The decline in the number of Black Americans playing professional baseball in the Major League has been dramatic. What was once the most popular sport among African-Americans has now become a sport where very few continue to play or even watch. The precipitous decline has been most notable in the last few decades starting in the 1980’s.

While the casual observer may not even notice this fact, may even question its legitimacy since when they turn on the TV they see large numbers of black baseball players in the Major League giving the impression that nothing has changed. The first inclination is to ask what is everyone talking about there are more black players in professional baseball than at any other time. Right?

Right and Wrong. Yes there are more people of color playing professional baseball now than ever in the Major Leagues; however only a small minority of them are African-American. The majority of phenotypically black players come from South America and the Dominican Republic. In fact the percentage of MLB players coming from Spanish-speaking countries is up to 28.4% in 2014.

White players who are still the majority of MLB players but have seen their numbers take as slight decrease from 61.2% down to 60.9%. However the league is concerned at what appears to be a dwindling number of African-American in the sport at all levels. The number of African-Americans on a Major League roster in 2014 was only a whopping 8.2%.

When one looks at the fact that only 8.2% of Major League baseball players are African-American in 2014, it must be done so against the backdrop of 1975 when over 27% of all Major Leaguers were African-American.

There are a number of theories as to why the number of African Americans playing baseball appears to be declining at all levels. Some of the more popular explanations are that baseball is too slow and not as exciting to play as basketball and football. Another popular explanation is that baseball is expensive, requiring a bat, ball and glove for every player at a minimum; while football and basketball require one ball for all to play.

While all of these arguments have some validity, they don’t tell the whole story. Like most discussion around African-American statistics be they economic, educational, or penal there is always the elephant in the room that everyone pretends not to notice. The elephant is racism, but not always in the overt form that people can readily identify.
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If you were to interview 1000 baseball players at any competitive level and asked them who was the first person to teach them how to catch and throw a baseball, 90% of them would give the same answer(DAD). You would not get that answer at the same percentage if you asked the same number of kids who taught them how to dribble and shoot a basketball, or even run with a football.

Those who have been involved with Little League Baseball know that the synonym for Little League Baseball is Daddy Ball. In no other sport is the role of father more central in terms of the early development of the skills of throwing and catching. Going outside to play catch; father and son is how most kids who go on to play at competitive levels got their start.

Isn’t it interesting that in 1975 African-Americans were at their numerical peak in the Major Leagues only to see a steady decline begin to take place starting in the late 80’s that has pretty much continued to this day? What happened? Where did the fathers go? What laws were put on the books in the 80’s under President Clinton that may have disproportionately impacted black communities? Could the 3 strike your out mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws that saw an explosive rise in the incarceration rates of African-American men have taken away little Johnnie’s back yard catch and throw partner.

If nobody taught Johnnie to throw and catch in 1985, by 1995 he will realize he is not very good at baseball, but he learned how to dribble and shoot a basketball with his friends at school. By 2002 Johnnie is a running back on the Football Team and a starting shooting guard for his High School. He has absolutely no idea how to throw or hit a baseball, but he was never interested in baseball anyway. Hell all he did was dribble his basketball as a little boy until his Mom called him in for dinner; since his father was away since he was 2 years old; Johnnie just figures who wanted to play catch with him anyway.

Submitted by Christopher A. Clarke on 10/25/14. 

Christopher A. Clarke is managing editor of Black2020.Com and can be reached through the sites contact page.