PG All American Game Tonight

Really enjoying watching this. My only comment is that it doesn't surprise me, but it's clear that the announcers (PG guy aside) really don't understand how much these young men play baseball and the level they play at.

I think it's going to take a few years before many folks involved in MLB (not in a scouting role) really appreciate how baseball has changed over the past decade. In fact, I think the reason we see more 20-and-under players making it to the Show is precisely because the level and frequency of competition has exploded so much in the past several years.

Still-- GOOD STUFF!! So glad PG exists, and I loved the LakePoint commercial. Can't wait for my 2016 son to play there!!

PGStaff,

PG put some impressive talent on the field last night.  I enjoyed the game especially from a pitching perspective.   "Wow" is all I can come up with for a handful of pitchers that showed incredible command and stuff last night. 

My rising high school junior was glued to the TV.  He was absolutely thrilled to see his high school coach in the PG dugout.  An excellent high school coach just got a lot more "street cred" by being on TV. 

fenwaysouth,

In addition to being an excellent coach.... He is a high class individual.

I have been cheching the channels for this game and a couple of others.Just last Thursday checked listings to see if on this weekend.Nothing.I am channel surfing last nite and its on.I miss up to last of the third.Great.PG The last two years the game in mn. was also on.Do you if it was filmed this year? Do you have any info on the game the do at Wrigley and have been putting on TV.(not live on either game)

Congrats to Jerry and the Perfect Game team for putting on a another great show. It's one of the highlights of my summer to watch this game (fond memories) 

It always blows me away how polished these 17 YO players are... and the ARMS! I think I saw 6 or 7 pitchers at 94 or better.  Amazing!  

jp24 - Are we really seeing more 20-under players making it now?  That might(?) be true...but I'm not sure.  I quickly searched for something on age/debut/decade and only found one article about the 20 youngest debuts of all time.

All of them predate 1960 with most (11) coming between 1940-1950 (WWII explains most of that I guess).  But 2nd most (5) were between 1950-60.  None after 1960 in top 20.

I'm old enough to remember David Clyde debuting for Texas when he was 18 in 1973.  But that doesn't make the list and he was considered an outlier...like Harper....but it ended up being to early for David Clyde and might have cost him a good career some think?

I'm not challenging you...just wondered if there's some data out there because your comment was intriguing to me.

I also found this...not sure it answers my question though:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What...e_age_of_MLB_players

Here is the NY Times article referenced above.  Sort of suggests that 1955-1964 may have been the "youngest" era...but doesn't say it explicitly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09...aseball/04score.html

In any case, times are always different...WWII had a tremendous effect on age I think...the MLB draft probably introduced more MiLB development time.  Today...elite travel ball?

Just interesting to me.

justbaseball,

Nolan Ryan is the one that comes to my mind. Born Jan 1947, drafted in June 1965, called up in Sept, 1966, at age 19. Pitched 27 years. Why, he's as legendary as Longhorn Cattle or the King Ranch!! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Ryan

Can you imagine a kid still wet behind the ears, just married & headed to Shea Stadium?

Someone at Baseball Reference or Baseball Cube may be able to do a little research to answer your question. Or the statistitions over at SABR. lol 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/

Yeah, I looked on baseball-reference but couldn't easily come up with the answer.

I always knew the answer to the youngest player ever...as a Reds fan..."The ole lefthander rounding 3rd and heading for home, Joe Nuxhall.  G'night folks!"

It's funny you challenged that justbaseball -- because after I posted it, I wondered if it was really true myself. Probably would've been better to just stop with how much more these young men have actually played organized ball and been exposed to great instruction compared with their predecessors. THAT does seem to be the case, wouldn't you say?

But watch: someone will challenge that, and I'll have to concede again!

Maybe the only thing I'm SURE of, is PG rocks!

Yup.  And I certainly didn't mean to challenge you at all.  And yes, PG rocks especially with this event that our older son had the privilege to play in the very first one back in 2003. 

Anyways, your comment just got me to thinking and wondering in which era/timeframe was it most likely to make it up at a young age.  And I still don't know the answer? 

Need 3FingeredGlove to the rescue!

I am curious, how many 20 and under have made it to the show in the past couple of years?

On MLB radio yesterday, a PG person (Rawnsley I think) mentioned a kid who had only been playing ball for about four years.  The kid was apparently impressive.  Anyone get his name? Thanks