Posted on 04/16/2014 7:28:08 AM PDT by LeoMcNeil
Yesterday wasn’t just tax day, it was the 67th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the baseball color barrier by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers. For those games not washed away by rain or snow, teams wore #42 jerseys in his honor. ESPN, as usual, used the anniversary to lament the dwindling number of black baseball players. The number of blacks playing major league baseball has gotten extremely low in recent years. It goes right along with a massive decrease in the number of black kids playing baseball and going to baseball games. In many ways the decrease in black interest in baseball dates back to Jackie Robinson.
(Excerpt) Read more at leomcneil.net ...
I would disagree with the notion that baseball requires more discipline than football. Historically the negro leagues offered very competitive baseball.
The reason fewer Black kids want to play baseball is because of the disproportionate number of MLB Players who are known Blog Pimps.
These poor kids are trying to elevate themselves out of he cycle of moral turpitude and sociopathic dependency that is endemic im blog pimpery.
That is clearly the case. Baseball, compared to football and basketball, requires patience and a certain discipline.
There is no "instant gratification" in baseball. A player does not move directly from college to the "big leagues". Natural athleticism is important in baseball, but there remains several layers of acquired skills that must be mastered as well.
Playing the game correctly involves more self-discipline than other sports -- there is no "showtime" in baseball. Moreover, there is an unspoken "code of conduct" among the players that reinforces this self-discipline.
Maybe that is because there are few black families. No Dad to play catch with in the backyard means all the young black athlete can do is practice his grandstanding for when he makes a tackle or run, basket or rebound.
Add to that the fact that baseball requires a lot of practice and game experience to reach MLB level as compared to someone dropping out of college as an underclassman to enter the NFL or NBA draft and it is easy to see why the black athlete follows the path of least resistance.
More often than not, a baseball player is capable of making a Major League 25 man roster after his 800th to 1000th lifetime game from Little League, Senior League, High school, American Legion through college and/or the minors.
And then there is a little thing called trouble with the curve...
Advancement to major league baseball can be a lengthy process. The transition from HS to collegiate & the minors can take years. Money is limited and the chances of career-ending injury are always looming in the background.
Contrast this with basketball. An economically disadvantaged player who is also physically gifted can play as little as 1 year of college basketball before going into the NBA lottery. Plus that rookie contract could set you up for life.
Football also offers accelerated paths to the NFL though the money is not entirely guaranteed.
For many teenage athletes playing professional sports is about the lifestyle. I just to think that professional baseball offers quite the same in that area.
Leo, who-—besides you and, possibly, a bunch of power-mad federal bureaucrats and race hustlers-— even cares about what races are or are not represented in professional?
Why SHOULD anyone care? I thought we all bought in to what Martin Luther King, Jr. said way back in the 60s.
With some exceptions it takes class to play baseball, I see little in football and none in hoops.
One thing I’ve noticed among black MLB players is a fairly high rate of players who have both parents who are still married.
And I think we can agree that the era of the negro league was decidedly different than today; thus an unfair comparison. The negro community isn't producing the men that rose from that era: that is my point.
One of the best sports articles I have read is how Jason Heyward of the Braves made it to pro baseball. His commitment from the age of 15 was incredible, but another aspect highlighted was the amount of money and time it took from his family.
His dad drove 80 miles per day to have him practice and play. He played on one of the best travel team organizations in the country, East Cobb in the Atlanta area. He practiced with his team 6 days per week, even after games they had practice. In addition, from the age of 15, he hit 1,000 balls per week, apart from what they did at team or school practice. He is a great natural athlete, and still had to do all of that to make it to the big show.
All of those things, as I can personally attest with a promising young player myself, costs money and a time commitment from the whole family, which I’m sure is abundantly present in the inner city communities.
Those wringing their hands about the lack of black players should take a realistic look at the incredible effort it took from Heyward and his family, and see how that is the limiting factor for most other players, regardless of race. It takes a lot of time and money in the USA to develop the skills to be a pro-baseball player.
“....which I’m sure is NOT abundantly present in the inner city communities.”
I personally couldn’t care less if there is a massive increase or decrease in the number of blacks playing baseball. Numbers don’t particularly matter. I’m more interested in the reasons why there are fewer blacks because it isn’t racism keeping them from playing baseball. I’m seeking to offer a reason why blacks choose not to play baseball.
Former MS State coach Ron Polk was crucified for bringing up how Title IX was playing a role in ensuring that poor inner city kids would be eliminated from college baseball.
Baseball is passed from father to son.
Which is probably the number one reason you don’t see many blacks
Also, there’s very little showboating in baseball. The Mannies being Mannies are few a far between. For some reason Blacks are drawn to that.
Catch a pass in the endzone, even if you are down by 21 you get to dance around like a fool.
Hit a homerun and jog too slowly around the bases, or stand there admiring it for too long and you will be plunked the next time up.
Baseball is an interesting generational game that ties generations of spectators together.
My great grandparents were all serious Tiger fans and were always happy to talk about baseball till the day they died.
I’m seeking to offer a reason get some blog hits.
There, fixed it for you.
How about the fact that basketball can be played with just one net and a half court space but baseball needs a LOT bigger area;and kids are chased way from any lots big enough.And there just aren’t as many big open spaces as in days past.Especially there aren’t baseball sized lots in black urban areas. Plus the sight of young blacks or whites carrying baseball bats is likely to result in a call to police.
baseball has suffered due to the pressures that sports MUST be organized and supervised;when was the last time you saw kids anywhere playing baseball in the old fashion ?
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