People are always trying to fix things. Nothing it seems is good enough anymore.
The same can be said for baseball -it’s too slow, not exciting enough, doesn’t appeal to young people.
The simple fact is that baseball is about people, history and the numbers.
The other simple fact is that the only thing baseball is missing are fathers and that directly contributes to the dwindling numbers of African-American players in Major League Baseball.
It’s not a problem solely belonging to baseball. It’s a societal problem.
That change has to begin at home.
I have had this conversation with numerous current and former Major League players like Royals great Frank White and Twins outfielder Torii Hunter. No matter who you talk to from whichever era you would like to choose – the common denominator among all of them is that their fathers handed down their love of the game.
I found it interesting watching Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO last week that comedian Chris Rock essentially did a stand up routine talking about the decreasing numbers of African-American players in the big leagues. He gave some really good points and the bottom line was that there weren’t enough fathers in the community handing down the history and stories of America’s Pastime.
You can see the entire segment on YouTube but didn’t want to post it here because of “colorful” language.
There’s something about just going out and playing catch.
My father passed away when I was two-years old.
My mother – who will always be my role model and hero – took on his role and God bless her played catch and took me to games. An Easter basket full of baseball cards and a new Indians or Reds hat was a tradition. Still today she’ll ask me if I watched the game last night. Whether she really likes baseball or she has taken it on because she new it was important to me matters not. She was there and still continues to be with her love of Tommy Lasorda.
This part of my life unfortunately isn’t shared by many in the African-American community.
I’ve been blessed.
There are no easy answers to solve this problem as it is bigger than baseball but effects it nonetheless.
The RBI program in communities is growing and is a great example of people passing on their love of the game. Volunteers make that program flourish as do those fathers who are there supporting their kids and mentoring others. An estimated 230,000 will participate in RBI this year with all 30 MLB teams supporting the program.
Though the numbers of black baseball players in the major leagues is at an all-time low at just over eight percent – they are influential.
Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, the a fore mentioned Hunter in Minnesota lead community projects and are role models kids as are a handful of others.
I wonder what Jackie Robinson would have thought about today’s game and it’s lack of players he fought so hard to give a chance.
Robinson opened a door of possibilities few thought existed. Now the questions is – how do we put our foot in the door and keep it from closing.
Dave Barr (@daveabarr)
