Why are there not more African Americans playing professional Baseball?

Question

Cheaper to start baseball academies in Central America than urban or rural cities in the states? Lack of interest? Tougher competion that basketball or football?

Answer 1

Why do most pro hockey players come from Canada? Why do a quarter of American hockey players come a single state (Minnesota)? Why do a disproportionate number of soccer superstars come from Brazil, even though in most countries it's the most popular sport? Why so many great gymnasts from Romania? Why are so many world- class drivers from Brazil and Italy? Why do so many great football players per capita come from Mississippi and Alabama? Why are most NBA players black, and the ones that aren't usually playing center or point guard? Why are almost all NFL running backs, wide receivers, and cornerbacks black? For that matter, why are most kickers and punters white? And why do so many baseball players hail from the Dominican Republic?

I think it's mainly just a matter of culture. You play what everyone else around you plays. With a few exceptions, I don't think most current NBA/NFL players would've made exceptional enough baseball players to make the pros because you need different skills for the different sports (see Jordan, Michael). Most NBA/NFL players, for example, are very tall and big and that's a detriment for batters who can use the aid of a shorter strike zone. But what culture does, is it takes someone with a lot of baseball talent and have him go out and play some other sport because that's what he's more interested in. And it's not like someone who's never played baseball can jump right in and play like a pro in six months. It takes many years of practice and honing one's skills.

It's not like baseball's done anything wrong. And it's not like African Americans are doing anything wrong, either. It's just that most African Americans, by large, aren't real interested in baseball right now. It's not good nor bad; it just is.

Answer 2

1. There are choosing other athletic pursuits such as basketball and football.
2. Expense of baseball equipment for the athlete has gone up rapidly over the years
3. Insurance costs are very high and most families would have a hard time paying for the cost of insurance unless it is done by the schools themselves.
4. There is plenty of money coming out of major league baseball that could go for building more baseball fields in the US but have not been built and it is certainly not because the talent is not here.
5. Lack of desire or motivation is a cause here but it is definitely excitement throughout the rest of the world for baseball. The desire must be found on the Little League level and up so it can be developed into professional talent. The question I have is: Have we ,as the US,priced some of our young people out of business before they get started or has the times changed so much that they truly do not believe that no matter hard they try there are better rewards in other pursuits that are more affordable to them?

Answer 3

The percentage has gone down steadily over the last ten years or so. I think it is what someone else said. It's not cool anymore. They are playing basketball and football. Less games. More publicity. Bet in the next ten years after the NBA & NFL get their act together and follow through on discipline rules that there will be a bigger turnout in baseball again. Part of it also is down to the high school and college level. Basketball and football are the money, high profile sports for schools. NOT baseball.

Answer 4

In my opinion, not a lot of African Americans are playing in the MLB because of the NBA and NFL. There is much more interest in basketball and football probably because all of the legends that come from their culture. Michael Jordan, Dr. J, Magic Johnson and countless others in basketball. Blacks dominate the NBA. There are also legendary African American football players. Baseball, compared to basketball and football, is a slow paced game with little action. Also, the African American legends and heroes lie within the sports of basketball and football, not as much as in baseball. Jackie Robinson was great. Willie Mays and Barry Bonds are good too. But, football and basketball have so many people of their culture and show strength. Also, basketball and football are easy to get hooked on. All you need is a football for football. All you need is a basketball and something similar to a hoop. Sure, Jackie Robinson is a wonderful African American influence, but his amazing dunks and plays aren't showed on TV. Honestly, I don't know the true reason for this, but I think this is part of it. I hope I helped.

Answer 5

I think all Americans just play less these days. When I was a kid I played until middle school and so did a lot of other kids. I stopped playing because I had a jerk for a coach and he made it less fun. I was an ok fielder and a good hitter but I was small for my age. according to him I couldnt play as good because I was too small. The best player on my team was also small and didnt get to play (we split time playing in the outfield). He ended up as a starting pitcher in college. People like that ruined it for kids.

Now that we are older and have our own kids that age I dont see nearly as many playing baseball. Its just not as popular as it was 10-15 years ago. I used to love baseball before they went on strike. Ive really never cared since. How many other people did the same thing? Parents lost interest so whats the chance their kids will take an interest in it?

Answer 6

Yes, Yes and No. The competition in baseball is lower then in basketball or football and so is the number of college scholarships. So, economics are definitely a factor as most parents of black kids don't want them to play baseball since the chance of a big pay day or scholarship is much lower. Now, I would say its no big deal that less blacks are playing baseball, but since its a measely 8% now that is pretty low, still you can't force people to switch fields. There are still more jobs in baseball then the other sports since it has a huge minor league system, but obviously that doesn't pay much. Baseball is just a forgotten sport in the black community.

Answer 7

If I had the answer to this, I'd be sitting in New York City right now talking to Bud and his buddies.

And as much as I dislike Joe Morgan's love of his own voice, he did make a couple of very good comments during last night's game.

1. There is no single "magic" bullett. But rather a bunch of small things that need to be fixed.

2. In the mid/late 70s until about 10 years ago - baseball got lazy. It "was" America's pasttime and EVERYONE wanted to play. Right, well suddenly they realize they are wrong. Now they are playing catch-up to other leagues. This has led to a generation of lost fans, and lost fans lead to lost children playing the game, and less professionals. A sad trickle down effect.

3. More competition from other sports.

There was a lot more but you get the idea.

Answer 8

Would I be out of line to say Baseball lacks in African American's because it's one sport they do not dominate in? Forget the fact that the NFL and the NBA are paying more, "action packed", socially appealing, Hip Hop culturalized and appealing to more women...

Most games that involve stragegy and patience are not dominated by African American's... Sure there are exceptions to the "rule" but name a sport that is considered "boring" to some...

Golf: Sure the greatest golfer is TIGER WOODS who is half Asian and African American... But, where are all the others??
Poker: The only name that comes to mind as a dominating force is Phil Ivey... 1 out of a field of thousands
Soccer: BLANK! NONE come to mind...
Baseball: with 8% of african american's on MLB rosters 1/2 of those players are allstar worthy...
Hockey:....... Whats the percentage there?

See, they can and will be dominate in every sport if they were more involved in each of these sports and so many more!!!

It really boils down to whats "cool"... I think there is more African American's involved in Madden 07' than there is African American's attending baseball games...

The challenge is how to make Baseball "cool" to 2day's youth... And afforable... Cuz lets face it, Baseball isn't the cheapest sport to play as a kid...

(HOCKEY, another "uncool" sport to our youth)

Answer 9

Because, for the most part, baseball isn't "Cool" to young African American males. They prefer to "idolize" Kobe's 50 points a game or LT's rushing TD record more so than somebody in a game that is often refered to as boring or a sport for cheaters.

It's hard to get young African Americans to like a sport who's most popular black athlete is Barry Bonds.

That being said, I think the media needs to stop talking about the lack of African Americans in any sport related category (ie = baseball, NFL coaching, etc.) because we don't live in the 1950's anymore....There are reasons other than the color of somebody's skin that explain the lack of blacks in these categories.

Answer 10

Football & basketball snatch up all the good young black athletes. As a second sport, many of them run track. I`ve seen media reports that point to many black athletes being trashed by other blacks for playing a white game, if they try out for baseball.