How much do you spend on baseball?

I'm not sure, team cost is $3000, but then you have to add in the approx. $120 per week for food we gave to son. We didn't have to fly anywhere and didn't go with him every weekend, but went quite a bit. Seems like credit card was pushing 1500 after June and again after July. We also looked at it as an investment. Son is h.s. senior and I would say that it has paid off with the verbal offers he got from 3 different D1 schools. I don't believe he would have gotten the interest had we stayed home and played Legion ball. Our town has a great Legion team, but the offers aren't coming in for those kids.

On behalf of many regulars on here, I'll plead the 5th Amendment and refuse to answer as these records could be subpoenaed and my wife would learn what she has always suspected. I heard her asked once how much I spent on baseball and her answer was "I don't even want to know".

If you count the couple hundred chances on the Cal Ripken autographed jersey raffle (yes,he won it!), the zillion bats in the garage, the bucket of balls each year, the batting cage in the backyard, going to a total of 5-6 different showcases with the sons, camps, gloves, the soft toss machine, the sliding shorts, jerseys, O's tickets, Valley League games, hit-a-thon donations, tax, tags, and license, it would come to.....something close to the annual budget of a few small South American countries.

But boy has it been a lot of fun or what!

quote:

I keep telling my wife that it's an "investment" which will show a return in the form of a scholarship

That is a myth frequently used to defend the pure recreational sport of the youth baseball experience! Spending money on your son’s baseball is NOT an investment that will be returned in the way of a monetary gain in scholarship dollars. You would be much better off from a financial standpoint if you were to put that money into an education account where it would draw 2% interest, have your son play on a local legion team and allow him to get a part time job sacking groceries at Kroger while teaching him some financial responsibility.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BUT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is not about being practical. This is about the adrenalin rush of seeing our sons step into the batters box and jack the long ball or take the mound against one of the best hitters in the county and set him down on a nasty curveball. This is about the ego trip we are launched on when we see our son’s name on the Jumbotron at better ball parks in the country. It is competitiveness we feel when we look at the list produced by one or more of the yellow rags of baseball. It’s about that overwhelming pride we feel when we hear the voice on the other end say: ---- “your son has been selected to participate in the --------- “

And by the way Bum, you are way behind. I spent that much on batting gloves and Gatorade.
Fungo aka “Josh’s Dad”

I have a new business opportunity - American Express card for baseball nuts like us. You can charge anything baseball related and no payments are due until son hangs up his cleats.

Yes there is a back page that describes terms and conditions but I'm getting old and can't read print that small.

Please call 1 800 IMBrokeButWouldDoitAllOverAgain

it is ridiculous the money people spend. As an old timer wholearned the game with little or no equipment as a kid if you charge it somebody will pay it.

This the "new age" in youth baseball

I never looked at the $$$ factor--I looked at it as a means to be with my son/ ball player and enjoy his talent and have all the memories to carry with me the rest of my life--- that for me is the bottom line

I still have the same philosophy with our travel team--it is all about the friendships that evolve and the great baseball competition--it is all about parents saying that was a great weekend of baseball


I do not think the $$$ spent is a ridiculous figure if all concerned are getting out of it what they want--you can spend the same money on a cruise(vacation) and not have as much fun--at least with baseball you don't fall overboard and get lost forever

I too looked at it as not so much an investment but time spent, father and son. I am fortunate that I get to do it all over again with my 09'. For the money I'll save being smarter and having a better idea of where he needs to be, I'll spend more because now It's time for mom to come along as the nest is nearing empty.

We really have some fond memories and the bills that go along with them. Now we're planning the trips to geo see college games and guess what...mo money, mo money, mo money...

