"I don't have to tell you that the one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has been erased like a blackboard, only to be rebuilt and then erased again. But baseball has marked time while America has rolled by like a procession of steamrollers.” W.P. Kinsella, Shoeless Joe
For the last 71 season of Major League Baseball, there has been a Black player on an opening day lineup. Before then, players like Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell Satchel Paige and many other legendary talents were forbidden to stare down the likes of Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb. Many of the white players often admitted that those in the Negro Leagues rivaled and were even better than those in the Majors.
As segregated as baseball was in the past, it was truly America’s past time. Every community seemed to have a semi-pro or local team residents could join. Negro League players would travel across the country year-round to play games.
From the time of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier until the 1984 season, there had been a rise in the percentage of black players on rosters. To emphasize of the importance of their contributions, 52 out 142 postintegration MVPs have been African Americans. Record setters like Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds transcended boundaries and become immortal through their deeds.
The “golden years” were never going to last. Now with the rise of basketball, football and other sports. More children have options in front of them which leads to decreased participation. With the lack of involvement in the community, the results translate to the different levels of the game.
The percent of Black players has fallen by 66 percent since it’s peak in 1984. This loss has been supplemented by a higher amount of Latino and Asian players since the 1990’s. Players like Jose Altuve, Javy Baez, and Giancarlo Stanton represent a new generation of globalism within in the sport.
Less and less African American children are playing baseball and when there are successful teams in black communities. Outsiders to the community have to spoil the fun. The Jackie Robinson West team that captivated a city and led this nation as the US champions was spoiled by a community who’s disdain towards the surrounding black community has been noted for decades. Evergreen Park has long “recruited” white suburban players. Players from my hometown of Homewood to Tinley Park kids have made their way into that league. I saw kids in my school on those teams instead of our local travel teams. If this is what happens to the youth, why would they want to continue playing? Like many other sports leagues, if they want to evolve and grow into the 21st century, then the MLB needs to show that baseball is for everyone.
