The answer to this question is too simple. If you're a stone cold basketball player, you can go from high school directly to the NBA and become an instant millionaire. If you're a great football player, you must spend 3 years in college and you'll get NIL money which could be in the millions. Even if you're pretty good at baseball, you'll spend years in the minor leagues playing for peanuts. I think the choice is obvious.
I feel like it’s more than that though because most African Americans don’t even care about baseball anymore period. It’s just not part of the culture like it used to be. I’m black and I love baseball and football but I hate basketball. When I tell a friend that they look at me sideways when it comes to baseball. Swear I was born in the wrong era lol
Joe Morgan covered this topic during one of the World Series back in the 90's stating, that "the removal of baseball fields" in lower socio-economically developed areas with the advent of expensive traveling teams, black kids couldn't afford to play what WAS a relatively cheap sport to play. Then add in Football and Basketball remaining "free" as it were, then the numbers exploded because the black kids went where the money wasn't (that is to play). And lastly, a cheap built-in farm system in the Dominican Republic that points almost all of its talent to the sport, and for MLB, a match custom-made for funneling all of the black players you need from a poor underdeveloped nation. As for "black" player fulfillment... problem solved. After all would baseball at the professional ranks be worth watching without the "black" players? I digress. Great Scott
As a teacher and middle school baseball coach for 12 years I’ve tried desperately to recruit African American young men to no avail. I believe the problem is generational, as baseball is a very slow sport of anticipation and is simply too slow for kids nowadays. Secondarily I shall be purchasing some HBCU gear. NC!-CU! EAGLE PRIDE! AMPLIFIED!
Elitist sport you need visit Dominican Republic my friend and the difference is people in USA practice the sport for entertaiming,in latinoamerican is more than that.
Not just MLB not getting involved, it’s becoming an elitist sport. It’s getting harder to find rec teams for kids because of clubs and travel ball. On top of that, it’s expensive to play. You need: glove, bat, balls, decent area to play, and typically at least 15 or so players to have a decent game. Football, basketball, and soccer require one ball for everyone. Most areas will typically have fields for soccer/football as well as basketball courts. I love baseball, but until they quit feeling like there’s nothing to fix (executives and fans), it’s gonna be hard to get kids into it. Trevor Bauer made a great case when he was talking about how players like LeBron are accessible to fans, making them feel like they know him better (almost on a personal level). Baseball players tend to be more private, most seem to not want attention. They need to not only invest more but need to connect to the kids like other sports.
The answer to this question is too simple. If you're a stone cold basketball player, you can go from high school directly to the NBA and become an instant millionaire. If you're a great football player, you must spend 3 years in college and you'll get NIL money which could be in the millions. Even if you're pretty good at baseball, you'll spend years in the minor leagues playing for peanuts. I think the choice is obvious.
Respectfully basketball has the One and Done Rule.
I feel like it’s more than that though because most African Americans don’t even care about baseball anymore period. It’s just not part of the culture like it used to be. I’m black and I love baseball and football but I hate basketball. When I tell a friend that they look at me sideways when it comes to baseball. Swear I was born in the wrong era lol
But the problem you can earn a coupke of millions and if not produce your out
Joe Morgan covered this topic during one of the World Series back in the 90's stating, that "the removal of baseball fields" in lower socio-economically developed areas with the advent of expensive traveling teams, black kids couldn't afford to play what WAS a relatively cheap sport to play. Then add in Football and Basketball remaining "free" as it were, then the numbers exploded because the black kids went where the money wasn't (that is to play). And lastly, a cheap built-in farm system in the Dominican Republic that points almost all of its talent to the sport, and for MLB, a match custom-made for funneling all of the black players you need from a poor underdeveloped nation. As for "black" player fulfillment... problem solved. After all would baseball at the professional ranks be worth watching without the "black" players? I digress.
Great Scott
The same thing that happened to us in every aspect of American society. We trained our replacements.
Great video. Keep it up.
Thanks!
The bigger, more important question is "what's happened to black Americans?"
As a teacher and middle school baseball coach for 12 years I’ve tried desperately to recruit African American young men to no avail. I believe the problem is generational, as baseball is a very slow sport of anticipation and is simply too slow for kids nowadays. Secondarily I shall be purchasing some HBCU gear. NC!-CU!
EAGLE PRIDE!
AMPLIFIED!
RIP RICKEY
Elitist sport you need visit Dominican Republic my friend and the difference is people in USA practice the sport for entertaiming,in latinoamerican is more than that.
They got knocked out by Jose Ramirez. ""Down goes Anderson!! Down goes Anderson!!""
You must be a mayo monster that has relations with animals.
Not just MLB not getting involved, it’s becoming an elitist sport. It’s getting harder to find rec teams for kids because of clubs and travel ball. On top of that, it’s expensive to play. You need: glove, bat, balls, decent area to play, and typically at least 15 or so players to have a decent game. Football, basketball, and soccer require one ball for everyone. Most areas will typically have fields for soccer/football as well as basketball courts.
I love baseball, but until they quit feeling like there’s nothing to fix (executives and fans), it’s gonna be hard to get kids into it. Trevor Bauer made a great case when he was talking about how players like LeBron are accessible to fans, making them feel like they know him better (almost on a personal level). Baseball players tend to be more private, most seem to not want attention. They need to not only invest more but need to connect to the kids like other sports.