MLB, Why so few African-American Players?
Historically, Major League Baseball (MLB) has been dominated by, mostly celebrated, African-American players, compared to 57.5 percent of players in the National Football League (NFL ), and 73.2 percent in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Today, that predominance in the MLB has dwindled to less than 8 percent. Membership in the National Hockey League (NHL) has an even smaller cohort.
The disappearance of African-American players from America’s favorite sport is quite troubling, especially considering that in 2021, baseball celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro Leagues. The 1970s and 80s saw numbers that more than doubled today’s percentages. To get to the root of this issue, let’s take a look at the history of baseball in the United States.
The Negro Leagues
Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Roy Campanella, Monte Irvin, Ernie Banks, Dave Parker, and Bob Gibson are only some of the more recognizable names in pro–ball history. Interestingly, their baseball careers all began in the legendary Negro Leagues.
Like nearly all other aspects of early 20th century America, baseball was segregated by race. The belief that African-Americans were neither physically adept, nor intelligent enough to participate in ball games, permeated the sports world. As unbelievable as it may seem to us today, even basketball was a “white man’s” game, and African-American men were forbidden to play on teams with white players. As in other areas of society, they were forced to create their own competitive sports, including The Negro Leagues which consisted of several independent leagues for Negro ball players. It wasn’t until the late 1940’s (around the time that President Truman finally de-segregated the military) that African-American men were finally allowed to play on mainstream American teams. However, as more of these players joined the major leagues, the Negro Leagues continued their own series throughout the post-war period, despite post-war support by fans. Integration made it possible for these players to earn higher salaries and introduced the country (and the world) to athletic excellence on the field. Unfortunately, integration also wiped out African-American owned teams which had provided them the opportunity to coach and manage their own teams.
Baseball, the quintessential American sport had finally opened its doors to African-American citizens and they became stars on the field. Especially in the early years of integration, MLB had a complicated history. Early players such as Jackie Robinson faced searing racist comments from certain players, and particularly Ben Chapman, the manager of the Phillies (who was also known to spout anti-Semitic comments). Robinson remained stoic in the face of the abuse. “Colored” players faced jeering from both other ball players and fans in the stands. The passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did help tamp down the more overt racism, but in many cases it still existed, if more covertly.
In recent years, the percentage of African-American players has diminished, while, that of Latino and Central American baseball players has increased. Although many of the Latino players are People of Color, they are almost always considered “Latino”. The number of Asian and Asian American players has also risen steadily. There are now, players who hail from Europe (Germany, Lithuania, Spain), and even from Australia. Two American Orthodox Jewish college players were drafted in July 2021.
Since 1997, is the MLB Gaslighting fans by Honoring Jackie Robinson Yearly?
Every team in the Major Leagues, since April 15, 1997, has retired the uniform number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, the most famous baseball player to wear that number.
Jackie Robinson, officially the first African-American player in the Major Leagues, has come to represent not only his own outstanding athletic feats but also the dawn of integration in major league baseball. He has legendary status that is acknowledged each year near the start of the season, but it can also be seen as MLB’s way of patting itself on the back and dodging criticism in the areas of integration, equality, and parity for African-Americans.
A look at teams Mets and Yankees
Let’s take a look at the two baseball teams in New York City — the Mets (National League) and the Yankees (American League). New York City has long been a highly important city as it relates to African-American culture, population, achievement, and struggle.
Since it’s beginning in 1962, the Mets have fielded several African-American players, some even as star players. Choo-Choo Coleman was on their first year team. Tommie Agee and Ed Charles were members of the 1969 World Series team. Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden were part of the 1986 World Series team. Other African-American Mets included Willie Mays, Pumpsie Green, Al Jackson, John Milner and in more recent years pitcher Marcus Stroman. In 2022, the Mets have two: Taijuan Walker, a pitcher, and Dominic Smith, who can play first and outfield. (Smith was recently sent down to the Minor Leagues, due to his poor playing stats.) They have several Latino players, a largely Caucasian roster, and no Asian players.
