interesting stat about pro players and college degrees

I can understand why but it doesn't negate that this startling news defys logic almost. That is very disappointing but I guess if you continue a career in MLB then you really don't have to worry about it.

Bill Gates apparently dropped out of Harvard to pursue his computer software ambitions. Does anyone think he ought to go back and get his degree?

What is the purpose of a degree?

Is it possible that those who have made it to the big leagues have already earned their PhD's?

Look, nobody believes in education more than I do. It can open just about any door. There are 750 big league jobs out there. Whether you have a degree or what it says on your degree will not open one of those 750 jobs however. That would be my best explanation why the majority do not have them. Is that the best strategy in life? Perhaps not given the odds.

My son and Granderson work out together prior to ST at UIC where they are both grads. Besides the fact that Curtis is intelligent and motivated athlete, the school has always pushed for graduation and supports academics to its fullest in all sports. I've always thought an advantage at UIC was that there is NO football team and being an athlete does not give you a "kitchen pass" toward academic requirements. IMO, many schools "window dress" academic "toughness" and many times fall short of fulfilling those promises made in the living rooms of recruits.

This is one area of questions that a parent should follow up with other players parents of a potential school. While coaches may preach the word, Moms-n-Dads have a pretty good idea of the academic atmosphere after the Freshman year. If there's academic pain-n-suffering then you know both ends of the candle are lit.

The best explanation is that most of them don't care about the degree, are unprepared to go back and earn it and then regret it later in life.

I see it over and over and over. In the vast majority of cases a Major League career won't sustain you through life. Some of the luckiest guys are those who never make it but go finish school.

None of these guys is Bill Gates -- but then hardly is anyone else.

I totally get it! I mean I understand why they dont have degrees .... most getting drafted after high school or jr year in college, its just that 26 out of 700 plus just seems so amazing. So now I know who 2 of the 26 are... Granderson with a double major in bus admin/marketing, from UIC and Joe Girardi and electrical engineering degree from Northwestern. And last year Mike Mussina would have been one of those 26 before he retired, he graduated from Stanford with a degree in Economics. Anyone know who some of the other 23 are?

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The Good news...

Because the #'s are so bad, the contracts of HS darftees are more likely to contain education clauses. A good bet for MLB, and a real opportunty for draftees.

44
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quote:

Originally posted by observer44:
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The Good news...

Because the #'s are so bad, the contracts of HS darftees are more likely to contain education clauses. A good bet for MLB, and a real opportunty for draftees.

44
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Unfortuately, the MLB schollies are rarely used, as recepients have told me.

quote:

Originally posted by observer44:
Because the #'s are so bad, the contracts of HS darftees are more likely to contain education clauses. A good bet for MLB, and a real opportunty for draftees.

From what I've heard the % using the college fund is even more disheartening than the MLB-grad numbers.

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:

Unfortuately, the MLB schollies are rarely used, as recepients have told me.

According to Boras, less than 5% of his clients us it.

The same is true with the military and the G.I. bill. The reason the benefits are so great, is because they don't pay much out overall.

The idea of going back to school, and actually doing it, are worlds apart.

Tony LaRussa is a Lawyer, so he's a grad. I think Carlos Quentin is a grad from Stanford.

Can we find a statistic where MLB players that are no longer playing have gone back to earn their degree? Many have, I know my son's agent was drafted three years out of college and returned to finish after his MLB stint was over.

There are many MLB that are playing that attended college, but have not returned yet to get their degrees.

FWIW, these days, there are more college educated players (though not with degee) than you might imagine in pro ball.

The milb and MLB schedule doesn't allow you time (unless you are close to completion) to go back to school or even begin if you have been drafted out of HS, going to college first does allow the benefit of not having a longer road ahead of you when the time comes to hang it up.

The startling statistic is not 26 out of 750 have their degree, but how few actually get to be that 750.

The reason we

I am sure that many go back and earn their degree when they hang it up. My sons pitching coach finished his teaching degree after he left the game. One of the points brought up in this story though was the fact that Granderson was able to graduate on time with his class even though he was drafted and left full time school after Jr year. According to his publicist he said he knew of a couple of instances where Granderson had to fly back to meet with a professor or give a presentation. That is a great accomplishment on his part. I guess when your moms a high school teacher, your dads a grade school teacher and your sister is a college professor you better get a degree in something lol.

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You guys missed my point...

YES, AGREED, very few go back...

But why not look part of this as a glass half full? Why not see it is a spectacular opportunity for those few who actually DO want to go back to school paid for by the many who willingly pass it up?

Now I understand that only a small % are given the opportunity to get an education on MLB, but I see this as an opportunity willingly passed by. Free will if you will. That being their choice, then, so be it. No hand wringing, simple clear choice and result.


