When/why did black kids stop playing baseball?

[O.J A 6'4Mamba]

I remember about 15 years ago the sport was king in my neighborhood. I never played basketball, like most black kids in my neighborhood due to my small stature in height only 5'9. Every little black kid was playing baseball in my day. Nowadays as a walk through the parks with my wife and kid all I see is basketballs.

I feel old.

[Black Joker]

i stopped playing because the pitchers around where i lived sucked, and i didn't like getting hit

[GOBB]

Its expensive.

[L.Kizzle]

This goes back farther than 15 years ago. Baseball was the main sports young blacks played up until sometime in the 70s. A lot of blacks growing up in the country, that's all they knew was baseball. Get a stick (not a bat) and a ball and bam, you had a game goin'.


I never grew up playin baseball, but if this were the 60s, I'd probably play everyday.

[L.Kizzle]

Its expensive.
All you need is a stick and a ball.

[JtotheIzzo]

There are some fundamental socio-economic reasons which lead to its demise in the black community.

The main reason is because there are so many more scholarships on offer in football and basketball. Division 1 schools can only offer 11.7 scholarships to the entire baseball team and many offer even less. This means that most college baseball players get fractional scholarships or pay their own way and sadly this leaves out a lot of black players.

So, only the black players who opt to play baseball straight out of high school will for the most part have a chance at the majors. This route is less popular though as many of these same athletes are eligible for football or basketball scholarships (3 sport stars) and put they baseball on the back burner as a fall back sport opting firsts to pursue an education.

Smash cut to the future and baseball has fallen off the map in urban centers and areas with large black populations. Blacks in the 60s and 70s were also a source of cheap labor, they'd get paid less than white players, but since the 80s the pay has been more or less equal, so MLB teams now look to Latin America to obtain talent at a discounted pay rate.

[purplch0de]

All you need is a stick and a ball.



because stealing wasn't worth it.

[miller-time]

no one wants to be like THAT mike.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bIIK0LSIooM/THSTv4K9lBI/AAAAAAAAAa0/ArfY1724aSY/s1600/michael-jordan.jpg

[irondarts]

There are some fundamental socio-economic reasons which lead to its demise in the black community.

The main reason is because there are so many more scholarships on offer in football and basketball. Division 1 schools can only offer 11.7 scholarships to the entire baseball team and many offer even less. This means that most college baseball players get fractional scholarships or pay their own way and sadly this leaves out a lot of black players.

So, only the black players who opt to play baseball straight out of high school will for the most part have a chance at the majors. This route is less popular though as many of these same athletes are eligible for football or basketball scholarships (3 sport stars) and put they baseball on the back burner as a fall back sport opting firsts to pursue an education.

Smash cut to the future and baseball has fallen off the map in urban centers and areas with large black populations. Blacks in the 60s and 70s were also a source of cheap labor, they'd get paid less than white players, but since the 80s the pay has been more or less equal, so MLB teams now look to Latin America to obtain talent at a discounted pay rate.
I came in here to post something similar. :lol

Second and third points are very good ones, third one isn't quite true anymore however, as teams are paying latin american players a lot more money than players get through the draft, at a younger age (usually 16). But the point of teams scouting mainly in latin america is very true.

Lack of resources in the community can be another large factor.

[L.Kizzle]

There are some fundamental socio-economic reasons which lead to its demise in the black community.

The main reason is because there are so many more scholarships on offer in football and basketball. Division 1 schools can only offer 11.7 scholarships to the entire baseball team and many offer even less. This means that most college baseball players get fractional scholarships or pay their own way and sadly this leaves out a lot of black players.

So, only the black players who opt to play baseball straight out of high school will for the most part have a chance at the majors. This route is less popular though as many of these same athletes are eligible for football or basketball scholarships (3 sport stars) and put they baseball on the back burner as a fall back sport opting firsts to pursue an education.

