There Are No US-born Black players on expected World Series rosters: First Time Since Jackie Robinson

Associated Press ^ | 10/26/2022 | Ben Walker

[Altura Ct.]

So what?

[9YearLurker]

But of course the basketball teams are smaller.

It is far easier for urban blacks to access basketball courts than baseball fields (or hockey ice, tennis courts, etc.).

But then also basketball offers the potential to make the “big leagues” as a teenager, as opposed to whether starting in college or not toiling for years in the minor leagues with still long odds to eventually make it up.

There is also a robust global market for well=paid professional basketball players. Not so much for the other major American sports.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Add an Identify bonus of 1 million and I’ll bet half the players will change identity.

[dm4]

Black people aren’t that interested in baseball.Most find it boring.

[kabar]

Why is this even a story? The NBA and NFL are overwhelming populated by American-born blacks. They are gravitating towards these sports rather than baseball. There are blacks in MLB, both American-born and from elsewhere. There are no racial barriers.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Did he play himself as a non-cameo in that role?

[dfwgator]

Oops.

[Hatteras]

"...the Red Sox had Jim Rice and Dwight Evans..."

Dewey was black? Um, and on the '70s Reds? Like him or not, 4,256 speaks for itself, Pete Rose.

[Dan in Wichita]

Dr. Sivana had Dwight Evans on the correct team (Red Sox), but forgot that Evans was a White guy. A darn good player who barely missed out on the HOF.

[Renkluaf]

Racism!

[chiller]

The road to riches is a lot shorter in the NFL and NBA and neither involves years of minor league low-pay, and bus travel.

About 30 pro teams each in the 3 leagues.
I’d also guess each NFL team pays “good” money to about 50 players, 20 for MLB, and 10 per team in the NBA.

That’s 1500, 600, 300 total big buck jobs respectively here in the US.

Economies play a role in this, but the time it takes to get to one of the leagues is the main reason black participation is down, imho.

Then factor in youth playground hoops, little league, and pop-warner.

[snoringbear]

Pretty simple. U.S. born elite black athletes go into basketball and football. More opportunity to see fame and fortune.

[dfwgator]

I bet Pelicans fans are smiling too.

[dfwgator]

Yeah but what are US black basketball players going to do when they start finding themselves shut out from the NBA, by Euro players, who won’t even have to play at US colleges to get drafted. You get better seasoning playing in the Euro Leagues now than playing NCAA basketball.

[SamAdams76]

Maybe they can pull a few out of the stands before game time and issue them uniforms.

[mware]

Well. I hope the Phillies don’t mess with their roster just to make the AP feel better.

[Dr. Sivana]

Dewey was black? Just goes to show I didn't notice color much.

Um, and on the '70s Reds? Like him or not, 4,256 speaks for itself, Pete Rose.

Rose's record is largely longevity. I would take '70s George Foster over '70s Rose because I will take (~50 HR, ~.300) over (~10 HR, ~.320) any day.

[Dr. Sivana]

Dr. Sivana had Dwight Evans on the correct team (Red Sox), but forgot that Evans was a White guy. A darn good player who barely missed out on the HOF.

Speaking of strong armed right fielders, I should have included Dave Parker of the Pirates. Now HE's black. Stargell was good to, but he was old by that time.

I'll never forget Parker's throw to home in the All-Star games, back when everyone took it serious. MLB management and players ruined baseball by chasing $$$, but it was inevitable.

[Dan in Wichita]

Dave Parker was a really good player, for sure. I had several of his Topps rookie cards and sold them 30 years ago for a lot more than it cost in the bubble gum pack (IIRC, I got around $20 each).

I really do miss the golden era of MLB. I grew up living and dying with the fortunes of the "Big Red Machine". It was during the 1975 World Series I noticed what a great player Dwight Evans was.

[Tommy Revolts]

Haha. You mean no African-Americans? Because there are African-Dominican and African-Cuban players.