You could bring beer to ISU BB back in the day. I lived really close to the field, would maybe catch a few innings every spring, don't know if I ever watched a entire game.
Why do people want ISU Baseball back so much?
- Thread starter cyhiphopp
- Start date
You could bring beer to ISU BB back in the day. I lived really close to the field, would maybe catch a few innings every spring, don't know if I ever watched a entire game.
I will add hockey has some economies of scale...
Add men's hockey. Add women's hockey.
They can share a lot of the needed facilities, administration, and management.
Having both takes care of any potential Title IX issues, whereas baseball would require a women's sport of a comparable number of scholarships... not sure which... to be added.
For the record, here are the women's sports the Big 12 sponsors that ISU lacks...
Equestrian
Rowing
...and that's it.
Not that I think hockey is coming or anything. But if you were going to add one, I think it makes more sense.
Add men's hockey. Add women's hockey.
They can share a lot of the needed facilities, administration, and management.
Having both takes care of any potential Title IX issues, whereas baseball would require a women's sport of a comparable number of scholarships... not sure which... to be added.
For the record, here are the women's sports the Big 12 sponsors that ISU lacks...
Equestrian
Rowing
...and that's it.
Not that I think hockey is coming or anything. But if you were going to add one, I think it makes more sense.
Back in the early 80's if they had 50 people it was a crowd.
Every yr I say I'm going to go catch an I-Cubs game or the Twins just to go to a game again, but yet I never seem to get it done. I'm a bad baseball fan, enjoy the sport and think it is neat but don't put the effort in to go. I'm glad there are people who do.
Since I live in hockey country I've heard someone ask the President at each fund raiser up here "When is Iowa State going Div I in hockey?" Five years ago or so it actually got a somewhat optimistic response from the president. Now it would get a polite response but with the rolling eyes from the staff. Beach volleyball was also something that seemed more than just pie in the sky wish list and was mentioned also but I think that is WAY gone now to with the budget and a big drop off in our volleyball teams fortunes. I think the interest in beach volleyball ebbs and flows every four years coinciding with the Olympics.
I will admit that I didn't go to any ISU baseball games until after it was announced that the program was already getting the axe. I made it to two of the last three games against Nebraska. I felt like I wanted to be a witness to the end of a century-long era. Was just getting really into MLB for a couple years prior to that after being a super casual fan for most of the 90s. ISU baseball had no history of sustained success at any point, so there wasn't a large fanbase to rise up and demand it stay. It's sad and I hate that we're the only Big 12 school without the varsity sport (and commend the club team for carrying on the tradition of ISU baseball with a lot of pride), but it still wouldn't attract fans unless the success was immediate and well-publicized (and likely free, at least to start). The time has passed for varsity baseball here. 
In response to the OP's question, people don't really want baseball back, they want something to ***** about. Not one of them would cut the check to make it a reality.
My interest in beach volleyball is always pretty high.
Yeah it sucks that we don't have a team. And we get crap about it from other Big12 and Hawk fans, but who cares? If we still had it, we would probably be the worst team in the Big12. Playing college baseball in Iowa in the spring is rough. The weather can be downright awful.
Recruiting would be very hard as well. Yes you could get some kids from Iowa high schools, but I don't think the state of Iowa is full of D1 talent. Maybe I'm wrong. I just umpire little league
That's probably a little harsh. I think the idea of having baseball at ISU is more appealing than the reality. A lot of people don't consider the full costs of bringing it back either. It would be massive.
I also think they are romanticizing the potential fanbase for ISU baseball. People wouldn't show up, even on a smaller scale, like they do for football and basketball. Even Womens Basketball at ISU has HUGE fan support compared to what baseball used to get or would get in the future.
I will admit that I didn't go to any ISU baseball games until after it was announced that the program was already getting the axe. I made it to two of the last three games against Nebraska. I felt like I wanted to be a witness to the end of a century-long era. Was just getting really into MLB for a couple years prior to that after being a super casual fan for most of the 90s. ISU baseball had no history of sustained success at any point, so there wasn't a large fanbase to rise up and demand it stay. It's sad and I hate that we're the only Big 12 school without the varsity sport (and commend the club team for carrying on the tradition of ISU baseball with a lot of pride), but it still wouldn't attract fans unless the success was immediate and well-publicized (and likely free, at least to start). The time has passed for varsity baseball here.
Thanks for some history. I wasn't sure if there had ever been a big following.
Do a decent amount of people show up for the club team? I've never been for that.
If people REALLY wanted D1 ISU Baseball, they should show up and fill the stands for club baseball. Show up in numbers to big to ignore. Show that the demand is there.
I know that will likely never happen though.
