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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 26, 2006
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Shouldn't it be about quality more than quantity? The past two NL MVP's (Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins) are African-American, as are All-Star pitchers Dontrelle Willis and Tom Gordon. In the same vein, you can't say the Asian community feels slighted at their representation in basketball, they have a top 25 player in the league, and a few other up-and-comers.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 25, 2008
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I don't see this article as political or racist in anyway just a statement of fact from a specific point of view.
In the past excellent young African American athletes had a higher probability of chossing MLB as a proffession. Today they are going much more toward the NBA and NFL.
For many longtime baseball people many of which are in very visible positions today in baseball (think Joe Morgan & Frank Robinson) come from a time when African American's were hugely succesful in the sport.
Take a look at the following:
Outfield #1: LF Frank Robinson, CF Willie Mays, RF Hank Aaron
Outfield #2: LF Barry Bonds, CF Ken Griffey Jr., RF Rickey Henderon
1st Base: Willie Stargell
2nd Base: Joe Morgan
SS: Ozzie Smith/Ernie Banks
3rd Base: (I don't know . . . Terry Pendleton Ughhhhh)
Catcher: Roy Campanella
Starter: Bob Gibson
Closer: Lee Smith
I couldn't even begin to shorten the OF, only 3rd base is lacking in a hall of famer. And I'd probably slip Banks over there.
Now I am thinking of players that have started their careers in the past say 5 years? Any stars that come to mind? Well we have the Upton brothers who are very promising, CC Sabathia, Carl Crawford.
I do not think baseball is suffering because players are coming to the sport from other areas and in droves from latin america (that is not new). But so may of the generational stars we have grown up with are very likely chosing a different career path than they would have 20-30 years ago.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jun 28, 2007
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Great points, kldub. It would be nice if we could all have a conversation about why there is a decline in African American players, rather than fight over whether we should be talking about the issue at all. But so many people feel so threatened by the discussion that they lash out at the "article" (for which they confuse the study).
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 5, 2007
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Everyone who mentioned the influx of the South American and Central American ballplayers hit the nail on the head. This isn't a societal mishap on the part of Americans, it is simply that the best players are making it the majors. In Central and South America where the climate is warm and conducive to playing baseball, the poor children are attracted to baseball much like inner-city African-Americans seem to be attracted to playing football and basketball. So now that all the team know that these players are REALLY good at baseball, teams are putting more and more resources into scouting these countries. Teams have full-time Dominican Republic scouts for example. Why not put a full-time scout in the inner city? Well, where would that scout go? I live in downtown Chicago and I'd be hard pressed here in April as both the Cubs and Sox are starting there seasons to find a large enough of a group of African Americans playing organized baseball. It would be fiscally irresponsible to hire such as scout when they can just go to the Dominican Republic or Venezuela and scout such a larger sample of players. This is no different than how many major college football programs primarily scout certain regions of the country like Texas, Florida, and California. They get more bang for the buck!
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Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Nov 14, 2006
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One of the greatest athletes in the history of the world gave baseball a try and failed miserably. He couldn't hit a slider much less a fastball. He was below average with his arm and his fielding was very subpar. And once again this was one of the greatest athletes ever. What this says is exactly why this report is worthless. Even if you take the best athletes in the world and try and put them in certain sports this does not mean that they will have any success at all much less be a superstar. Oh by the way, this athlete is Micheal Jordan and these assesments of him were in DOUBLE A.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 28, 2006
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003, why is Georgia not on your list??? We have some ball players here as well.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 25, 2008
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NYU Bobcat,
I kew I was missing a few lol Howard especially and then Fielder came right to mind.
I think your point about the asian community is completely off base:
1. Asian's hever had a strong NBA presence.
2. The African american community isn't saying they are being slighted, that has nothing to do with this discussion..
The issue is that baseball has an incredibly rich tradition within the African American community if anyone wants to have this driven home I seriously suggest going to the Negro League Hall of Fame in Kansas City. This has absolutely nothing to do with racism but rather is a way of identifying a trend which many are concerned about because they don't want that tradition to die off.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 5, 2007
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Mr All Knowing,
I did not intend to start a huge argument about which states are better in football versus others. I'm just commenting on the general recruiting practices of major college football programs and how they parallel what MLB teams do. I'm sure I missed a few states on my list considering I only put down three. I know Georgia produces some great ball players too. And before anyone else gets too mad, I could have included Louisiana, Alabama, etc.
Maybe I should have taken a regional approach rather than just individual states. For example, instead of saying Florida and Texas, I could have just said the southern region of the country. My point is that the Bobby Bowden's of the world probably don't make many recruiting trips to Alaska, Hawaii, or even Illinois (where I live) for that matter unless it's a super stud. Instead, they focus their limited resources on areas where they can get a greater return. Such as Florida, Texas, California, and, yes, the GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA!!!!
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 25, 2008
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003,
Excellent post!!!
Knowing where to most effectively place your resources is a very important scouting ideal, and the latin american countries is an excellent place.
I have an interesting perspective because I grew up in southern California where within a 10 mile radius such baseball superstars as George Brett, Ozzie Smith, Darryl Strawberry, and Eddie Murray grew up. High School baseball is huge out there but still nowhere near what Football and Basketball are. Then about 6 years ago I moved to a small town in Oklahoma this is an area rich and I mean rich in baseball tradition just in my county and the surrounding counties you have baseball legends Micky Mantle, Johnny Bench, Willie Stargell, Dizzy Dean and his brothers, and many others. Heck the Junior College I went to in the same county recenlty has produced Eric Gagne, and Adam LaRoche.
I'm thinking on my type writer right now but if stargell and Mantle were high school athletes right now, I have a sneaky suspicion both might be looking at football as a career over baseball.
I don't think the lack of african American's going into baseball is a scouting issu | |
