I’ve been a baseball fan for as long as I can remember. I grew up on the Atlanta Braves in an era when they were mostly hopeless, but my family remained loyal. I recall listening to them on the radio or watching them on TBS — like all programming on the “Superstation,” the games started five minutes after the hour or half-hour.
The Braves turned things around in the ‘90s, and it’s easier to be a fan now than it ever was when I was growing up. However, I wish that broadcasters would make it easier for us cord-cutters to watch some MLB games without having to pay through the nose.
A couple of weeks ago, my friend and colleague Stephen Kruiser wrote a piece about how much he’s looking forward to the MLB season despite many conservatives declaring that they won’t watch pro sports for political reasons, and I couldn’t agree more. At a time when virtue signaling is a phenomenon on the right as much as on the left, it’s refreshing to just enjoy life.
But as much as I love professional baseball, I’m even more passionate about college baseball. I became a college baseball fan in my days at the University of Georgia when student tickets were a pittance. As a student, I had classes with players and became acquainted with a few of them. I was a season ticket holder for many years until the university made it impossible for anyone other than rich donors to get them — but that’s a rant for another time.
Naturally, my Georgia Bulldogs are the team that I follow the closest. I listen to or watch just about every game, but I also keep an eye on most of the Southeastern Conference teams. I’ve been known to turn on a game featuring two colleges I know little about; when I worked late Friday nights and long Saturdays, I would often tune in to West Coast games featuring teams from schools I’d never heard of. I became particularly fond of the Long Beach State Dirtbags, mainly because of their name.
Baseball carries with it a certain amount of romanticism, as culture has shown us. College baseball plays into that sentiment, too. Part of it stems from the amateurism that used to characterize college sports. NIL (name, image, and likeness) hasn’t invaded baseball to the extent it has sports like football and baseball, but many of today’s college baseball players are making at least a little money.
One of the things that appeals the most to me about college baseball is the community aspect of it. College towns can be tight-knit communities by default, and it’s fun to watch the community rally around the players and coaches.
I had the privilege of spending some time with players’ parents earlier in the season, and they appreciated the way locals root for and care about their boys. One of my favorite stories of a college town embracing its players is that of Fernando Gonzalez, UGA’s catcher who came to the U.S. from Panama by himself in high school and has become a part of the Bulldog family.
I also love the way the players rally around each other. Sure, all teams celebrate when one player hits a home run, but I’ve seen college baseball players pray together before, during, and after games, and it warms my heart.
Related: The Benefits of Being a Sports Fan
College baseball features some incredible athletes as well. The Bulldogs are blessed to have one of the best players in the country in Charlie Condon. This guy is a threat at the plate and in the field.
Charlie Condon has 5 homers in his last 6 games!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 28, 2024
More on the No. 4 MLB Draft prospect and his 60-grade power: https://t.co/j1DWDzmLu4
(via @BaseballUGA) pic.twitter.com/o3EbsM59OQ
If the season ended today, Charlie Condon would be the winner of the Golden Spikes Award. Period. pic.twitter.com/16AqMupdTZ
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) March 2, 2024
Sure, I’m biased that Condon is a Dawg, but other teams have incredible players as well. LSU’s Tommy White returns from last year’s College World Series winning team. As much as it pains me to say good things about the University of Florida, the Gators’ Jac Caglianone is as good a pitcher as he is a hitter. Arkansas’ Hagen Smith is another formidable hurler.
And that’s just the SEC — I could pen thousands of words about the amazing players in other conferences. It’s exciting to think that so many of these guys are the future of pro baseball, too.
College baseball broadcasts can be hard to find. ESPN broadcasts some, and the conference channels show a few more. The ESPN streaming platform has a ton of college games for the taking, but you may have to search to find the ones you want to see.
If you want to check out your favorite college or university’s team, the school’s athletic website or app should have information and ways to watch or listen to broadcasts. College towns often have sports radio stations with websites and apps that allow you to listen to broadcasts.
It may take some extra effort to get into college baseball, but trust me: it’s totally worth it. College baseball is the most underrated sport that deserves more attention than it gets.
