% major leaguers played in Little League?

**losgadas** · 12-08-2006, 05:25 PM

I always wondered what % of major leaguers played in little league? Of that percentage, how do they feel about their little league experience? Do they play in the majors the same position they played in little league? What % played in travel teams? Are they grateful they had the chance to play in little league? What is their overall attitude about little league? Would they allow their own kids to play there? If so, how many games a year?

Well, you get the idea. Any thoughts?

**Jake Patterson** · 12-08-2006, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by losgadas

I always wondered what % of major leaguers played in little league?

Hiddengem could be helpful with your questions...

From a numbers standpoint - several sources (Ad Counsel, etc) have suggested that 1:16,000 HS players make the Majors. In our town (8,000 people) less than half of our 12 y/o's make the HS team. That would suggest a number somewhere upwards of 1:32,000. For bigger towns and cities it may be much higher.

**EdmondsFan#1** · 12-08-2006, 07:28 PM

I know that Ivan Rodriguez pitched in the Little League World Series when he was a kid, and I believe he was blowing kids away with 70 mph fastballs too...

And Jake, if my city has 180,000 people (approximate) that will gives our high school pitchers a 1:360,000 ? I don't think that's right. Seeing as we only have maybe 300 HS players in the city and 4 of our college players made it to the minors last year... (or the year before that..) (the colleges in this city are Illinois Weslyn University and Illinois State University by the way..)

**-Kyle-** · 12-08-2006, 08:02 PM

Jason Varitek played SS in the little league world series and so did Sheffield but I can't remeber his postion.

**Jake Patterson** · 12-08-2006, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by EdmondsFan#1

And Jake, if my city has 180,000 people (approximate) that will gives our high school pitchers a 1:360,000 ? I don't think that's right.

You need to understand how many Little Leaguers feed into your HS system. Our town is easy as we only have one LL and one HS.

**bbjunkie** · 12-09-2006, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Jake Patterson

You need to understand how many Little Leaguers feed into your HS system. Our town is easy as we only have one LL and one HS.

Ours too. Each school class has about 100 kids, give or take. On average there are about 5 12yo LL'ers a year that go on to play HS varsity. That's out of about 15-20 12yo's that age out of LL each year. Out of this year's seniors there are 2 who have been accepted to play baseball at D1 schools. I think that's an unusually high number to go to D1 schools.

The original question asked, however, is how many MLB players played in LL. I have no idea, but I know in our town everyone who plays HS ball played LL ball. It's a pretty much inescapable part of baseball in our town.

**dougmac** · 12-09-2006, 09:28 AM

Most major league players played little league (about 80%). Of all the players who played in the Little League World Series, dating back to 1954, there have been 29 players who played in the Little League World Series who went on to play in the big leagues.

There has only been one player who played in the Little League World Series, the College World Series and the Major League World Series............Ed Vosberg.

**Jake Patterson** · 12-09-2006, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by dougmac

Most major league players played little league (about 80%). Of all the players who played in the Little League World Series, dating back to 1954, there have been 29 players who played in the Little League World Series who went on to play in the big leagues.
There has only been one player who played in the Little League World Series, the College World Series and the Major League World Series............Ed Vosberg.

DMac, as someone associated with higher level players what do you think this suggests? This is only 1.9% or 1:52
(29)/((54years) X (2 teams) X (14 players/team)) = .019

If we use all the teams who participated in the final rounds the number may be much higher.

I'm certain you can see where I am brining this... Prepubescent accolades and accomplishments mean little when it comes to playing pro ball. It's what's done on the big diamond - post pubescent - that matters.

Make sense?
Jake

**dougmac** · 12-09-2006, 10:38 AM

Jake, It is more than two teams. There are quite a few teams that participate in the Little League World Series. The players were from all teams that participated, not just the two teams in the finals, so you need to adjust your odds.
There are lots of great major leaguers who have not made it to the Major League World Series either. The same can be said of lots of great College players who never made it to Omaha for the College World Series.
Just interesting conversation is all it means to me.

Vosberg is the one that caught my eye, as his team lost in the Little League WS finals, but his College team and his Major League team each was the winner in their World Series.

Another quiz is how many College players have won the National Championship and then gone on to win a Major League World series championship? I know one guy that was on TWO College World Series Champions and two Major League World Series champions. He was also on the Olympic baseball team that won a gold medal.......Ed Sprague, Stanford U. Toronto Blue Jays and the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal team in Korea.

**CoachHenry** · 12-09-2006, 11:27 AM

Are we talking about the actual Little League organization or all of youth baseball? There are very few actual Little League teams around here. A town near us uses LL as their programe but that is very non-typical. Most around here are basic rec programs with travelling teams being the rest.

**Jake Patterson** · 12-09-2006, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by CoachHenry

Are we talking about the actual Little League organization or all of youth baseball? There are very few actual Little League teams around here. A town near us uses LL as their programe but that is very non-typical. Most around here are basic rec programs with travelling teams being the rest.

