In your opinion what caused the decline of African Americans in Baseball?

[CrimsonTider]

The cats that say baseball is a complete bore were never good at it in the first place.

They should stop fronting. Good baseball players don't "suddenly," after years of being good at it, find it boring and stop.

Did you see why I said its boring.

How could that be debated?

 

[Scientific]

Supply and demand. Whether people accept it or not. After the 50s, Football became THE American sport. Colleges starting recruiting more, and thus, more and more black kids had the chance to play the most popular sport. People need to remember, that baseball desegregated first. So it really didn't have to do much with how players were being received back then. Football exploded, and more and more kids, black and white, started playing it.

Its silly to say that MLB discriminates, and it royally ticked me off when Torri Hunter said back then that Latin players didnt count. Unless you're an African American, being black Dominican, Cuban or Venezuelan didn't count.

The South, and its football factories, particularly in Florida, Texas, Lousiana, Alabama, revolve almost every step of a kids development into football. The most popular sport in school is football, followed by basketball, then baseball. Its supply and demand.

Baseball is THE sport in some Latin Countries, because it became a fabric of their culture. The South and some other states are the same way. Especially since football can be played almost year round in any weather.

 

[NYC Rebel]

When did I compare the poverty level between today's urban poor and segregation poor. I was explaining why you rarely see any black mlb players who come from a poor background today. I never once said that they can not afford the equipment, I just said that baseball is a difficult sport to organize to play at a whim.

I was also talking about the current black players in MLB, most of them did not come from a low economic class. Most of the black players who play in MLB come from middle class to upper class families. It is a fact look it up.

I was stating that the one who made it to the big leagues were the ones who were the only black family in their neighborhood and therefore the only black kid on their high school teams. This is where they developed their talent.

The difference is that the segregation black youths had a love for the game, they could relate to a Jackie Robinson or a Saitchel Paige. the current urban black youths can relate more to Lebron James or a Michael Vick than they can to say Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder or a CC Sabathia.

I'm not talking about the captain obvious end result you're bringing up now with who young heads today have to look up to. I"m talking about the downward trend that led up to today.

Do you know that EIGHTEEN PLAYERS OUT OF THE CITY OF OAKLAND on year were drafted by the Reds back in late 1950's? Scouts were all over our communities....and then they left because they sought after cheaper imports in the Carribbean basin

SAME THING IN PUERTO RICO. There are less and less puerto ricans playing baseball in MLB now.....only about 15. WHY? Because the players there play under American rules....so baseball set up shop elsewhere. Do you hear this "Ricans find it boring" shyt tied to them?
NO ....it's economics with them the same way it was about economics to us. You don't build relationships with us....we lose interest. Same happened in Puerto Rico.

It's MLB economics that's the reason why we don't play anymore. They stopped seeking us out, so we left the game alone.

 

[NYC Rebel]

Did you see why I said its boring.

How could that be debated?

IT's a moot point because at one time, baseball was Black America's BIGGEST business.

To this day, the Negro Leagues were the biggest employer of blacks out of any business in existence. We didn't find baseball "boring." We had our own style and swag when it came to the sport. We stopped playing when MLB stopped reaching out to us...period.

Same thing in Puerto Rico and their dwindling numbers.

 

[Trip]

IT's a moot point because at one time, baseball was Black America's BIGGEST business.

To this day, the Negro Leagues were the biggest employer of blacks out of any business in existence. We didn't find baseball "boring." We had our own style and swag when it came to the sport. We stopped playing when MLB stopped reaching out to us...period.

Same thing in Puerto Rico and their dwindling numbers.

the horse and buggy at one point was a big business. times change.

 

[NYC Rebel]

the horse and buggy at one point was a big business. times change.

What is your point? I gave an answer as to why blacks stopped playing and you post this useless crap?

Either you agree or don't agree.

 

[Trip]

What is your point? I gave an answer as to why blacks stopped playing and you post this useless crap?

Either you agree or don't agree.

Because people's interests change. Technology changes. Life moves faster these days. Baseball participation has dwindled in the white community too. Baseball is the same sport as it was 50 years ago.

 

[NYC Rebel]

Supply and demand. Whether people accept it or not. After the 50s, Football became THE American sport. Colleges starting recruiting more, and thus, more and more black kids had the chance to play the most popular sport. People need to remember, that baseball desegregated first. So it really didn't have to do much with how players were being received back then. Football exploded, and more and more kids, black and white, started playing it.

Its silly to say that MLB discriminates, and it royally ticked me off when Torri Hunter said back then that Latin players didnt count. Unless you're an African American, being black Dominican, Cuban or Venezuelan didn't count.

The South, and its football factories, particularly in Florida, Texas, Lousiana, Alabama, revolve almost every step of a kids development into football. The most popular sport in school is football, followed by basketball, then baseball. Its supply and demand.

Baseball is THE sport in some Latin Countries, because it became a fabric of their culture. The South and some other states are the same way. Especially since football can be played almost year round in any weather.

Then how do you explain the decline of Puerto Ricans in the game?

 

[NYC Rebel]

Because people's interests change. Technology changes. Life moves faster these days. Baseball participation has dwindled in the white community too.

Again...do you agree or disagree? Is your point that blacks interest in the game changed?

I don't agree. MLB interests in blacks changed.....so blacks stopped playing.

MLB interests in Puerto Ricans changed...so Puerto Ricans stopped playing.

 

[Trip]

Again...do you agree or disagree? Is your point that blacks interest in the game changed?

I don't agree. MLB interests in blacks changed.....so blacks stopped playing.

MLB interests in Puerto Ricans changed...so Puerto Ricans stopped playing.

Blacks interest in the game change, absolutely. As it has with the white community as well. Look at the increased participation in lacrosse, a faster sport with more scoring.

They tried pushing that Little League in Harlem a few years ago with the Nike sponsorship and that field ahsnt been touched in over a year it looks like.

 

[NYC Rebel]

Blacks interests in the game change, absolutely. As it has with the white community as well. Look at the increased participation in lacrosse, a faster sport with more scoring.

Then how do you explain the decline in Puerto Rican baseball players? What "options" are there in PR that they're not playing the game anymore?

 

[nieman]

I doubt it's the economics of baseball...you really only need a glove. As long as someone had a bat, someone has a ball, and you have the space, you are good. We played on school yards, the park, lots, the street...and it is fun. I remember growing up and everyone tried to "roof a ball" or break a window with a HR. But when you get older, you do realize that it's actually boring.

I think the problem is really that is not glorified in HS, and that's where most become disinterested. The baseball team in HS is even under the wrestling team in terms of stature. In a lot of HS, you had to play a winter sport and a spring sport, so the football/basketball players did track LOL. Name a movie that glorifies a HS baseball team? However, if the black community really paid attention to the benefits of baseball, they would play that over football. I always wondered if people knew how much MLB players made; if so why do they aspire for NFL of 3 years and a non-guaranteed contract?

 

[Trip]

Then how do you explain the decline in Puerto Rican baseball players? What "options" are there in PR that they're not playing the game anymore?

Is there a decline is PR players or a decline in PR participation?

 

[NYC Rebel]

Is there a decline is PR players or a decline is PR participation?

Yes...there is a decline in the game being played IN PR.

It just so happens to coincide with MLB closing down academies in PR and going to the DR.

You can't use that wack "other sports" excuse in the PR...but there numbers are rapidly declining.

Why is it that NONE of you see MLB as culpable when we see it happening with others?

 

[Trip]

Why is it that NONE of you see MLB as culpable when we see it happening with others?

Because we shouldnt be singling out one demographic. Its down across the board, except for the DR.