Angels CF Mike Trout is the "best baseball player in the world," but he is "almost certainly not the most famous baseball player," according to Ted Berg of USA TODAY. Trout "hardly registers as a household name like equivalent talents ... in basketball and football." There is "no doubt" athletes like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Odell Beckham Jr., Carmelo Anthony and Blake Griffin are all "more famous" than Trout. MLB "simply does not breed transcendent superstars at the same rate as the NFL and NBA." And the recent retirements of several of MLB's "biggest names -- Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez -- combined with all the hype and hoopla surrounding" Tim Tebow's arrival at Mets Spring Training raises an "interesting question." Berg: "Why aren't our best ballplayers better known?" It can be contended that MLB has "not done enough to successfully market its budding superstars at a time the sport features arguably the most impressive crop of young talent in its history." But it is "absurd to suggest or to believe that the league, on some institutional level, has no interest in making a bigger deal out of guys" like Trout. There is not a "single person who works" at MLB who "doesn't want Mike Trout to be as big a name" as Brady. However, celebrity in MLB does "not necessarily correlate with regular-season performance so much as it does with chances to play on the sport’s biggest stage in the postseason, with controversy, with massive contracts, and with celebrity romances" (USATODAY.com, 2/28).
HEATING UP: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff writes Mets P Noah Syndergaard "leads a colorful life by design, one intentioned to boost both his brand and that of his sport." Syndergaard said, "Playing baseball opens up a lot of doors for certain things. I just kind of want to embrace those certain things, whether it's acting or doing something outside of baseball that allows you to show your personality." Syndergaard this season will "unveil a custom cleat created by his new apparel partner, Nike." He also endorses Majestic, New Era, PlayStation, DirecTV and California-based nutritional products firm CytoSport and is in "discussions on additional significant deals." He "works with Topps" and has "shot a spot" for MLB Network. He has also "contributed to the Mets' web show, 'The Amazin' Life,'" and made an appearance on CBS' "Kevin Can Wait." Syndergaard "wants to be more than just a pitching pitchman, or just funny for a baseball player." Davidoff: "He has the look, personality and on-field success to think bigger" (N.Y. POST, 3/2).