Smash cut to the future and baseball has fallen off the map in urban centers and areas with large black populations. Blacks in the 60s and 70s were also a source of cheap labor, they'd get paid less than white players, but since the 80s the pay has been more or less equal, so MLB teams now look to Latin America to obtain talent at a discounted pay rate.
You think black kids stopped playing baseball because of scholarships? Kids don't careabout scholarships, they play it cause they like it. Something happened in the inner city that turned young blacks away from the game. Ask any 50 year old black man what he played more baseball or basketball and I bet you'll get basebal as your number one answer.

[PowerGlove]

I havent heard of an innercity HS playing baseball all of my life. Maybe that's why.

[O.J A 6'4Mamba]

You think black kids stopped playing baseball because of scholarships? Kids don't careabout scholarships, they play it cause they like it. Something happened in the inner city that turned young blacks away from the game. Ask any 50 year old black man what he played more baseball or basketball and I bet you'll get basebal as your number one answer.

I love baseball, it is my favorite sport in terms of actually playing. I wish our people did also.

[JtotheIzzo]

You think black kids stopped playing baseball because of scholarships? Kids don't careabout scholarships, they play it cause they like it. Something happened in the inner city that turned young blacks away from the game. Ask any 50 year old black man what he played more baseball or basketball and I bet you'll get basebal as your number one answer.

Its cause and effect from what I stated in my above post, if you can't connect the dots I can't really help you. Once a generation goes by the younger kids stop caring and you are where you are today.

[Sarcastic]

Its expensive.

I don't think it's a money thing, because the kids in Latin American countries grow up poorer playing with sticks and stones, and many of them become the best in the world. I think it's more of a cultural thing.

[thejumpa]

To be honest, I have no idea...and I'm black as hell and love playing sports. We just don't play that shit. I grew up with a basketball and football. I used to think it was because our athletic builds (usually tall, lean, and lanky) were better suited for sports like basketball, track, and football. Now that I'm thinking about it, that doesn't sound right. I dunno...I don't play it because it's just hard. Hitting a small ball with a stick is hard and not fun. Personally, it's only fun when I'm way out in the field running for a ball or something.

[Stuckey]

basketball is faster, more fun, and you can improve much quicker

and it's much more accessible, you can go shoot hoops by yourself until you are a knock down shooter, that's what i did when i was a kid and started dropping fade away 3s against older guys, good times

[Timmy D for MVP]

Many people think baseball is a rural game. But it's roots are actually in the cities. It's urban. And it's easy to pick up. All you need is a bat and a ball.

That is to play in a sandlot. But think about this, my brother played on all sorts of teams and that shit was expensive. Equipment, travel, league entry fees... the big tournaments where you get the best connections are no joke. My dad said when he was young they had all kinds of good programs that aren't around much anymore. So you had fewer guys get fewer opportunities. This meant fewer guys made it, which meant fewer stars for the youngsters to look up to...

Now it's skipped a generation. And I doubt it'll come back. If Ken Griffey Jr. (granted competing against Mike is impossible) wasn't enough to bring back black kids then idk what will be. And the rise of the NBA and NFL in the black communities... it would take something very special to bring them back I think.

[sixerfan82]

Some of it is due to the 'instant gratification' society we live in. Basketball is so much more accessible that baseball is and is considered by many to be a boring sport.

Plus, when you're a kid, no one wants to develop team skills, it's all 'me me me' and basketball just about perfectly fits that mold when your 10.

[KenneBell]

My dad said back in the day(70's for him), baseball was very popular on the projects where he lived. He played up until his senior year of high school.

I'd guess it really started falling behind in the late 80's.

[JohnnySic]

Dominican kids play baseball, and they are (mostly) black. Just saying. :D

[niko]

1) It's expensive (Bat, Glove, etc.) if you really want decent equipment and you need a field. Most parks have a basketball court, very few have baseball fields.
2) The HS's and intramural leagues don't focus on baseball. Also, baseball is played in the fall in HS when it's cold. HS is not around in the summer. HS baseball is not fun, i played - no one comes to the games. It's anonymous. BMOC doesn't play baseball.
3) Since Basketball and Football get all the accolades, the better athletes gravatate there. So those who want to build a relationship with the kids so they can represent them later on (AAU coaches, neighborhood leaders, agencies, etc.) give the free shoes, free equipment, (payoffs), etc. to those kids in those sports, not baseball.