I have never attended an I-State bowl win or an NCAA basketball win. But I have seen Iowa State play in the College Baseball World Series. It is one of the coolest memories of my youth and probably had at least some influence in getting me to attend Iowa State. I also had a classmate/teammate from high school play at Iowa State. I would whole heartedly support an ISU baseball program.
https://www.mlb.com/news/ranking-all-50-states-by-wins-above-replacement
22) Iowa: 222 players, 1,156.5 WAR
Bob Feller’s dad built the real Field of Dreams on his Iowa farm long before the Kevin Costner flick. Each of the six Iowa-born Hall of Fame players debuted prior to World War II.
Not as bad as I thought, but still not very good. Compare that to...
* * *
1) California: 2,311 players, 11,519.2 WAR
The most populous state laps the field on this list, with 24 Hall of Famers and four players who achieved north of 100 WAR (Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, Tom Seaver and Randy Johnson). Spencer Torkelson, who was taken by the Tigers with this year’s No. 1 overall pick, is from Petaluma.
2) New York: 1,216 players, 5,893.7 WAR
The state that houses Cooperstown and spawned four Major League teams also produced four 100-WAR guys (Eddie Collins, Lou Gehrig, Warren Spahn and Alex Rodriguez, though A-Rod moved at a young age), and Southampton (Long Island) native Carl Yastrzemski (96.4) is close.
3) Pennsylvania: 1,434 players, 5,853.3 WAR
From “The Kid” (Ken Griffey Jr.) to “The Man” (Stan Musial), incredible talent hailed from here -- and that’s just tiny Donora (Griffey and Musial share not just a birthplace but a birth date of Nov. 21). The Keystone State also lays claim to Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, Reggie Jackson and many others.
4) Ohio: 1,040 players, 4,805.0 WAR
This was the birthplace not just of Cy Young, but of the guy who won the most Cy Youngs (Roger Clemens). Both the Dayton-born Clemens and Cincinnati-born Pete Rose might not ever make it to the Hall of Fame, but they definitely bump up the Buckeye State WAR total.
5) Texas: 942 players, 4,157.7 WAR
The Lone Star State birthed Hall of Famers Tris Speaker, Rogers Hornsby, Frank Robinson, Greg Maddux, Joe Morgan, Eddie Mathews, Nolan Ryan and Ernie Banks, and Clayton Kershaw figures to join the list. Two of this year’s top four overall Draft picks -- Heston Kjerstad (Orioles) and Asa Lacy (Royals) -- are Texans.
Awesome. I'm glad you have that memory.
I wish it were financially feasible too.
College World Series is awesome, and probably the only time when a good number of people really care about college baseball. It would be so hard to field a team good enough to be there unfortunately.
I've been to multiple bowl games and NCAA tournament games as well. Those are revenue sports for a reason.
The WBB support has dropped off substantially as far as people actually attending, we still sell 9,000 plus season tickets but probably have 5,000 attend most games.
SO far 70% of the most diehard Cyclone fans are either against it or would NOT support it if brought back....
That makes this impossible. Even before you consider climate
That makes this impossible. Even before you consider climate
The entire college baseball season has shifted a couple weeks later in the year now than when ISU last qualified. It's still tough to play much or watch much good ball when the weather doesn't cooperate. The best baseball is really a summer sport like the high schools handle it.
Voted to be a season ticket holder (if I lived in Ames.....like to think that someday I'll move back 
) and watch on TV regularly (since I currently live out of state). The latter being similar to how I have an mlb.tv subscription to watch Cardinals games.
If I lived in Ames, I'd find a way to have season tickets for as many ISU teams as financially possible.
That said, I think hockey (if that's the alternative on the table in this theoretical) makes more sense. Weather wouldn't be a concern, there's a geographically close conference* literally next door, the state is fairly ripe with talented high schoolers/JUCO-age athletes who come here to play in the USHL who go on to play D1 elsewhere, fans pack the USHL games (or did last time I lived in the state and attended games), etc.
*Why in the world is Fresno State wrestling part of the Big 12, and not the Pac 12?
) and watch on TV regularly (since I currently live out of state). The latter being similar to how I have an mlb.tv subscription to watch Cardinals games.If I lived in Ames, I'd find a way to have season tickets for as many ISU teams as financially possible.
That said, I think hockey (if that's the alternative on the table in this theoretical) makes more sense. Weather wouldn't be a concern, there's a geographically close conference* literally next door, the state is fairly ripe with talented high schoolers/JUCO-age athletes who come here to play in the USHL who go on to play D1 elsewhere, fans pack the USHL games (or did last time I lived in the state and attended games), etc.
*Why in the world is Fresno State wrestling part of the Big 12, and not the Pac 12?
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