What you spend is your business and no one else's. However, I agree - please don't justify it by calling it an investment. $8500 will cover one semester at Texas A & M (and most state schools) - including room, board, tuition and books. (I know because I have a student there). Most BB scholarships are partial, so if you got 50% you are just breaking even. If your son doesn't get that D1 scholarship, how are the two of you going to react? Will he have to carry the burden of "I failed my dad by not getting a scholarship"? Will you bear a grudge that your "investment" did not pay off? Decide if it is money you would spend regardless of the scholarship outcome. If it is, enjoy the moment and the memories it creates.

this might sound like a ridiculous question but bear with an old timer. Are showcases by invitation or if you show up with your money you are looked at.

Will

I can only speak for our events--we are invitation or nomination---we accept no money at the gate--our program is printed three days before the event and we have two programs--one for the players/parents and another for the college coaches and scouts--in fact all outr players sign in at our seminar the evening before the showcase begins

I agree, what anyone spends is their business, and agree with Fungo. It should not be looked upon as an investment that will be returned in monetary value as a scholarship but as an investment in something that your son enjoys and you as a family do as well.

Do you think that a college coach will ignore a kid who played for his school summer and fall team for a kid who played on "insert travel/select program name here"?

obrady

now you are getting paranoid !!!

If the kid has talent he wont ignore him--but in playing for a summer and fall HS team did he get "exposure" ?

That is the key word--EXPOSURE

quote:

What you spend is your business and no one else's.

Readhead, no one can argue that point but I do think how much a parent NEEDS to spend should be discussed. Most parents only have one son that plays baseball well enough to play at the collegiate level therefore the recruiting process is just a one-time affair for them. They come into the process ignorant of what a parent should do to get their son to the next level. I’ve read thousands of post where parent are asking: “What should we do?” I see this as just another way of asking: “What should we spend our money on to ensure our son gets to the next level?” Bum’s post is a great example of a parent trying to gauge his or her financial outlay as compared to others. Every parent with a son in college or pro baseball is setting an example for those that want to follow in their footsteps. Those that spend lots of money on the exposure game actually perpetuate those spending habits by endorsing what they have “done for their son”. Again, I agree how you spend your money is up to you, but I think we should continually discuss what expenses are necessary for getting to the next level and what could be classified as a recreational hobby. If we did discuss these, many people with limited resources would breath a sigh of relief, while others could continue spending as they see fit.
Fungo

The costs are mostly substituted.

No trip to Vegas
About 20 less rounds of golf

****for cheap motels, airfare, road food, fees, wood bats, etc.etc.**** How wonderful, and more to come!!

My boys golfs with me most of the time, so the time not spent there was spent on baseball.

I'll speak for my family and I'm sure plenty of others; I only have so much to spend, do I spend it on a travel/select team or going to showcases, or camps. The way I see it, I could push it and do the travel thing, or a mixture of a few showcases and camps, not both.

You get the feeling that you are letting your kid down because "Big" Johnny is on the "Big Time Travel" team and going to all of the tournaments and getting all that exposure and you just can't afford that world.

So you kid plays school ball and you hope for the best.

I'll also add that I feel the need to be realistic about the chances of having a baseball career. I know my son is a solid college candidate (maybe more, only time will tell). Which level? It's up to them to deceide that. So I have to be sure I have enough left to pay tuition, full or partial.

quote:

this might sound like a ridiculous question but bear with an old timer. Are showcases by invitation or if you show up with your money you are looked at.

Will, There are both types. I can't speak for everyone, but just showing up with the money won't work at our events. Yet, we do have events that are not as "selective" as others. Either way, we have to be prepared, so just showing up doesn't work very well.

Often people call wanting to get into a specific "open" event and we don't know who their son is. I used to tell those people that if their son is really good, they will be very happy they attended... But if their son is not a good player, they will be throwing their money out the window. I actually believed this for quite awhile.

Then one day I got an email from a player who no longer plays baseball. I can't remember it all, but it was mostly about how a certain showcase was one of the highlights of his life. He went on to say, he will never forget playing with a couple guys who are now in the Major Leagues. How he will never forget the ball he hit off of Chad Billingsley. How his mom and dad still talk about it even though he doesn't play anymore. He went on and on about how thankful he was to have had that opportunity.

