African Americans make up about 10% of the general population. I bet if you took a survey of most 25 man rosters and did a count of the number of US citizen players - at least 10% of those players would be African Americans. It really is the number of international players who has expanded as much as a decline in African American players playing.

Last year Gordon Edes (one of the best in the business) had a similar article's in the Boston Globe. The article basic premise was that the Red Sox Opening Day line-up did not have a single African American. The article didn't mention the fact that the Red Sox offered Cliff Floyd arbitration and were turned down and it played down the fact that Pedro was the starting pitcher, Manny was in left, Johnny Damon (half-Thai) was in center and Nomar (Mexican American) was at short. It seems a non-issue to me.

My understanding is that black Americans do draw a distinction between Latins of African descent and Americans of African descent. I don't think Sammy Sosa considers himself black, and most blacks don't consider him black. The issue isn't whether blacks are fairly represented, its that the number of black Americans playing baseball is decreasing. It is not in Major League Baseball's interests to have a significant portion of the population not interested in baseball.

Good point Shawn, re. the difference between African-Americans vs. blacks in other countries. You can even see the tension between African-Americans whose parents/grandparents were born in the states, as opposed to those who's parents were born in say, Haiti.

If the declining participation of African-Americans is by some choice (well, many choices on the part of families), that's one thing. But perhaps there's some other cause. If so, it's worth investigation and some investment.

Ralph Wiley's "Ralph Wiley Attacks Bill James" Page 2 column, which actually was about this very topic, had some interesting anecdotal stuff (I know, there's much to wade through):

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/wiley/030715.html

Apropos is his paragraph about baseball being a culture, and kids needing to be mentored to learn the game. Well, if you lose a generation there, there's no one to teach the next generation, and you have declining numbers.

If something like this has happened in particular areas like L.A., then it makes sense for MLB to try to get some youth programs going.

Felipe Alou had some interesting comments a few months ago about the difference between Afro-Latin ballplayers and African-Americans, and the shock of coming to the States for the first time and being considered "black." The cultural differences are huge. (Sorry, I did a quick search but couldn't find the article.)

I also sort of wonder - and one always treads lightly when coming anywhere near race issues - if current baseball trends are part of the issue.

It's fairly accepted that one area that those of african heritage excel at is speed. And indeed, many of the great base stealers of days gone by are black.

As the stolen base becomes less important as an offensive weapon, as GMs start to value skills more than tools, doesn't that play a part? There's a certain kind of very physically gifted athlete that does a lot better at basketball or football than baseball, where one has to translate those tools into finely developed skills.

In other words, it takes a much wider range of traits, some of them mental, to excel in baseball than in other sports, so it makes sense that baseball would trend away from a skillset that was heavy in any one genetic population. Especially once we stop valuing those skill subsets that are favored in some genetics as much as we used to.

That, and basketball is extremely good at marketing to inner city youth (to the point of often isolating others who used to be fans, but can't relate to the basketball culture anymore.) And hey, if Selig wants to work on that, it's about the best use for him.

[stating the obvious]
There's a lot more space available for a 94-foot basketball court than for a baseball diamond in inner cities. There are a lot more chances to put together 3-on-3 hoops than 9-on-9 baseball there as well.
[end]

Linkmeister, I see your point, but how easy is it to set up a football game, given all the equipment necessary? I suppose there's the pick-up football game as well, but there hasn't been the kind of falloff in black participation in college and pro football that there has been in baseball.

Cleveland:

Matt Lawton (LF) - born Gulfport, MS
Milton Bradley (CF) - born Harbor City, FL
Jody Gerut (RF) - born Elmhurst, IL

'nuff said.

If you ask the 50 and 60 year olds what they did during the summer as kids, odds are that they will tell you they "played baseball." In the 40s, 50s and 60s both city and suburban parks were filled with kids of all colors and persuasions playing pick-up ball from dawn to dusk.

Many of those parks have disappeared to development and most of the remaining ones are fenced and reserved for use by formal organizations of one sort or another.

There's probably a zillion variables involved but the bottom line is that American kids just do not play baseball as much as they did a generation or two ago. And in case you haven't noticed American kids come in every color and variety.

In my neighborhood in Brooklyn (which is mainly Puerto Rican and Dominican), the kids flock to the park to play baseball as soon as the snow melts in february or march -- both pickup games and more organized leagues.

I think the post above has it right that it's a lot easier to organize a pickup basketball game than it is a baseball game. My point is that while it is a problem that African American kids are not playing baseball like they used to, to say that kids in the inner cities aren't playing is just incorrect. The kids who are playing are from cultures where baseball is immensely popular.

"I wonder if they've bothered looking at the Chicago Cubs, where Alou, Patterson and Sosa all look black to me."

Alou and Sosa are both Dominican (Sosa was born there, Alou is first generation American), and yeah, neither considers himself black.

Good topic. Blacks are just not as interested in baseball anymore. Sad, but true. Selig will have his work cut out to turn this around. I personally don't feel a 65 year old white male (Selig) can relate enough to black youth to come up with viable options.

More on Latin blacks vs American blacks: What does everyone consider Andruw Jones? He's from Caracao, speaks English and Dutch rather than Spanish, yet he's still called "Latin." Makes no sense to me. Also makes little sense that Bernie Williams is considered Latin and Al Soriano may be the blackest man in baseball.

There is no difference between American blacks and Latin blacks except for the language. We all originated in the same place. Who says that Latin blacks don't consider ourselves black? It's a lie. For the record Alfonso Soriano and Sammy Sosa are considered black in the Dominican Republic.

I agree When I see Black players on the field the only difference is the language. Also it is interesting that the Latin players have "African features ie color, hair etc) so there really is no way to tell the difference. You cant because people of African decent are spread through out the Americas. So it doesnt bother me too much cause when I see them I see me and we all know that !!!

Alou and Sosa are in denial especailly Sammy cause there are some Black Americans here who would find him too dark ...but I can understand the denial it comes with ignorance and after the cork in bat drama Sammy learned JUST HOW BLACK HE REALLY IS !!. But its denial and shame and what can you do. And Alou well he looks Black to me and I'm sure if the police stopped him one day they will remind him too.

And for the record, ...even Derek Jetter for who's the Yanks shortstop understands he's a Black man (I wish Tiger would see that well he will if his loosing streak continues the media will remind him)

why does race have to come into play at all? why can't it just be the best man for the job, like it should be in all aspects of life? as long as people (minorities, majorities) keep b*tching about this bullsh*t, racism will never go away. it's time for everyone to shut up and live life.

by the way, I almost forgot, "d", you are an idiot in the true sense of the word. it's time to step out and take a good look inside yourself before you do something tragic like distort and disrupt the lives of those who may love you.

I'm from the virgin island st. croix, I have a 14th an under baseball team. I would like to take part in one of your tornament. Please e-mail. Thank you.