why are there no black catchers in MLB?

Question

are there any in the minors? must be right? how about in history? when the ***** leagues integrated im sure there were some right?

lets not turn this into an unintelligent argument about race, but Ive just noticed really theres no african american catchers in mlb at all,

ive thought about why that is, there are only about 10 pitchers who are black too

besides baseball not big in black neighborhoods, is it because black players who come up in the minors or into the game are put into the outfield because of their athleticism? (yeah i know this is a stereotype)

what is up with this?

says Torrealba is from venezuela
thats like saying Delgado is black, when hes puerto rican

and campanella and martin are MIXED im talkin 100%

its like golf, yeah tiger woods is black but hes mixed, what other black golfers do you see? umm None?

and im not even black its just so curious

thomas m,

dont forget bill hall

and yeah i remember charles johnson but seriously whenever you can count the amount of somethting on one hand...

Answer 1

there has been some in the mlb over the last few years but not that many and most of the blacks are better fielders than catchers

Answer 2

There are plenty of black guys who are pitchers and catchers - they're just Dominican.

There have been some terrific African-American catchers, though - Roy Campanella was an all-time great. Charles Johnson retired recently, but he was a terrific defensive catcher- probably the best in the game for a while.

It is true that nowadays, almost all African-American major leaguers are either first baseman or outfielders. I don't think there are any 3B's in the major leagues right now who are African-Americans, either, other than Chone Figgins who plays three positions a lot.

I think that the problem is that a lot of scouts and minor league managers have an image of what a catcher is supposed to look like, and it's a short, squat white guy. With some of the Dominicans, they've been playing only against other Dominicans for so long in the academies that they've established a position before the minor league guys get them. I don't know for a fact, but I'd be interested to see how many black guys there are in the major leagues who caught in high school and were moved to the outfield, and to compare that with the same numbers for white guys.

EDIT

Hall's been playing mostly centerfield this year.

Answer 3

Elston Howard, Charles Johnson (several gold gloves in the 90s) Roy Campanella, HOF, Ellie Hendricks, just off the top of my head..

Blacks in general, are declining in their number in the major leagues, in part because other sports are more appealing.. From a socio-economic stand point, the "path to glory' or at least a free college education is paved thru basketball and football..

While the reality is that 95% of all athletes (regardless of race) that play high school sports won't play it in college and 99% won;t play it propfessionally, the marketing glorifies the 5% in college and the 1% that do make it professionally...

Give that fewer and fewer blacks (or inner city kids) play baseball, of those that do, catcher is not a very glamorous position.. shortstop, center field, even pitcher has more appeal.. There is still a persona that the kid behind the plate is the fat kid who can't run, it's not perceived as a position of longevity either.. Catchers tend to have more knee problems, and break down more.. bottom line is that most players, black or other wise, tend to shy away from the position, especially when they realize just how complex and difficult it really is

Answer 4

Elston Howard

Earl Battey

Charles Johnson
.

Answer 5

Yorvit Torrealba is black lol

anyways to answer you question i guess there is much more flash and flare in playing shortstop or outfield and not so much in catching the ball you know

its kinda one of those things that people usually stay away (people of all races)...i mean who wants to squat all day and catch pitches you know?

not that exciting

and oh another thing russel martin is half black and he is the best catcher in baseball right now


EDIT:

I knew torrealba was born from outside the US...but I thought he grew up in the US

Answer 6

I'm sure there are. You just haven't seen it before. Being a catcher is hard work. It may look easy but until you try it you don't know. And I mean no offense when I say this but most would rather play basketball or football.

Answer 7

Charles Johnson wasn't that long ago, last played in 2005. Campanella, Roseboro, Gibson of course... might just be one of those cyclical things.

-----
Remembered Tony Eusebio, but he's Dominican. Ah well.

Answer 8

Don't know, don't care. Race and race-by-position are irrelevant.

The first black Yankee was a catcher, named Elston Howard. He was a very good player and got his number retired by them.

Answer 9

roy campanella baby!

Answer 10

no reason for it, just worked out that way i would think.