African Americans.......and Baseball

There are......a lot of "blacks" in Major League Baseball.   But.....few are United States born African Americans.    Latin players are plentiful......and yes......they are dark skinned.....but  they don't speak the language ......(English).   Thus........they.....are not  African Americans.

Why?

Many theories.....Today the best African American athletes go for football and basketball.   In the intercity,  it's much easier to get a basketball,  a court,  a net.......but baseball?   You need gloves.....and bats......and balls.......a field.....bases.....shoes with cleats...... and you need them for every player.   Cost money.    

Still.....it is sad to see the state of baseball ....today.

Check this out from USA Today:

By Bob Nightengale,

USA TODAYFewer African Americans in MLB; All-Stars remain unsigned

MINNEAPOLIS — Major League Baseball is celebrating Jackie Robinson Day today. But 63 years after he broke the game's color barrier, the number of African-American players continues to suffer, with 9.5% of them making opening-day rosters, according to USA TODAY research.

"He would turn over in his grave if he saw the lack of African Americans playing ball," Minnesota Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson said.

MLB had its first increase in African-American players in 15 years in 2009 when the number climbed to 10.2%, according to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. This year, though, there were 17 teams with two or fewer African-American players on their opening-day roster.

"It makes you wonder a little bit what's going on," said Hudson, who this week questioned whether racism was a factor in former All-Stars Jermaine Dye and Gary Sheffield being unsigned.

Dye has hit at least 27 home runs in each of the last five seasons but batted .179 after the All-Star break in 2009. He and Sheffield, 41, have turned down several contract offers.

MLB, which announced Wednesday that players and coaches will wear Robinson's retired No. 42 today as they did a year ago, says it hopes young stars such as Jason Heyward, B.J. and Justin Upton and Prince Fielder will help reverse the trend.

"We have more programs dealing with this issue than we ever had before," MLB spokesman Rich Levin said. "We continue to work very hard at increasing the number of African Americans."

Four African Americans are MLB managers, three are general managers and two are high-ranking officials in the commissioner's office.

"(MLB) will have you think things are better," agent and former pitcher Dave Stewart said. "It's not better. It's up to players to speak (out)."