Well, I guess I never looked at it quite that way. Just how much are memories like that worth? Guess that is an individual thing.

I know players who paid very little and didn't attend any showcases. I know players who spent a lot. I know some that it actually could have been considered a good investment and others who it didn't turn out to be a good investment. I'm not sure investment is the right word, though. And I'm not sure anyone can determine who is right or wrong.

The bottom line... Before investing a lot of money in your son... make a bigger and much more important investment... Give him your TIME! As much of it as you can possibly afford! That WILL be a very wise investment!

...helping your son reach toward his dreams - priceless!

Now that my son is away at college, I would kill for one more showcase weekend...the excitement of the flight to a warm place in January from New Jersey...checking into the hotel...dinner and the anticipation of baseball the next day...skills evaluation...games...talking about it that night over dinner...games the next day...the flight home discussing performance, plusses and minuses...things that went right and wrong...what to work on next.

The time that baseball allowed me to be isolated with my son was worth more than the money I paid over the years. I'd pay 10 times what I did to get to do it again.

Bum just wants to know if other people spend that type of money.
The answer is YES.
Many parents I know spend 5,000-10,000.
I spent $400/yr for OBA baseball. for 5 years.
$1200 1st yr Elite,1 showcase $125.00
$ 1100 2nd yr "
$ 3200 3rd yr "
$ 2300 4th yr 1 showcase $150.00
For a couple of years I spent about $150.00 for district allstar teams that were the best players picked from OBA AAA Teams.
I invested about $200. in video and mail outs.
I spent a lot on gas and hotel rooms but this was our vacation. I rarely went to the games that were over 500 miles away.
This period of watching my son play baseball was the most wonderful time in my life. I do consider that we could have done more but to be honest I was not thinking that he wanted to go to college on a baseball scholarship until a couple years ago. We actually started our search for a school way too late.
What I spent was in finacial terms an investment that had a net return his 1st year. The offer he took was not his highest offer. He had 1 offer that was $5,000.00 higher which came from a school in CT that saw him at the Long Island Tiger tournament. All his tournaments were covered by the fees I guoted. All fees in CDN funds.

My son recently graduated from college. He played little league babe ruth High school and college. the only thing I paid for was the 50 dollar team registration etc. Being a coach and working at baseball camps and other facilities He was supplied bu gloves and bats left behind and not claimed (no name on equipment)so I guess I saved quite a few bucks.The first bat bought was in college and that was on him.

What happens if a parents spends a lot of money hoping for their investment on a return of a good scholarhsip but the only right fit is the one that offers the least amount.

There are things that are necessary, there are many things that are not. I think that there are many people out there that spend the least, get most for their return.

Why, because ultimately in the end, talent is what dictates what a player will get, where he attends will dictate what he gets (in state, out of state, private, public), good grades will dictate what he gets, position will dictate what he gets, etc. Those are the factors that will help in obtaining a good scholarship.

For parents who CANNOT afford the amounts brought up here, don't worry. Here on the HSBBW we have discussed over and over what is important and what is not important. You take from that advice, you design a plan and you do what you can. Never feel guilty because you were not able to spend thousands and others have.
I know of a few players who spent practically nothing, their sons first, second round draft picks out of HS.
I know of a parent who spent a small fortune, but he had a fortune to spend. It didn't make a difference, he had talent, went to a good program, last I heard (if true)he left that program to go WALK ON to a bigger program. I have seen people spend because they think it will pay off and it hasn't. I have seen people spend very little and their sons got great scholarships.
I realize times have changed since my son was in HS, you do have to be a bit more pro active these days but you do NOT have to break the bank.

quote:

Why, because ultimately in the end, talent is what dictates what a player will get

Talent? what an interesting concept

quote:

What happens if a parents spends a lot of money hoping for their investment on a return of a good scholarhsip but the only right fit is the one that offers the least amount.