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44
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OB44,
MLB set aside some nice money for son to finish school and I agree it would be a shame for him to pass that up. I wish he could take care of that now, it's just impossible.
I think many former college players when hanging up their cleats, return to finish what they started, but few actually begin, unless they have some nice $$ put aside to do so.
My comment about the 750 was not about those who got MLB scholarships, but the very few who make it to MLB to begin with, that is why, IMO education is important. You can see how very few get that opportunity, and it's just not always about getting a callup, it's about a call up and staying up.
Years ago MLB would give a player money in lieu of the scholarship, but they do not do that anymore, this way they can avoid accusations that they don't give players educational opportunities, or they just draft them and then put them out to pasture.

The player has to take some responsibility as to his future.

I see MLB (not just "pro" ball)and a college degree as two different paths of a fork in the road. Most college AND MiLB players never make it to the big leagues so a college education is their safety net. Many players get their degree PRIOR to entering MiLB and some (like my son) played college ball for 3 years and satisfied the biggest part of his college education, turned pro, quit pro ball after 3 years and will get his degree thanks to his money in the MLB college fund on the 18th of this month. Had he made it to the big leagues and earned sufficient money to provide for himself and his family for the rest of their lives then the college degree becomes much less important in my opinion.

I think we all agree that and education is important in the long run for most all.

quote:

The player has to take some responsibility as to his future.

TPM..Exactly...and Agreed, not at this point for yours. Completely understandable. I am willing to bet that he will go back once leaving pro ball unless he is set up financially or through contacts and career offers. Good parenting.

quote:

...and some (like my son) played college ball for 3 years and satisfied the biggest part of his college education, turned pro, quit pro ball after 3 years and will get his degree thanks to his money in the MLB college fund on the 18th of this month. Had he made it to the big leagues and earned sufficient money to provide for himself and his family for the rest of their lives then the college degree becomes much less important in my opinion.

Fungo...Exactly....He wins either way. That is his choice. Good parenting.

Agree with what has been said so far.

If you are one of the 750 and stay for a few years you should be set up enough to get by without a degree.

Now off to my tangent...

My son has a degree from a fairly prestigious school. That said, I am a firm believer that where you go to school is secondary to the individuals desire to learn. I know of many who graduated from our local DII school who got a great education because of their desire to learn.

While I am a firm believer in education. I also know of many who do not have a degree who are very successful. For whatever reason, college is not for everyone.

I imagine one reason the MLB college fund, GI bill are not utilized is that they are now married, with kids and do not have the time for school. To my disappointment I didn't take advantage of the GI bill. I tried, but after four years of service doing homework was the last thing on my mind.

As for one of the 26, Brad Ausmus (Dartmouth) has his degree in Government.

Who Has the Brainiest Team in Baseball?

Baseball is not rocket science...

I can understand why kids should try to prepare for life after baseball...that goes without saying, but everyone makes their choices in life and if someone puts off a college education for a shot at the dream then all the power to them.

I'm not the least bit surprised of the lack of pro players with college degrees. Again, baseball is not rocket science...

Education and Baseball

2005 list of college graduates

I used every penny of my GI Bill.

How long has the MLB college fund been in place ?

Much like FrankF, I tried college after the service and it didn't work out for me, I left my GI bill on the table...regrettably. Just goes to show that being mentally tough is not necessarily an attribute that crosses all facets of life. In the service my job requirements were exceedingly demanding and I flourished. Trying to reconnect with my academic self, and I floundered, much of that due to my mental state and not enough fortitude or desire to re acclimate myself to the social and mental dedication education requires.

That is very surprising and sad. Assuming it is the same % of players in the minors without their college degrees (about 96%), and only a very small # of those players make it to the majors, that is allot of uneducated people out in the workforce. Many of which had an opportunity to get a free education but passed. Sad.

Wonder how many of the 750 are from down south where education may or may not be embraced, but a 150k signing bonus sets you up for life.

I take it, dswann, from reading your post that you must be from one of these places.

quote:

Originally posted by td25:
That is very surprising and sad. Assuming it is the same % of players in the minors without their college degrees (about 96%), and only a very small # of those players make it to the majors, that is allot of uneducated people out in the workforce. Many of which had an opportunity to get a free education but passed. Sad.

Most of the players I know who only got as far the minors went back for their degrees. I would think most who are college material would. Not all college baseball players are college material.

quote:

Originally posted by dswann:
Wonder how many of the 750 are from down south where education may or may not be embraced, but a 150k signing bonus sets you up for life.

Why would education not be embraced in the south? This sounds like my mother who is still trying to get over my daughter chosing to play softball in Florida over an elite northeastern education. She told my daughter to get her law degree in the north from a school people can respect her degree. My daughter calmly informed her Gainesville is in northern Florida, smiled and walked away.

dswann - where did you get that sterotype of people from the south? Bill Maher? I have never seen one member here from the south who did not fully embrace education nor have I ever seen anyone - especially from the south who believes 150k sets one up for life.

