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Why are there so few Black American players in MLB 74 years after Jackie Robinson took the field?
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 04/01/2021 | Earl Smith and Marissa Kiss

Posted on 04/01/2021 5:12:28 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen

Seventy-four years ago, in 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Major League Baseball’s first African American player in the modern era: Jackie Roosevelt Robinson. This historic moment is celebrated as the formal “integration” of Major League Baseball (MLB). For three decades after Robinson broke the “color line,” there was a steady increase in American-born Black players taking the field. But this year, on opening day, 2021, just 7% of players on MLB rosters are American-born Black athletes.

What has happened to the Black American baseball player?

---snip--- At the heart of the matter is money. MLB invests tremendous financial resources into building the human, social, and cultural capital of players born outside the U.S., particularly in the Caribbean and Latin America that it does not invest in low-income Black (and white) players in the United States

(Excerpt) Read more at inquirer.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
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To: EEGator

Basically, baseball is a kid’s game. A back yard in a neighborhood can serve for elementary school kids to play baseball and as they move from 2nd grade to 4th grade they can switch to softball. With no yards of their own, and lots of inner city pavement, the kids will play basketball. It is just simply a case of housing patterns. How many kids in Texas learn how to ice skate on frozen lakes? And then play ice hockey on frozen ponds?


21 posted on 04/01/2021 5:25:41 PM PDT by Trumpet 1 (US Constitution is my guide.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Why no article from big media asking what has happened to the White American basketball player?


22 posted on 04/01/2021 5:26:04 PM PDT by stuck_in_new_orleans ( )
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To: Kid Shelleen

They make more money in Basketball.


23 posted on 04/01/2021 5:27:09 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: dynachrome

Lack of skills. Got to perform in MLB. No affirmative action there.


24 posted on 04/01/2021 5:27:44 PM PDT by Roklok
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To: Kid Shelleen
Late fifties-early sixties joke:

Q: What is black, has 18 legs and catches flies?
A: The Los Angeles Dodgers

25 posted on 04/01/2021 5:29:53 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Secret Agent Man

The left preach “equality”...OK, let’s give ‘em “equality” in professional sports....
60% White players/coaches
13% Black players/coaches
18% Hispanic players/coaches
6% Asian players/coaches


26 posted on 04/01/2021 5:32:34 PM PDT by JBW1949 (I'm really PC.....Patriotically Correct)
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To: Kid Shelleen

With the immigration floodgates opened illegally by the leftists blacks are going to become even more of a minority in America than before.


27 posted on 04/01/2021 5:34:21 PM PDT by wildcard_redneck ( COVID lockdowns are the Establishment's attack on the middle class and our Republic )
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To: dynachrome

Basketball is a little redundant to watch as a fan but the players are constantly in motion having to run, jump, dribble, pass, shoot and defend. Black players are generally a little more physically gifted for the game. Hockey is more a geographical factor with players from colder climates who excel on ice and they happen to be mostly white. It is what is and its neither good, bad nor racist.


28 posted on 04/01/2021 5:36:09 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or tyranny )
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To: Kid Shelleen

Black young men prefer the greater action of basketball to the briefer actions of baseball.


29 posted on 04/01/2021 5:36:23 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: Kid Shelleen

Why are there so few non-blacks in the NBA & NFL ?


30 posted on 04/01/2021 5:36:45 PM PDT by SecondAmendment (This just proves my latest theory ... LEFTISTS RUIN EVERYTHING !)
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To: Kid Shelleen

not cool anymore, acting White or some such, nothing more.


31 posted on 04/01/2021 5:37:04 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there is no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. P144:1)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Who cares?


32 posted on 04/01/2021 5:38:07 PM PDT by semaj (Death to Traitors)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Baseball is largely represented by Latino cultures, particularly the Caribbean. You can’t change that by some government pogrom, just like you can’t change the makeup of the NBA.

Let it be what it is.


33 posted on 04/01/2021 5:38:35 PM PDT by lurk ( )
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To: escapefromboston

Black men are almost exactly 7% of the US population.


34 posted on 04/01/2021 5:39:59 PM PDT by Newtoidaho (All I ask of living is to have no chains on me.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Professional sports - at least at the player level - are the last true meritocracies. If that changes, there will be no more professional sports. There are exactly as many blacks in MLB as deserve to be in MLB based on their skills. That said, I’m done with MLB and all other professional sports.


35 posted on 04/01/2021 5:40:09 PM PDT by KevinB (''... and to the Banana Republic for which it stands ...")
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To: Wuli

One admirable player of the past was A.J. Green of the LA Lakers. Humble, christian believer dude who wasn’t an arrogant thug. Same for the late Hank Aaron of the ATL Braves in MLB.


36 posted on 04/01/2021 5:41:23 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or tyranny )
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To: Kid Shelleen

There are a ton of black players in the major leagues. They are called “Dominicans.” Love how for these morons if you are from a Spanish-speaking country you can’t be black.


37 posted on 04/01/2021 5:43:56 PM PDT by Clemenza
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To: Ikeon

So, water polo is out.


38 posted on 04/01/2021 5:44:07 PM PDT by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Because the other sports are considered “cooler” in the modern community. More flash and bigger bucks.

I’ve seen black men who are former baseball players and they swear that baseball has the better package (retirement and post 9-man career). Whether you become a scout, coach, or elsewhere in a franchise or the League.

I think they said on average the salaries are higher in MLB than the NFL or NBA but I don’t recall and that was probably around 5 years ago I heard them talking at a sportswriters dinner.


39 posted on 04/01/2021 5:47:12 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity. )
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To: Alberta's Child
Exactly correct. baseball requires an investment. you have to have a glove, bat, ball, field....18 guys.

you can learn bball by yourself or playing any combo of 2 on 2, etc.

most urban areas have plenty of basketball courts. always guys to play with.

baseball not so much.

40 posted on 04/01/2021 5:47:45 PM PDT by ealgeone
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