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“Starting today with the great state of Alaska, we’re going to review the 10 states that have yet to send anyone to Cooperstown, along with 1) the possible reasons why, 2) reasons why the state could still be considered a baseball-friendly place, and 3) reasons why the state could be considered the Worst State for Baseball.”

With the election of Colorado native Goose Gossage to Cooperstown, it’s now down to 10 states that have never produced a Hall of Fame baseball player — this according to the Hall of Fame itself, which lists players by their place of birth, not where they played Little League, college ball, pro ball, or retired and opened a string of Cadillac dealerships. So while Arizona lays claim to Jim Palmer (at least in Sports Illustrated’s list of the 50 best athletes from each state, published in 1999), the Hall of Fame says Palmer was born in New York, which makes sense, because he was. In turn, the Hall says Arizona has produced zilch in the way of Cooperstown-worthy baseball players.

The Land of McCain should take heart, however, because it’s not alone. Starting today with the great state of Alaska, we’re going to review the 10 states that have yet to send anyone to Cooperstown, along with 1) the possible reasons why, 2) reasons why the state could still be considered a baseball-friendly place, and 3) reasons why the state could be considered the Worst State for Baseball.

ALASKA (pop: 670,000)
Entered the union: 1959
Best active player:  Shawn Chacon.
Number of active players: Shawn Chacon.
Best active mouth: Curt Schilling, first opened in Anchorage, 1966.
Best player ever: Mr. Bloody Sock, whose career highlights include three-time runner-up in Cy Young voting, 216 career victories, and three World Series rings. Six-time All-Star and MVP of 2001 World Series is currently on the 60-day disabled list, but the Red Sox hope to have him back after the All-Star break.
Best prospect for future induction:  Ibid.
Chances Schilling will make the Hall: Pretty damn good.
Chances his induction speech will be long-winded and unbearable: Yahtzee!
If not him, then who? According to Baseball-Reference.com, only nine players in Major League Baseball history have been born in Alaska, so if Schilling doesn’t get elected, Alaskans will have to pin their hopes on Chacon or Josh Phelps, who hit .351 in 58 games for the Pirates last year, which impressed so many people that’s he not even playing in the majors this year.
In Alaska, if athletes aren’t playing baseball, it’s because they’re…skiing, training for the Iditarod, or starring in “Deadliest Catch.”
In their defense, it’s…kind of cold in Alaska, i.e., not conducive to year-round baseball like in Florida.
That’s no excuse. After all, it’s…cold in Canada too, and Ferguson Jenkins made it to the Hall of Fame.
Little League World Series Champions: None
College World Series Champions: None.
Professional teams: None.
Minor leagues of note: Alaska Baseball League, which is like the Alaskan version of the Cape Cod summer league and features good college players with pro aspirations.
Most well-known athlete who didn’t play baseball: Probably former Bronco and Redskin lineman (and current ESPN football analyst) Mark Schlereth. If skiing’s your bag, you’d probably say Tommy Moe. If mushing, Susan Butcher.
Reason(s) why the state should still be considered baseball-friendly: Each year on the summer solstice, June 21, two teams from the Alaska Baseball League play a game in Fairbanks starting at 10:30 p.m., underneath the glaring lights of, get this, the midnight sun. “What began nearly 100 years ago on a bet between two local bars has evolved into one of baseball’s unique natural events,” according to Baseball America’s 12 ‘Must-See’ Events http://www.midnightsungame.com/
Reason(s) why the state could be considered the Worst State for Baseball: Chad Bentz, Shawn Chacon, Randy Kutcher, Scott Loucks, Josh Phelps, Curt Schilling, Steve Staggs, Tom Sullivan, Dave Williams. Nine big-league players from the largest state in the union, i.e., not a target-rich environment.
Who cares if the state isn’t known for baseball? It’s still known for…Alaskan king crab, Jack London, Jewel, Holly Madison, and “Northern Exposure” (which was filmed in Washington).

Coming soon on Worst State for Baseball: Arizona.

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