Why play baseball? The upside is less. The instant gratification is much less. if you become a baseball prospect, you go to the minors. An NBA prospect? You're on a team making big $$ immediately.

[Black Joker]

1) It's expensive (Bat, Glove, etc.) if you really want decent equipment and you need a field. Most parks have a basketball court, very few have baseball fields.
2) The HS's and intramural leagues don't focus on baseball. Also, baseball is played in the fall in HS when it's cold. HS is not around in the summer. HS baseball is not fun, i played - no one comes to the games. It's anonymous. BMOC doesn't play baseball.
3) Since Basketball and Football get all the accolades, the better athletes gravatate there. So those who want to build a relationship with the kids so they can represent them later on (AAU coaches, neighborhood leaders, agencies, etc.) give the free shoes, free equipment, (payoffs), etc. to those kids in those sports, not baseball.

Why play baseball? The upside is less. The instant gratification is much less. if you become a baseball prospect, you go to the minors. An NBA prospect? You're on a team making big $$ immediately.

Really? that's pretty strange. i know that high schools in ohio play baseball in the spring

[niko]

Really? that's pretty strange. i know that high schools in ohio play baseball in the spring
we used to play in the fall. granted, im like a billion years old so if im wrong i apoligize. we played same time as football, so we'd go play and have 5 ****ing people watching. :facepalm The other points stand though. If you want accolades, gratification - baseball is not the place.

[Black Joker]

we used to play in the fall. granted, im like a billion years old so if im wrong i apoligize. we played same time as football, so we'd go play and have 5 ****ing people watching. :facepalm The other points stand though. If you want accolades, gratification - baseball is not the place.
that would be awful. i mean people still didn't go to hs baseball when i was in hs. but going against Football and even soccer to a lesser extent would just kill any attendance

[JohnnySic]

Yeah, I've never heard of playing baseball in the fall.

Plus, its not cold everywhere. A large proportion of ML players hail from the south where they can play year-round. Same reason why so many US hockey players are from the Great Lakes area.

[niko]

Yeah, I've never heard of playing baseball in the fall.

Plus, its not cold everywhere. A large proportion of ML players hail from the south where they can play year-round. Same reason why so many US hockey players are from the Great Lakes area.
20 years ago, when i played, we played in the fall from Late August to November. :confusedshrug:

Mind you let's not get sidetracked. The main reason is money. Cost, and the money you get back. If you are a 10 yr old african american who is a good athlete, you can afford basketball no matter what, and the $ and accolades you get back is more. There's no contest.

Plus baseball is boring if you are young. When i was young, we went to games early, the players came over and signed autographs, baseball was THE SHIT. Super popular. Probabyl my favorite sport. Now its not even close to football or basketball.

[FatComputerNerd]

Gangster Rap is to blame

[Godzuki]

All you need is a stick and a ball.


gloves are pretty expensive i think. so are bats, but sure if you're playing neighborhood you can probably get by with a stick and ball playing ghetto. or just buy a whiffle ball set.

hockey is a extremely expensive sport...so is golf.

[Godzuki]

Some of it is due to the 'instant gratification' society we live in. Basketball is so much more accessible that baseball is and is considered by many to be a boring sport.

Plus, when you're a kid, no one wants to develop team skills, it's all 'me me me' and basketball just about perfectly fits that mold when your 10.

it is boring to watch and play if you're young. no kid wants to sit out in the field all day waiting for a ball to occasionally go their way. no kid wants to wait for an at bat every 20 minutes. thats all you're basically doing unless you're a pitcher.

[Thorpesaurous]

Most of the good reasons have already been put in here.