The Yankees are one of the oldest baseball teams in America. Among their luminary African-American players are Elston Howard, (a groundbreaker in 1955), Chris Chambliss, Willie Randolph, Charlie Hayes, Andre Robertson, Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield, Don Baylor, Oscar Gamble, Derek Jeter, C.C. Sabathia and Al Downing. On the 2022 team, Giancarlo Stanton is the sole African-American player, although there are several Latino players and a largely white Caucasian roster, with two players of Asian Pacific backgrounds.
In the 1970s, African-American players made up around 20 percent of MLB. As of 2021, that number has fallen to under 8 percent. More than half of the NFL is comprised of African-Americans. Many baseball fans see players who are People of Color, and assume that many are “Black” in a general term. But many of those Players of Color are actually Dominican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and also some hail from Caribbean nations.
It is somewhat curious that the Mets and Yankees have so few African-American players. But then, let’s consider the situation in nearby Philadelphia. According to a Forbes article, “For the first time since April 1959 — and barring any last-second transaction — the Phillies will break camp without one African-American player on its roster. It will also be the first time since 1984 that the Phillies will not have an African-American player in the opening day starting lineup.
No one is saying this situation is intentional. It just looks and feels wrong — wrong because not a single African-American player is on a team whose home city is more than 40 percent African-American.”
What accounts for these discrepancies?
Why are there so few African-American players on the current NYC baseball teams? Why are other areas following suit? And more importantly, is this one of many political signs of the changing times? There are several reasons: some are financial, some have covertly racist tendencies lurking behind them, and others could be linked to pop culture.
One of the most obvious reasons is that athletes who are interested in team sports have been opting for football and basketball. They are playing high school and college basketball and football. As a result, they are recruited more often for these team sports. In 2020, 57.5 percent of NFL players identified as African-American, according to a Zippia article.
This is in vast contrast with baseball. Many are aware of this troubling issue. In fact, according to a Cronkite News piece, “the number of African-American players in the MLB has fallen nearly every year since 1981, and by 2016 it plummeted to 6.7 percent, the lowest percentage since 1957.”
Around the country, baseball coaches are noticing that fewer poorer students are playing baseball. There is a simple reason: the higher fees involved with playing club and travel baseball teams. The thinking is that this impacts African-American youngsters more than Caucasian youngsters.
Basketball, for one, is much less pricey: get a basketball and go to the local playground or school yard. Urban schools do not have access to large outdoor fields. And, basketball is an easier fit — its court is in the school gym.
The perception of baseball itself
When young male athletes fail to see themselves on the playing field, they are less likely to opt for that sport. This is a self–perpetuating problem. There’s been complaints about baseball being at a slower-paced sport than basketball, and to some extent football. Yes, people of all races, have at times, complained that major league baseball is too slow, too boring, and when youngsters hear these gripes, they are less likely to strive to play that sport.
Major League Baseball is aware of its poorer press in underrepresented communities. There is the growing realization that the sport does not “look like” the United States because of the dearth of African-American players. A Michigan baseball coach opined to USA Today that “The game of baseball is too white.” Making a big splash about Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 is one way in which the League pays homage to Robinson’s achievements and of the place within MLB of African-American players in general.
But is this public relations frothiness? Will this yearly tribute really help to bring in more African-American players and fans? Or is it window dressing? And moreover, how many young people even know who Jackie Robinson was or why his story is important? There are other issues related to this: how many African-American team managers, coaches, scouts, and general managers umpires are there in MLB?
The significance of African-American baseball players in the major leagues cannot be understated: as proof of equal abilities and as an economic presence in a signature form of American entertainment and culture.
As a die-hard baseball fan, I am distressed by this white-washing of such a beloved sport. Therefore, I challenge the major leagues to be more proactive in creating initiatives that will bring more parity to the sport — initiatives that will, once again, allow the game of baseball to look like America.