Over half of all players now who are drafted are drafted from college programs. My son does not have his degree but I believe it can be explained. He is two semeters shy of his degree. His under graduate degree is in Computer Science and he has completed all his computer science and math requirements for graduation. He needs a few filler courses like advanced English, biology, labs, etc. to complete his degree. I believe if his baseball career ended today, he could market himself in the computer science field. At the bare minimum, he could complete his degree in about 8 months and then market himself. He also was an honors student while in college. I suspect many college players can make similar claims even though they might not have completely fulfilled their degree reqirements.

He would already be working on completing his degree but it is difficult while committing to the life of a professional ballplayer.

Chris Young -- padres pitcher -- drafted and signed out of Princeton after his sophmore season. Got his degree two years later. Princeton uses him as a poster child (man) for baseball recruiting.

Just because a person does not have a college degree doesn't mean they do not have an education or are not intelligent. The most intelligent person I ever knew was a plumber.

A college degree allows expanded opportunites, but does not guarantee success in life. My sister graduated from Mount Holyoke and has been a waitress since...however, she is a smart girl.

I know an airline captain, who is from the south by the way and upon graduation from HS was drafted during Vietnam, served his two year as a foot soldier and used the GI bill to get his pilot's licence. He is extremely intelligent and well spoken although he is a bit rough around the edges, but so what. He is an extremely successful and intelligent man. He has run successful businesses and has flown accident/incident free for 30 years.

Success is not synonymous with a college degree in my book.

Baseball is a kid's game and it does not take a rocket science degree to play it.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach Waltrip:
I know an airline captain, who is from the south by the way . He has run successful businesses and has flown accident/incident free for 30 years.

Baseball is a kid's game and it does not take rocket science degree to play it.

Coach W I am knocking on wood for your pilot friend in case you didnt lol

quote:

Just because a person does not have a college degree doesn't mean they do not have an education or are not intelligent. The most intelligent person I ever knew was a plumber.

I have three cousins with Ivy League degrees. My uncle got tired of people in their 40's still flaunting their academic credentials and said, "Don't confuse academic ability with intelligence and common sense."

quote:

Originally posted by hisbiggestfan:

quote:

Originally posted by Coach Waltrip:
I know an airline captain, who is from the south by the way . He has run successful businesses and has flown accident/incident free for 30 years.

Baseball is a kid's game and it does not take rocket science degree to play it.

Coach W I am knocking on wood for your pilot friend in case you didnt lol

I don't know how to take this exactly...

Are you saying you're knocking on wood because he is lucky he hasn't had an accident/incident without the college degree?

I have been in aviation for 30 plus years and have seen college educated people crash airplanes.

Again, a college education does not guarantee success or from bending a plane.

Just so it is crystal clear what my position is, for the young players out there, I advise them to go to college and get their degrees. I have three degrees inluding one in electronics, one in Electrical Engineering, and one in Law. I would be the last guy in the world to discourage someone from getting an education.

I believe in many/most cases, if they also have baseball aspirations, that they can satisfy their educational goals as well as their athletic ones. For those who are offered life-changing money out of high school, I can certainly understand that decision as well.

When you see these numbers you can see why MLB is so quick to include the college education money clause---they usually don't have to spend the money--another pure business decision on the part of MLB

No No Coach W!! I am very superstitious and I just ment I was knocking on wood because you said he has flown accident/incident free for 30 years, just want him to keep it that way thats all.

CD, I agree with you...absolutley true. However, college is not for everyone.

We talk a lot here on the HSBBW about finding the right fit for our kids into a college. The same should go for those that feel they are not ready for college and may choose to pursue other interests.

For those that have joined the military after high school will tell you that was the best education they ever got.

On the other hand, earning a college degree opens doors and opportunities that never would have been realized without it. No doubt about it...

My point is success is earned over a lifetime with or without a college degree. Earning a college degree is rewarding and satisfying, but the achievement of it is only the beginning of success. Without tenacity and perseverance the degree is only worth the paper it is written on...

Living life is an education. Education does not ever stop and the world is my classroom. A day without learning something does not happen in my life. If it ever did I would probably be dead.

A college degree is only the beginning of a lifetime of learning...

Rant out...

quote:

Originally posted by jemaz:
I take it, dswann, from reading your post that you must be from one of these places.

Take it easy. I would be speaking of those players from "South America" not "North America". Who for the most part are not afforded the opportunity to pursue a college education embraced or not.

Over the years I have employed many a documented alien. One comes to mind who worked With me for 10 years. To my disappointed he told me he was retiring. He had saved enough to support his family the past 10 years in Central America and bought himself a rancho. In good times, are neighbors to the south( South American/Mexican laborers) will make 5-10 dollars a day, less, the further south you go.

The majority of the worlds population makes less than a dollar a day. My sister who lives in Uzebikastan says a dollar a day would be good if you can find the work.

So yeah.... I think a guy from "South America" with a 150k signing bonus invested wisely could be set for life. I've had number of workers who have done so on allot less.

Me. Iam looking at "Real Tired" not retired!