Money is an issue. It really isn't a cheap game to play at a competitive level. But a side issue to money is time. A lot people with money issues also lack time, they spend there time trying to make ends meet. Working a second job, extra hours, whatever it takes. And Baseball simply takes more time up, particularly comparted to basketball. Getting to fields to play organized baseball, which requires participation from at least 18 people, is a lot different than being able to stroll to a park with a hoop and a ball and shooting alone. Baseball simply can't be played alone. And it requires space that a lot of inner cities don't have all over the place.

But I also think there's some truth to the fact that baseball doesn't accentuate the natural physical advantages that the African American obviously has. Sure being fast helps. But not to the degree it does playing basketball or football's skill positions. So if it's looked at that way, American blacks probably make up a reasonable percentage of pro-baseball. Without the physical advantage, their representation realistically more closely represents their percentage in society at large (I really believe this is a big part of the lack in hockey as well (which is also a money sport), but the skates somewhat level out the speed differential).

[KingBeasley08]

football and basketball>>>>>>>

[Unstoppabull]

Because basketball is better and more versatile.

Basketball has a lot more game variations, and all you really need is the ball.

You can even play by yourself!

[Hittin_Shots]

Because baseball is the epitome of horse shit... Id rather shoot myself in the face than die from boredom watching it...

[Hittin_Shots]

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/154917/no-more-baseball

[Hittin_Shots]

http://chzmemebase.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/memes-i-dont-always-troll-but-when-i-do.jpg

[sunsfan1357]

I think it has to do with more than cost. People keep comparing it to the cost of basketball, but what about football where to play competitively you need cleats, pads, helmet, etc.?

[GOBB]

All you need is a stick and a ball.

What world do you live in? Definately not Earth. You need more than a stick and ball. Baseball requires more resources than basketball and football. I played baseball as a youth living in the hood. And guess where I played baseball at? In a wealthier neighborhood. Stuff costs. Even maintaining a baseball field costs. But all you need is a street and some of grandmoms pillows as bases right?

The one league I played that was in the hood was so poor it wasnt even funny. The coaches didnt have a clue about the game. The ump was a drunk who has nothing else to do. He too lacked a clue about the game. The bats? One size fits all. I had my own personal bats from the league I played in. Had the other team begging to use them. You can organize a two hand touch football league better than a baseball one.

There is a reason why some MLB teams (maybe all, unsure what community work every team does) has players going into urban areas and fixing up a field, perhaps building a field. Trying to fund a baseball league. There is no one reason why the decline in blacks playing baseball has taken place. But it being expensive definately is one.

[Thorpesaurous]

I think it has to do with more than cost. People keep comparing it to the cost of basketball, but what about football where to play competitively you need cleats, pads, helmet, etc.?


But you don't need to play football competitively to excel at it. You can play pick up playground football and improve at running and catching and throwing.

Baseball really requires a hitter to face a competent pitcher in order to get any better.

[flipogb]

they let whites/hispanics/asians have baseball , cuz they own football and basketball already

[Balla_Status]

too busy selling crack

[L.Kizzle]

What world do you live in? Definately not Earth. You need more than a stick and ball. Baseball requires more resources than basketball and football. I played baseball as a youth living in the hood. And guess where I played baseball at? In a wealthier neighborhood. Stuff costs. Even maintaining a baseball field costs. But all you need is a street and some of grandmoms pillows as bases right?

The one league I played that was in the hood was so poor it wasnt even funny. The coaches didnt have a clue about the game. The ump was a drunk who has nothing else to do. He too lacked a clue about the game. The bats? One size fits all. I had my own personal bats from the league I played in. Had the other team begging to use them. You can organize a two hand touch football league better than a baseball one.

There is a reason why some MLB teams (maybe all, unsure what community work every team does) has players going into urban areas and fixing up a field, perhaps building a field. Trying to fund a baseball league. There is no one reason why the decline in blacks playing baseball has taken place. But it being expensive definately is one.
But you're talking about little leagues and what not, organized ball basically. Anything can be expensive or inexpensive, however you choose. You think all them old school baseball players grew up with the best bats and gloves and shoes, ect. They went into a field, and played with whatever they can find, ie; a stick or a ball.