Sometimes I kind of feel like a lone ranger but with many of the previous posts and many other threads it seems many websters never looked at the money they shelled out as a potential investment. While I enjoyed every cent I spent, and every baseball moment I spent on my son, in the back of my mind there was always that thought that he could turn his passion into opportunity whether it be professionally or educationally. If it didn't work, so be it, but I wouldn't have thought about it any differently. I suppose this mentality is the reason why the stock market has never been that good for me. Maybe in this case we were lucky because we have gotten a positive return on the initial investment and more importantly his dream is still intact.

With my daughters and I suppose most other college students you have to do a 180 and hope that their educational opportunities turns into their passion. If that makes any sense at all.

TPM I agree. It is important to enjoy the time you have with your son. We had to watch what we spent due to health reasons. He had to forgo several things that we all wanted him to do. Just the way things are.
We used to go to several free team tryouts which often had the best instruction as the teams were competing for players. It at first just cost the gas and time. They eventually started charging for the tryouts. Git up to $10.00 per tryout. Not bad for the team. 150 kids at a tryout.times 15 tryouts. mandatory 5 tryouts to be considered for the team. Nice money maker.
I had one friend wh was going to with draw retirement savings to send his son on a trip and I talked him out of it. His son stopped playing the next year. Some times you have to examine what you are doing. You don't need to blow a lot of money. Once my son said he wanted to go to a US college we became pro active on a budget.He is very mature and I discussed finances with him. He didn't play his last year of HS ball and got a job. He saved almost $3000 and has played a large part in paying for college.

One of the reasons the HSBBW is such a wonderful resource is because we all bring such varied experiences and expectations to the table. This is certainly witnessed in this post.

I'm sure that I spent much less money over the years than most people that have posted. However, I also spent much more than many of his friend's parents. I, for one, never spent one cent looking ahead to opportunity for him. It was spent entirely because that was his passion and that's what he did. Baseball was something our entire family enjoyed and spending our spring breaks and summers involving baseball was just what we knew we would do. I knew to budget for summer ball, fall ball, HS ball, a showcase here and there. I also knew that many events were not within range for us financially.

With that said, I also always knew he would play ball. That was just another expectation in our household. All of these feelings were probably naive and perhaps out of ignorance on my part. Looking back however, I don't think I'd change a thing.... for us, life was good and remains so. Don't regret a dollar I spent and if I regret any dollars not spent it's simply because it would have been one more wonderful baseball memory for him!

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
...Spending money on your son’s baseball is NOT an investment that will be returned in the way of a monetary gain in scholarship dollars...

Geez Fungo...as soon as I saw you posted on this topic I knew pretty much exactly what you'd write...its pretty much exactly what I would have written too.

quote:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BUT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is not about being practical. This is about the adrenalin rush of seeing our sons step into the batters box and jack the long ball or take the mound against one of the best hitters in the county and set him down on a nasty curveball. This is about the ego trip we are launched on when we see our son’s name on the Jumbotron at better ball parks in the country. It is competitiveness we feel when we look at the list produced by one or more of the yellow rags of baseball. It’s about that overwhelming pride we feel when we hear the voice on the other end say: ---- “your son has been selected to participate in the --------- “

You better believe it brother!

This thing is no "investment!" Not for me or my family. This thing is what my family and I do! Its what we love! Some people love water-skiing (not too cheap either). We LOVE baseball! And we LOVE EVEN MORE seeing our boys play the game at the highest level they can. THAT is what floats our boat.

I have NEVER added up the $$ spent on baseball...but I know its a lot. And it keeps getting bigger. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Just how much are memories like that worth? Guess that is an individual thing.

Yep, thats an individual thing and its the experiences and memories that I cherish more than anything else. So if we've "invested" to gain good memories and great experiences...well then, to us its been worth every dang penny!