I think we are only talking about the actual Little League. Little League published an article several months ago, I believe the membership is now approximately 2,000,000 players world wide

**TonyK** · 12-11-2006, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by losgadas

I always wondered what % of major leaguers played in little league? Of that percentage, how do they feel about their little league experience? Do they play in the majors the same position they played in little league? What % played in travel teams? Are they grateful they had the chance to play in little league? What is their overall attitude about little league? Would they allow their own kids to play there? If so, how many games a year?

Well, you get the idea. Any thoughts?

The percentage of US major leaguers who played youth baseball has to be in the high 90's. There are more than one dozen different youth baseball organizations in the US. Little League has the greatest share of youth ballplayers so that probably means more MLers played LL rather than in other organizations.

It is a good question what percentage of MLers played on travel teams. The majority played on travel teams once they reached high school age and wanted to play against the best competition. Some regions of the US have strong LL programs and other regions have strong travel or USSSA programs.

I think you are raising the issue of whether or not playing 100 plus games at very young ages is a good thing or not?

**Jake Patterson** · 12-11-2006, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by TonyK

The majority played on travel teams once they reached high school age and wanted to play against the best competition.

Tony, based on what source???
jake

**Jake Patterson** · 12-11-2006, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by TonyK

I think you are raising the issue of whether or not playing 100 plus games at very young ages is a good thing or not?

I do not feel we are asking whether or not 100 games at a very young age is good or not - expert after expert have stated it is not.

**Charger567** · 12-11-2006, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by dougmac

Most major league players played little league (about 80%). Of all the players who played in the Little League World Series, dating back to 1954, there have been 29 players who played in the Little League World Series who went on to play in the big leagues.

There has only been one player who played in the Little League World Series, the College World Series and the Major League World Series............Ed Vosberg.

Are you forgetting Jason Varitek, or am I remembering wrong?

**TonyK** · 12-12-2006, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Jake Patterson

Tony, based on what source???
jake

This is based on what coaches and former college and pro players are saying on forums such as this one. The best HS players (future MLers) will play on a Legion, USSSA, travel, or select summer team once their school season is over. Some won't even play HS ball if it conflicts with these teams. The idea is to play against the strongest competition you can once you reach HS ball.

**dougmac** · 12-12-2006, 04:16 PM

All the best players play HS ball except in areas where there is no HS ball. Travel ball for teenagers has only caught on in the past 10-12 years. Most of the veteran big leaguers never played travel ball because there was no travel ball. If you want to get drafted, you play high school ball if there is HS ball in your area......without exception.

**TonyK** · 12-12-2006, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by dougmac

All the best players play HS ball except in areas where there is no HS ball. Travel ball for teenagers has only caught on in the past 10-12 years. Most of the veteran big leaguers never played travel ball because there was no travel ball. If you want to get drafted, you play high school ball if there is HS ball in your area......without exception.

I have read a few posts from parents or coaches on other sites stating that a kid never played for his HS team, but received a college scholarship. He obviously was playing on a travel team that was very selective. In my area that is not possible, but is it in places like FL, CA or TX?

**Jake Patterson** · 12-12-2006, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by TonyK

I have read a few posts from parents or coaches on other sites stating that a kid never played for his HS team, but received a college scholarship. He obviously was playing on a travel team that was very selective. In my area that is not possible, but is it in places like FL, CA or TX?

I've never heard of any American player making it to the pros without playing HS and/or college... Got any names?

**Jake Patterson** · 12-12-2006, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by TonyK

This is based on what coaches and former college and pro players are saying on forums such as this one. The best HS players (future MLers) will play on a Legion, USSSA, travel, or select summer team once their school season is over. Some won't even play HS ball if it conflicts with these teams. The idea is to play against the strongest competition you can once you reach HS ball.

Re-reading your original post I would agree that most who make it play travel ball (Including Legion) while in HS.

I guard against the implication that in order to make it a young player (U13)needs to play travel ball.

**TonyK** · 12-12-2006, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by Jake Patterson

I've never heard of any American player making it to the pros without playing HS and/or college... Got any names?

I wrote that they supposedly received a college scholarship which isn't the same thing as being drafted by the pros.

**Jake Patterson** · 12-12-2006, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by TonyK

I wrote that they supposedly received a college scholarship which isn't the same thing as being drafted by the pros.

Sorry... I misread your original message.
But I have not heard of this either.
Maybe Doug could shed some light? I'm just curious where this is possible.

**dougmac** · 12-12-2006, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by TonyK

I have read a few posts from parents or coaches on other sites stating that a kid never played for his HS team, but received a college scholarship. He obviously was playing on a travel team that was very selective. In my area that is not possible, but is it in places like FL, CA or TX?

I have watched the Pac 10 for about 20 years and have never run across a player that did not play high school baseball.