Everyone is saying basketball is inexpensive, well it can be expensive if you want it too. Get some nice $120 shoes to play in, than get some of those jump soles, than some under amour, ect, ect.

[Vragrant]

To be honest, I have no idea...and I'm black as hell and love playing sports. We just don't play that shit. I grew up with a basketball and football. I used to think it was because our athletic builds (usually tall, lean, and lanky) were better suited for sports like basketball, track, and football. Now that I'm thinking about it, that doesn't sound right. I dunno...I don't play it because it's just hard. Hitting a small ball with a stick is hard and not fun. Personally, it's only fun when I'm way out in the field running for a ball or something.

I have a lot of respect for people who can hit a baseball. Its one of the hardest things to do in all sports. You can get better at it, but I honestly think most of it is just God given ability. Personally I sucked at it, but I knew people who could go to batting cages and do work.

[Balla_Status]

1) It's expensive (Bat, Glove, etc.) if you really want decent equipment and you need a field. Most parks have a basketball court, very few have baseball fields.
2) The HS's and intramural leagues don't focus on baseball. Also, baseball is played in the fall in HS when it's cold. HS is not around in the summer. HS baseball is not fun, i played - no one comes to the games. It's anonymous. BMOC doesn't play baseball.
3) Since Basketball and Football get all the accolades, the better athletes gravatate there. So those who want to build a relationship with the kids so they can represent them later on (AAU coaches, neighborhood leaders, agencies, etc.) give the free shoes, free equipment, (payoffs), etc. to those kids in those sports, not baseball.

Why play baseball? The upside is less. The instant gratification is much less. if you become a baseball prospect, you go to the minors. An NBA prospect? You're on a team making big $$ immediately.

Depends on the state. It's spring until end of summer here in Texas.

To answer OP: Baseball sucks and is slowly losing popularity here in the states. I consider this a good thing.

[PowerGlove]

But you're talking about little leagues and what not, organized ball basically. Anything can be expensive or inexpensive, however you choose. You think all them old school baseball players grew up with the best bats and gloves and shoes, ect. They went into a field, and played with whatever they can find, ie; a stick or a ball.

Everyone is saying basketball is inexpensive, well it can be expensive if you want it too. Get some nice $120 shoes to play in, than get some of those jump soles, than some under amour, ect, ect.

Obviously you can choose to play in Jordan's or signature nike shoes and that would make basketball more expensive but for people who have no money, they arent going on the court with the best sneakers they have. Come on now.

You can get a basketball for like 5-10 dollars and most likely play in the shoes you already have. How is baseball comparable?

Plus, you need a baseball diamond. Those arent easily found in the middle of a city.

Black Joker can vouch for me, the schools that play baseball in Ohio have multiple fields, I'm talking about 3-4. Some even have like mini stadiums and shit for their baseball team. All of the upper crust and suburban schools have teams. Too bad those have the lowest percentage of black students. Money plays a huge part.

As for the people saying that the dominican republic kids play with sticks and stones must not be paying attention. MLB teams are building state of the art facilities down there for grooming and scouting. I know the Mets did this for a fact, I remember watching an E:60 piece on it.

[GOBB]

But you're talking about little leagues and what not, organized ball basically. Anything can be expensive or inexpensive, however you choose. You think all them old school baseball players grew up with the best bats and gloves and shoes, ect. They went into a field, and played with whatever they can find, ie; a stick or a ball.

Everyone is saying basketball is inexpensive, well it can be expensive if you want it too. Get some nice $120 shoes to play in, than get some of those jump soles, than some under amour, ect, ect.

Ok so baseball isnt expensive. I follow, no really. Just pick up a stick or break one off a tree and find a ball. Makes sense.

