Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates wrote about this as well. Baseball is the most diverse of the pro sports because in many places around the world it is the best path to riches for talented athletes. In the US, football and basketball are more lucrative so that’s where the best athletes go. Baseball in the US is mostly played by upper class kids.
And kids who understand manners and sportsmanship. Every boy on my son’s 15u travel team is a gentleman and has the utmost respect for their coaches, the game, and other adults and players. A fine group of young men. I’d rather my son be around that all hours of the day than 10 minutes in a football locker room with the common thugs that frequent there.