Study: no more blacks playing Major League Baseball than 1950s
In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier by becoming the first African-American player.
But according to a Huffington Post infographic, in the past few years, the percentage of black players has declined to Civil Rights-era numbers.
One reason the number of black Major League players has steadily declined since the 1990s may be economic barriers to the sport, along with lack of college scholarships available in baseball, as college tuition costs rise and the racial wealth gap expands.
Major League player LaTroy Hawkins pointed out: “In baseball, you need all of the equipment — glove, bat, spikes. [Basketball] all you need is a pair of tennis shoes. You don’t take that for granted, but a majority of kids have a pair of tennis shoes that they wear to school.” Elite youth baseball players also often join travel teams, supposedly upping their chances of making the big leagues, and adding to the cost.
Structural and economic issues account for some of the drop, with Black youth choosing sports that lend more easily to full college scholarships. Most baseball scholarships are partial, and the sport is more expensive to participate in than football or basketball.
Click here for the full infographic.
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