[northwinds]

Its because whites have better eye/hand coordination....that's why they dominate golf and baseball....just sayin'

[PowerGlove]

Its because whites have better eye/hand coordination....that's why they dominate golf and baseball....just sayin'

That makes no damn sense. Wide recievers and RB's dont have hand eye coordination? SMH.

It called opportunity.

[L.Kizzle]

Ok so baseball isnt expensive. I follow, no really. Just pick up a stick or break one off a tree and find a ball. Makes sense.
For organized ball, yes. OP said nothin about organized ball, just said he doesn't see kids playing in the parks, ect. Some poster said you "need" a diamond for real, like you can't play without one.

I bet yall never played soccer with two cones, you need a big ass regulation goal or it's no game right.

[Balla_Status]

That makes no damn sense. Wide recievers and RB's dont have hand eye coordination? SMH.

It called opportunity.

Yeah...and it takes hand-eye to dribble a basketball too.

[Hittin_Shots]

Yeah...and it takes hand-eye to dribble a basketball too.

Or just hand if ya nt a tard that stares at the ball while dribbling....

[bagelred]

It is strange....using a bat to hit something white? You'd think black people would flock to that activity......




I keed, I keed........

[GOBB]

For organized ball, yes. OP said nothin about organized ball, just said he doesn't see kids playing in the parks, ect. Some poster said you "need" a diamond for real, like you can't play without one.

I bet yall never played soccer with two cones, you need a big ass regulation goal or it's no game right.

How else are you going to learn to hit a fastball? How are you going to learn to throw a fastball? Yeah just pick up a stick and find a ball. The old timers in the black and white days found ways.

OP asked why blacks stop playing baseball. One reason is its expensive.

[Balla_Status]

For organized ball, yes. OP said nothin about organized ball, just said he doesn't see kids playing in the parks, ect. Some poster said you "need" a diamond for real, like you can't play without one.

I bet yall never played soccer with two cones, you need a big ass regulation goal or it's no game right.

Uh...people play soccer with cones all the time.

Or water bottles...or shirts...or shoes.

[L.Kizzle]

How else are you going to learn to hit a fastball? How are you going to learn to throw a fastball? Yeah just pick up a stick and find a ball. The old timers in the black and white days found ways.

OP asked why blacks stop playing baseball. One reason is its expensive.
Are these the same young blacks who have the whole Jordan collection and have every clothing item with a name brand on it?

[northwinds]

That makes no damn sense. Wide recievers and RB's dont have hand eye coordination? SMH.

It called opportunity.

It takes a whole lot more hand/eye coordination to hit a little bitty golf ball, or a 98 MPH fastball, or throw a 98 mph fastball over a small plate....know what I mean...

[Hittin_Shots]

Are these the same young blacks who have the whole Jordan collection and have every clothing item with a name brand on it?

Ya can't steal a baseball game though

Just kiddin buddy

[Dasher]

I have no idea why Kizzle is arguing that baseball isn't expensive.

Back in the day factories and plants sponsored the teams that produced the great black players that starred in The Negro Leagues and Majors.

The big reasons we didn't play in my neighborhood we didn't play was it took too many kids to start a game. All you need is one person to enjoy basketball. It took only 3 for one of the variations of football we played. Heaven forbid someone actually got a hit. If a window isn't broken, leading to an ass-whipping, the ball would become lost, leading to a never-ending search.

[L.Kizzle]

[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFFQkQ6Va3A"]Chris Rock

[sundizz]

You dummies...it's because kids nowadays are different.

It's much harder to organize 10+ kids to do anything. Also, baseball is like 90% standing around for anyone not pitching or hitting so it isn't inherently very fun, unless it is a league or etc. All other games, like basketball, have constant involvement so it is easy to get people to play a pick up game as a kid.

