Does Major League Baseball have a "superstar problem"? [View all]

[True Dough]

As in, there are none, at least not among the most popular athletes in the world. It's the subject of a fascinating article by ESPN based on polling of 6,000 fans, asking them who are their favorite athletes. Out of the top 50, only three were MLB players and all three are retired (or dead): Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth and Pete Rose!

Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs' first baseman, was the top player on the list among active MLB players, reaching 51st spot.

The NFL, by comparison, had 15 active players in the top 50.

The article indicates that similar polling in done earlier in 2016 showed similar results, with only one active MLB player cracking the top 50 (David Ortiz).

Now, there are some true statistical stars playing the game today who could be categorized as "superstars" on their way to potential first ballot Hall of Fame careers (Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Nolan Arenado, Jose Altuve, Bryce Harper, etc.).

There's also the key attendance numbers to look at, and the turnout at stadiums across the country generally doesn't indicate any sort of crisis due to a lack of "superstars." MLB overall attendance was down 1.1 per cent last year compared to 2015, but it still ranked as the 11th highest season on record for putting butts in seats. That said, attendance was at a record high in 2007, before the recession.

But it does beg the question of whether MLB has a marketing failure on its hands for not having higher-profile "superstars" like a Lebron James. What do y'all think?

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19074938/where-all-mlb-superstars-gone