African Americans and Baseball

[Tarheel Baptist]

I've attended a few college baseball games this year, something I don't usually do, and have noticed that few teams have a single African American player. With the movie 48 being heralded, I found it odd...and something I hadn't noticed before.
Why don't more blacks play baseball?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/04/09/mlb-african-americans-in-baseball-jackie-robinson-42/2069119/

 

[Ransom]

When I followed baseball back in my teens - particularly the two Canadian teams - nearly all the best players were black.  Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, George Bell, Jesse Barfield, Lloyd Moseby, etc.  The only three exceptions that come immediately to mind are the late great Gary Carter, the unlamented Pete Rose, and Roberto Alomar.

My first guess as to why there are fewer black baseball players now is perhaps that there is currently more prestige in playing football or basketball?

 

[Recovering IFB]

When I followed baseball back in my teens - particularly the two Canadian teams - nearly all the best players were black.  Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, George Bell, Jesse Barfield, Lloyd Moseby, etc.  The only three exceptions that come immediately to mind are the late great Gary Carter, the unlamented Pete Rose, and Roberto Alomar.

My first guess as to why there are fewer black baseball players now is perhaps that there is currently more prestige in playing football or basketball?

All you need is a ball and a court, no big field in the inner city where the best players are from. With baseball you need more kids, gloves a field. Doesn't seem to have the same cache' in the inner cities as basketball has.

 

[prophet]

That mid-80's Expos team, before Carter defected to the Mets, was really something.  Tim Raines is the man.

Anishinabe

 

[prophet]

Baseball isn't popular in Gary, IN
But it is still, in Chicago, where the likes of Curtis Granderson are from.
It seems regional.  So-Cal is pumpin out Black Ballists, but Northern Cities seem to have lost interest.
Anishinabe

 

[Just John]

Basketball of course is prominent followed by football for percentage of African American participation. As far as basketball is concerned it takes little to no organizational effort. When so many inner-city kids are from single-parent homes this makes it a natural first option.

Baseball, even unorganized playground baseball, takes more equipment and thus more parental involvement at the youngest ages. That may be part of the problem. My nephew coaches high school baseball in a unique public school situation with a mix of poorer black kids and upper class white kids with not a lot of middle ground. The black kids tend towards basketball and football while the white kids tend towards lacrosse. His biggest problem is there are no "feeder" Little League programs in the inner-city providing a opportunity for those kids to learn the game before getting to the upper grades.