[warriorfan]

[QUOTE=L.Kizzle][URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFFQkQ6Va3A"]Chris Rock

[dude77]

there are plenty of blacks in baseball ... what you're really trying to say is .. 'why aren't all baseball players black' .. you don't seem to have an issue with the low percentage of white football and basketball players ? why not a thread on that ?(rhetorical) .. there are already a good amount of black players .. just like there are a good amount of white football players .. could use a little more whitey players in the nba

[christian1923]

there are plenty of blacks in baseball ... what you're really trying to say is .. 'why aren't all baseball players black' .. you don't seem to have an issue with the low percentage of white football and basketball players ? why not a thread on that ?(rhetorical) .. there are already a good amount of black players .. just like there are a good amount of white football players .. could use a little more whitey players in the nba
Its just a shame their arn't more players. Alot of the greatest players were black.

Football and basketball is different. Alot of White guys just arnt good enough to make the pros. But there is plenty of whites in college basketball and football

[dude77]

Its just a shame their arn't more players. Alot of the greatest players were black.

Football and basketball is different. Alot of White guys just arnt good enough to make the pros. But there is plenty of whites in college basketball and football

why is that a shame ? again, there are many blacks in the majors .. you're bothered because they're not ALL black .. why ? .. they still have good presentation .. why does it bother you that someone else is getting the chance to shine ? .. I'm sure it doesn't bother you that there's only like 15% white bball players and black players are getting all the success of the league, even though there are a lot of very capable white players out there ..

a lot of the greatest football players are also white so lets talk about why aren't there more white football players .. it's a shame ain't it ? .. I'd sure as heck would like to see more of them because there are lot of capable white players .. but I'm not gonna complain about it ..

it's fine the way it is right now .. it's not like the entire league is 100% white or anything

as for that comment .. 'a lot of white guys aren't good enough for the pros' .. that goes for a lot of black players too .. a shitload of them

[ROCSteady]

Cuz G Baby got smoked

[MavsSuperFan]

There are some fundamental socio-economic reasons which lead to its demise in the black community.

The main reason is because there are so many more scholarships on offer in football and basketball. Division 1 schools can only offer 11.7 scholarships to the entire baseball team and many offer even less. This means that most college baseball players get fractional scholarships or pay their own way and sadly this leaves out a lot of black players.

So, only the black players who opt to play baseball straight out of high school will for the most part have a chance at the majors. This route is less popular though as many of these same athletes are eligible for football or basketball scholarships (3 sport stars) and put they baseball on the back burner as a fall back sport opting firsts to pursue an education.

Smash cut to the future and baseball has fallen off the map in urban centers and areas with large black populations. Blacks in the 60s and 70s were also a source of cheap labor, they'd get paid less than white players, but since the 80s the pay has been more or less equal, so MLB teams now look to Latin America to obtain talent at a discounted pay rate.
This is the perfect answer imo. That is probably the underlying reason why blacks switched from baseball towards basketball and football.

A lot of black kids that become pro athletes use sports as a way to make better lives for themselves. They realize as kids and young teens that their talent is much greater than most of the kids around them, and thus see a future in pro sports. Supposedly sometimes their parents even put pressure on them to improve at their sport the way a lot of parents do on their kids to improve academically.

I remember listening to a podcast where jalen rose talk about his experience and how it was awesome when he realized that his skill at basketball was his and his mother's ticket out of a life where at best realistically they would be lower middle class laborers, Eg. without basketball it would have been difficult to afford a university education.

There is a snowball effect where black kids watch sports and identify more with the black players in the NBA and NFL and thus are less inclined to try to play baseball, as they dont see players they identify with.

[Jameerthefear]

why is that a shame ? again, there are many blacks in the majors .. you're bothered because they're not ALL black .. why ? .. they still have good presentation .. why does it bother you that someone else is getting the chance to shine ? .. I'm sure it doesn't bother you that there's only like 15% white bball players and black players are getting all the success of the league, even though there are a lot of very capable white players out there ..

a lot of the greatest football players are also white so lets talk about why aren't there more white football players .. it's a shame ain't it ? .. I'd sure as heck would like to see more of them because there are lot of capable white players .. but I'm not gonna complain about it ..

it's fine the way it is right now .. it's not like the entire league is 100% white or anything

as for that comment .. 'a lot of white guys aren't good enough for the pros' .. that goes for a lot of black players too .. a shitload of them
why are you such a ****ing idiot? stop trying to make this into something it isnt

[Jailblazers7]

Andrew McCutchen had a good article about his experience to put this question into context:

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/left-out/

[DCL]

it's because playing basketball is just way more fun than playing baseball.

my biased view, of course.

