Story by Erin Wrinkle

MSU has always been known for having a successful athletic department, but in the 70’s and 80’s MSU was known for its baseball team.

“There was a lengthy period where Midwestern did have a baseball team,” Athletic Director Charlie Carr said. “I think it lost its coach and funding.”

Administration said at February Board of Regents meeting that they would be making recommendations for additional sport offerings at MSU.

Since Carr has been at Midwestern, he said there have been talks of starting a baseball team again.

He said two years ago the state starting cracking down on expenses and dreams of baseball started to fade.

“We felt like it wasn’t a good time, and I don’t know when a good time would be,” Carr said.

President Dr. Jesse Rogers stated that he has always considered the baseball program and is often reminded by parents and others who have interest.

“It is difficult for me to walk anywhere in this community without meeting a mom or dad asking me when Midwestern State University is going to start playing baseball,” he said.

MSU is also the only school in the district that doesn’t have a team, so lack of play would not be a problem. Also with baseball’s popularity among Texans, especially in the North Texas area, it is almost unheard of not to have a baseball team.

“MSU is one of the few highly accredited Lone Star Conference schools that do not play baseball,” Rogers said.

Baseball is an expensive sport to take on, MSU would need to acquire more trainers, which there is already a limited amount of, they would need more coaches, equipment, uniforms, scholarship funding, travel expenses, and that’s not even mentioning a facility, and its upkeep.

However how expensive it is to start a baseball team, the program is expected to funds itself in the long run.

“It is not an inexpensive proposition,” Rogers said. “If we do this, the program will more than pay for itself with the number of new students it will bring in.”

Because Carr is also concerned for other sports on campus and their treatment, the money used for baseball will not be taken out of any other funds.

\“I don’t want to rob something that we already have in order to play baseball,” Carr said.  “That is really what it would have been a few years ago.”

Carr has also assured all the student athletes and faculty that baseball wouldn’t take away from their funding.

“If desire was the only element, MSU would have a team put together soon,” Carr said..

MSU has already hired an architect to scope out where a baseball field could fit on campus.

“Baseball is one of America’s greatest sports,” Rogers said. “I would love to have it on our campus.”