack of coverage and publicity it receives. When Rummel won the national title in 2006, one local television station ignored it completely, another mentioned it briefly but got the information wrong, another mentioned it passing and a fourth gave it due diligence. This was a national championship. The absence of positive publicity was glaring. The original culprit, ironically, in the decline of American Legion baseball was the schools, themselves. In the 90's, some started taking the approach of using the legion season as "development." As such, many have chosen not to play seniors or accept eligible returning college freshman-aged players to their squads, choosing to use returning sophomores and juniors instead. One glance at this year's legion teams reveals that many of the top teams are missing players who could have helped their cause. The Jesuit-based Retif Oil team and the Brother Martin-based Peake BMW team are in the driver's seat of the Southeast Regional tournament which is being played at Maestri Field (UNO) and Kirsch-Rooney after each won their first two games. The northshore-based teams have not fared well. Of course, many of those teams do not have their best veteran players with many of those choosing to play travel baseball instead. While it is the school's prerogative to decide how to treat American Legion baseball, it is sad to see a great tradition fading into virtual obscurity and possible oblivion. School pride is strong in this region. It carries for a lifetime. In a perfect world, I wish all schools would accept and play all eligible players for legion. I wish all eligible players would choose to play legion. These will remain wishes. The door has been opened and the talent is pouring out into the travel ball world. I have nothing but respect for these travel team entities and wish them well. They stepped into a the void to provide opportunity when it was cherished. Chalk it up to the evolving nature of prep baseball, progress, or change. Sing the blues if you long for the days of your youth and the old alma mater. Bookmark       |
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