Baseball should celebrate its biggest stars to promote the sport

This weekend the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame will induct new members into its club of top players, managers and broadcasters.

So it would seem an appropriate time to look at the state of baseball -- at all levels.

Working my way through college, I spent many summer nights umpiring youth baseball. Everything from 10-year-olds to Babe Ruth and American Legion games.

As a former player, I remembered the nights of playing recreational league baseball and there being no lack of players and teams.

Only a few years later, now an umpire, that was not the case.

What once was a league with dozens of boys playing the game turned into a situation where the local team played neighboring towns.

There's an argument to be made that just as many kids play now, but traveling teams are picking and choosing the best players and diluting the recreational league.

There's an argument -- one which I believe -- that fewer children play organized ball because of how ubiquitous technology has become.

It's not to say local sports are in dire straights. Readers of this newspaper and semoball.com know we have tremendous athletes in the area. We recognized more than 150 athletes at the Semoball Awards. And the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department honors younger athletes during its annual event.

In a story that appeared in The Dayton Daily News, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said baseball participation by children under the age of 12 increased over the last three years as compared to other sports, which studies show are down, he said.

Still baseball should not sit idly by as more kids play Candy Crush instead of crushing balls over the fence.

Recently the Home Run Derby and other All-Star Week activities were held in Washington, D.C.

Nationals star Bryce Harper participated for the first time and brought a level of excitement on par with some of the all-time best.

Using a timed format, the derby focused on how many home runs a player could hit in a timed round. Bonus time was allocated based on criteria met.

There was a buzz to it. Coming down to the wire, could Harper come up with enough long balls to defeat Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber?

In the final 50 seconds the slugger launched nine baseballs over the wall.

Washington had not experienced an All-Star Game in the nation's capitol for 50 years, and with the hometown player winning the crowd cheered.

After tying Schwarber in regulation time, Harper hit a 19th home run in the bonus round. The 25-year-old outfielder walked down the first-base line, threw his bat in the air with both hands, and pointed in the direction of the ball.

Soon after Harper was presented the Home Run Derby trophy. He promptly gave to his father who was his pitcher for the exhibition.

This derby was good for baseball.

First is the father-son connection. This isn't the first time a father has thrown batting practice to his son during the Home Run Derby. But nevertheless, the theme resonates.

Most young men can relate to having their dad throw batting practice at the local cage or ball field. It's a rite of passage for many.

For me it was knowing this was the last ball in the bucket -- which translated to two outs, bottom of the ninth, Game 7 of the World Series -- and then getting the "game-winning hit." It's back yard, whiffle-ball style excitement to kids, and there's nothing wrong with living out the fantasy at the professional level.

Professional sports, baseball included, have at times frowned on demonstrable displays of excitement for fear that a player is showing up the opposition.

I understand the line where excitement becomes poor sportsmanship, but we should not downplay passion. It's real. Not some contrived realty-TV act. It's natural to show excitement when you get a big hit, and doing so conveys fun to fans -- including kids.

I'll be the first to point out the virtues of sportsmanship. But real, authentic enthusiasm is good. Major League Baseball should embrace it and celebrate its biggest stars.

Bryce Harper is one of many exciting players to watch. And when the game's best players perform on a national level, have fun, and show their excitement, it's good for baseball at all levels.

Lucas Presson is the assistant publisher of the Southeast Missourian.