Since 2004, Jackie Robinson Day has been a national day of introspection and respect. The celebration has also become an outlet for hand-wringing about the “problem” of the diminishing African-American presence in the major leagues.
We’ve all seen the numbers: African-Americans made up about 8.5 percent of the players in the majors last year, down from 18 percent 20 years earlier. There are fewer African-American starting pitchers now than there were 50 years ago.
The decline is often explained away by a combination of cultural shifts and economics.
¶ Baseball is a father-son sport. Many black fathers, for a variety of reasons, are not in their sons’ lives.
¶ Baseball, with the cost of equipment and travel for competition, is an expensive sport.
¶ Baseball is a sport of skill more than athleticism, and the skills must be learned early on in youth systems that may be beyond the reach of those who live in economically depressed areas.
¶ Basketball and football have siphoned off top black athletes.
