Sunday night was a win for baseball. MLB and Sunday Night Baseball shifted gears a bit and staged the Mets-Phillies game in a single A park, Bowman Field, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania to be near the annual Little League World Series. Only Little Leaguers and their families were allowed access to the 2500 free tickets to the game. Throughout the day, the 12 Little League teams were fully uniformed and allowed access to the big leaguers.
A symbiotic relationship developed between the kids and the grown-ups: Major Leaguers were reminded what the game was like for them when they were little and the kids were allowed to dream of making it to the pros someday.
This cross promotion has made a few kids viral stars. New Jersey’s Middletown player, Alfred Delia, is soaking up his 15 minutes of fame because he likes, “to hit dingers.” He is now known as Big Al and has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel.
Another kid, who appeared with A-Rod and the Sunday Night Baseball crew said he had missed most of the game because he was too busy signing autographs. Signing autographs, not seeking them!
Maybe events like this are the path for baseball to make a comeback. These kids are full-fledged celebrities and other kids were sitting at home taking notice. Add MLB initiatives and programs run by Cal Ripken Jr. to entice kids to play baseball in the inner cities again, and add the fact parents are getting queasy about their kids getting concussions playing football, baseball may be taking a step forward.
Written by Craig Shemon
