Why are there less black baseball players?

[redban]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2012/04/mlb-jackie-robinson-day-african-american-players/1#.UBjidrRtqHx

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6401971

In 1975, 27% of all major league players were black.

Today, it's 8%, the lowest percentage since the early days of integration.

Just recently in 1995, blacks made up 19%. Why the sudden decline in the 00s decade?

CHART:

2012 8.05
2011 8.5
2010 9.1
2009 9.0
2008 10.2
2007 8.2
2006 8.4
2005 9.0
2004 9.0
2002 10.0
2001 13.0
2000 13.0
1999 13.0
1998 15.0
1997 17.0
1996 17.0
1995 19.0
1994 18.0
1993 16.0
1992 17.0
1991 18.0
1990 17.0

Blacks have equal opportunities to enter the sport, so racism is not a factor. Is it because NBA and NFL are becoming more and more popular while MLB is declining?

[RaysFan_98]

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.UBjidrRtqHx

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6401971

In 1975, 27% of all major league players were black.

Today, it's 8%, the lowest percentage since the early days of integration.

Just recently in 1995, blacks made up 19%. Why the sudden decline in the 00s decade?

CHART:

2012 8.05
2011 8.5
2010 9.1
2009 9.0
2008 10.2
2007 8.2
2006 8.4
2005 9.0
2004 9.0
2002 10.0
2001 13.0
2000 13.0
1999 13.0
1998 15.0
1997 17.0
1996 17.0
1995 19.0
1994 18.0
1993 16.0
1992 17.0
1991 18.0
1990 17.0

Blacks have equal opportunities to enter the sport, so racism is not a factor. Is it because NBA and NFL are becoming more and more popular while MLB is declining?

Why does less blacks mean MLB is declining?

[Los Bravos]

MLB isn't declining, no matter how many lazy articles and shows are turned out by Rick Reilly, Colin Cowherd, et. al.

[redban]

Why does less blacks mean MLB is declining?

MLB is declining. In the last decade, the World Series has set record low ratings several times - first in 2000, then 2002, then 2008, then 2010. Last year's World Series was also on its way to a record low before it went to 7 games. The All-Star Game has set record lows 3 straight seasons now.

That doesn't sound like a decline?

On the other hand, NBA Finals and NBA national TV regular-season ratings has been surging. The last few years, the NBA Finals has been outdrawing the World Series. (NFL needs no explanation)

So the question is this - does MLB have fewer black players because NBA and NFL are taking over? Both NBA and NFL are made up of approx. 70% blacks.

Are today's Willie Mays and Hank Aaron playing quarterback or shooting guard?

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I think during the 30's through 50's thats when alot of black kids were born who had fathers who really loved baseball. Since probably around the 70's era black kids think of baseball as a white mans sport. Most black kids I knew hated baseball and loved Michael Jordan. I dont remember any black kid idolizing Barry Bonds like black kids idolized Mays or Aaron. Thats probably a big reason why. What I say probably sounds insensitive but it's not off base.

[ian2813]

This discussion has been going on forever. I remember reading an article from 1997 or so talking about the lack of black youth participation in baseball, so this is hardly a new issue.

I don't have the numbers, but I would think that blacks have always gravitated toward basketball and football to some degree. It'd be interesting to see what the percentages of blacks were in those sports during the 50's, 60's and 70's as compared to baseball.

[UnderPressure]

Redban, you seem to enjoy posting about baseball's declining popularity. Now you bring race to the discussion.

As for those stats that show that the black percentage in the past was higher, I am pretty sure that the black percentage in the NBA and the NFL was lower in the past. Why do some black athletes (like Torii Hunter and Gary Sheffield) feel entitled to dominating major sports? The number of black MLB players is getting smaller? Guess what, the percentage of black players in the NFL is in the 60s, while in the NBA, it's in the 80s. What's the black population in the country again? Like 12%? So stop wondering why there aren't that many black baseball players anymore. Do we complain about the lack of non-blacks in the NFL and the NBA?

[Cap78]

Just in general its much easier to find a basketball court than a baseball field...its also more cost effective to get a basketball than baseball equipment...there used to seem to be a plethera of baseball fields that kids could play on...now if there are, they seem off limits to kids and practically have a country club mentally of members only...this could apply to anybody....this also may have nothing to do with it, just speculating

[jnakamura]

Why are there less black baseball players?

Because guys like this...

g-spt-120725-hanley-ramirez-919p.nbcsports-story-612.jpg

...aren't considered "black".

Now I have a question: In 1975 70% of MLB players were white.

What percentage of players are white in 2012?

[Los Bravos]

That doesn't sound like a decline?

No, it doesn't, at least not of a whole industry as you seem to imply.

[DerekD]

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/25/sports/la-sp-0626-baxter-20110626

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Just in general its much easier to find a basketball court than a baseball field...its also more cost effective to get a basketball than baseball equipment...there used to seem to be a plethera of baseball fields that kids could play on...now if there are, they seem off limits to kids and practically have a country club mentally of members only...this could apply to anybody....this also may have nothing to do with it, just speculating

That may be true Cap, but there is more to the story. Over the years it appears that blacks show more interest in Basketball and football.
Back in the late 1950's- 1960's there was far more interest in the cities, blacks playing baseball. Living on the West Side in Buffalo we would often bike down to the East side, black section and there were pick up baseball games every where.

I might add, there are more kept up baseball diamonds now in Buffalo then when we were kids, so I can't fully accept less playing area's for baseball is a factor. We played everywhere, few diamonds, open fields, hugh parking lots, taped up bats and baseballs, we always found a way to get a game going, white and black kids.

To me, sound like a better deal, get into college, if your good enough, leave college and sign a big contract, go right to pro basketball or football.....................Or, go to baseball, but first to the minor league, low pay and no guarantee when and if you get to MLB.
It's simple, changing times, pure nonsense about baseball not recruiting in inner cities, keep it simple and add to that, less blacks in the game is not a problem.

[KevinWI]

Seems to me that Redban wanted to make the point that MLB is "declining" because there are less African Americans in the game.

[dominik]

Do the carribean blacks count? After all they also were slaves from africa.

Considering them I think there are more blacks then ever in the MLB.

[KevinWI]

Do the carribean blacks count? After all they also were slaves from africa.

Considering them I think there are more blacks then ever in the MLB.

I think they're counted as Hispanic.

Depends on who's counting, I guess.