I don't know that I've ever seen anyone post on this board that whatever they spent wasn't worth it.

Add up what yur kids cost till when they truly leave the nest (if that ever happens); Would you have them all over again?

Absolutely.


*******(ATTENTION: Divorced folks may skip the next question)**********


Add up what your spouse has cost over the years-would you marry her again?


Absolutely (if she fell for it once, second time should be easy).


It's kids and family and love and fun and ups and downs, and on and on, and its worth whatever it costs.

Supporting my sons baseball is cheap compared to racing cars. I competed on a national basis and finished 6th and 7th in the nation for over ten years. Literally tens of thousands of dollars spent annually compared to a few thousand. The funny thing is I get a much bigger thrill out of watching him on the mound than driving a racecar on national TV.

For me its not about the investment, its about spending quality time with my boys. Anything more than getting wins, hits and strikouts is just icing on the cake.

quote:

Sometimes I kind of feel like a lone ranger but with many of the previous posts and many other threads it seems many websters never looked at the money they shelled out as a potential investment. While I enjoyed every cent I spent, and every baseball moment I spent on my son, in the back of my mind there was always that thought that he could turn his passion into opportunity whether it be professionally or educationally. If it didn't work, so be it, but I wouldn't have thought about it any differently.

RZ1, you took the words out of my mouth. My husband and I may get zero return on our money, or a dollar for dollar return, or $5 for every $1 spent. The main thing is that by spending money, we are helping to create opportunities for our son. We're doing all we can and leaving the results up to God. And if we do get a nice return on our money, that will make an already enjoyable "ride" even more thrilling!

Can you ask for a better way to spend your money ???

TR,rz1,infield08............EXACTLY

Doesn't matter what the amount is/was since we enjoyed spending every cent!

Not sure, but not as much as what we spend on daughter's dance...so it's cool.

I agree with all the posters who say I should not look at it as an investment. That's why my original post was actually tongue-in-check (I said "investment" (in quotation marks), not investment). Redhead, neither he nor I will view it as failure if he doesn't get the scholorship. That would be a very shallow way to look at it. I just love him and want to give him the best chance.

In an odd sense, maybe baseball has SAVED me money. Tournaments instead of pricey vacations. Being with him daily on road trips eating at Jack-in-the-Box rather than him hanging out at the mall with a spendy girlfriend.

Seriously, though, if I hadn't gone to all these extra events, to allow him to play against the better competition and improve his game, he might not be getting the looks he's now getting. So if it works out, great, but if not, well, as an MBA I understand the concept of a "sunk cost". As Baseballdad says, it's been a priceless common interest.

quote:

Originally posted by Bum:
In an odd sense, maybe baseball has SAVED me money. Tournaments instead of pricey vacations. Being with him daily on road trips eating at Jack-in-the-Box rather than him hanging out at the mall with a spendy girlfriend.

I like your way of thinking!

Someone ought to write a book entitled "How to Make the College Team Without Going Broke". I will buy the first copy.

I must say,its a really good thing my mother doesnt read this site,or else my baseball days would be over


lol

Ok,here I GO.

$300 Easton bat $65 nikes to look cool walking onto field $100 school fee, $200 fundraising -that's mom and dad-- $600 summer league -- $10 cup -- $500 pitching lessons -- 20 hotel days on weekends $1500 -- 2 airline tickets to california $ 500 -- road food $ 1000 (but guess have to eat anyway, so take this off)--tournament fees about $500. what's that? 5275

My kid won't pay it back, so it's not an investment. Its paid back when he does the same thing for his kid.

HaverSon was lucky enough to land on travel/tournament teams with exceptional external funding. Still, I'd guess it averaged $4-$5K annually from age 12-18, with virtually nothing before.
He was trained at home, so very little there except for a cage, balls and one expensive bat each year. We spent the va$t majority (85%) simply on "being there", i.e. travel, hotels, meals, etc.
Cheaper than 10day european vacation and lasted all summer.