[oarabbus]

Because baseball sucks compared to basketball and football. It's the fastest declining sport (it's boring as shit) while basketball is growing rapidly. Football is already king.

[MavsSuperFan]

it's because playing basketball is just way more fun than playing baseball.

my biased view, of course.

Because baseball sucks compared to basketball and football. It's the fastest declining sport (it's boring as shit) while basketball is growing rapidly. Football is already king.

The problem with this explanation is it fails to address what caused the change. By all accounts baseball used to be the favorite sport of african americans. Basketball and football both existed at that time.

[DCL]

The problem with this explanation is it fails to address what caused the change. By all accounts baseball used to be the favorite sport of african americans. Basketball and football both existed at that time.

false accounts. baseball was just something to do with when basketball season was done. it was not the favorite.

[senelcoolidge]

Well if someone wants their kids to be a professional athlete, baseball would be the best route. They make the most money. You're less likely to have concussions and brain damage. You can be average height and be a good baseball player. It's a game of skill though, so it's not for everyone.

[ALBballer]

So Basically since there are less Black players there are less black fans.

NBA and NFL are predominately Black and white viewership is probably as high as ever. Hell in the NBA there are no white American superstars (unless Kevin Love or Gordan Hawyard count) and that doesn't seem to phase most honkeys.

[L.Kizzle]

false accounts. baseball was just something to do with when basketball season was done. it was not the favorite.
I don't think their was a black league for basketball and football back in the 30s-40s like the Negro Leagues. You had Globetrotters and Rens and the Black Fives but they weren't leagues. Just teams spread around different organizations.

[DCL]

I don't think their was a black league for basketball and football back in the 30s-40s like the Negro Leagues. You had Globetrotters and Rens and the Black Fives but they weren't leagues. Just teams spread around different organizations.

why are you bringing up pre-civil rights movement adult leagues in the 30s-40s? the time period we're talking about is now.

talking about kids with choices and playing in much later periods like recent times starting with nothing higher than grade school. the top athletic kids focus on basketball or football more because they're simply more fun. some like to over analyze it and bring up future careers or earning structures or whatever and that's just silly. dude, 8-year-olds do not have grand business plans. :oldlol:

they just play because they love to play. and when you run the fastest and jump the highest, you're probably having more fun playing basketball or football anyway. then add elements of doing crossovers and all that and you got kids voluntarily wanting to spend hours dribbling in their backyards. it's not the money. that element doesn't even enter until much later. kids at that age don't even understand the concept of money yet. $1000 is a lot of money to them. LOL they're just friggin 8-year-old kids, playing what they naturally love and have fun in.

[oarabbus]

The problem with this explanation is it fails to address what caused the change. By all accounts baseball used to be the favorite sport of african americans. Basketball and football both existed at that time.


people have been waking up to the fact it's boring as shit. Back in 1930 when you had all day to shove your thumb up your ass it was a nice way to pass the time, hence why it's the American Pastime.

But now people have shit to do it's the 21st century and that whack ass sport is falling to the superior sport of Basketball

[Dresta]

I would guess the decline of the black family has something to do with it. Bball is a sport you play with your peers & stuff, baseball perhaps more likely to be taught to boys by their dads.

[Nick Young]

baseball is the most boring sport in America. I hope it dies soon.

[9erempiree]

I would guess the decline of the black family has something to do with it. Bball is a sport you play with your peers & stuff, baseball perhaps more likely to be taught to boys by their dads.

You had to didn't you?

[Dresta]

You had to didn't you?
Someone had to... :cheers: