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In 1970, approximately 30% of all players in the National and American leagues were black and many of them were great stars like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Bob Gibson. Now only 10% of the players in the big leagues are American blacks. Why?
I have no first hand cultural experience to help me answer this question, but I do have a theory. In our neighborhood, most boys start playing baseball when they are six or seven years old. This is a tremendous advantage because it takes a lot of practice to become a professional baseball player. Consider that the best college baseball players go to the low minor leagues when they sign professional contracts. The exceptional players may start out in double-A. And it usually takes these players two or more years to make it to the major leagues. Two or more years of long bus rides, low salaries, hot weather and relatively small crowds.
When football and basketball players go from college to the pros, they start in the major leagues!
Michael Jordon was perhaps the best athlete of his generation. When he tried to play baseball, he started at double-A –and failed.
If you play football or basketball in high school, you play to packed stadiums and arenas. If you play baseball in high school, you play to a crowd of 20 – 50 people, mostly family and friends. There’s no glory in it.
If you are black, and don’t grow up in a neighborhood where there is a youth baseball program, you don’t get exposed to the sport. Hence, you don’t get to start practicing. If you get to high school without having played baseball, you’re probably not going to be very good at it. So, if you were a talented athlete, which sport will you choose. My theory is that you would choose football or basketball.
Generally speaking, to make it to the pros in basketball or football, you have to either be very fast or very big and strong. You don’t necessarily have to be big, strong or fast to play baseball well. It makes me wonder how many terrific black athletes who have quickness and hand-eye coordination, but do not have the ability to compete at the highest levels of football and basketball, could become major league baseball players, given the chance.
Lack of glamour and lack of opportunity. That’s my theory. But I’m sure there are many fans that have more experience in youth sports than I do, and could enlighten me further. Bring it on. I would love t hear from you.
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