The number of black professional baseball players in the United States has fallen to an all-time low. “It’s not something we can be proud of as a sport.”

The number of black players from their country has decreased in recent years in American baseball. This season is at an all-time low. Hope for a turnaround is associated with a new generation, as is the case with the annual draft that kicked off in Seattle on Sunday. The live baseball score has been unable to reflect the success of the new generation.

The stats in last year’s Final between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies were staggering: For the first time since 1950, no black American made the final battle. “It looks bad,” said Dusty Baker of Houston, one of two black coaches in the American League. “This is something we can’t be proud of as a sport.”

At the start of the current season, which is now halfway through, a sobering new observation followed: Only 6.2 percent of major league baseball players are black and Native American. The share was the lowest since 1991, when the University of Central Florida began recording players’ backgrounds.

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In the 1980s and early 1990s, black Americans still accounted for roughly a quarter of major league players. Stars like Reggie Jackson and Ken Griffey Jr. They were the banner bearers of the competition. Baseball was a popular sport in American inner cities, but in recent decades the connection between the major league and the black population of the United States has faded.

Basketball and American football are becoming a more attractive alternative for young people; It is easier to get scholarships through the two sports. The proportion of black baseball players in college is even lower than among professionals.

The lack of new symbols would hinder participation among black American youth. For a major league lead, who is down to the stomach with attitude, star status Aaron Judge is called upon. The majestic New York Yankees home run king was named the best player in his league last year.

Shorter matches

Another explanation: Baseball can no longer hold the attention of young blacks, as the sport threatens to lose the interest of young Americans in general. This season, the major league has made games shorter. The old, unwritten rules about celebrating home runs with a bang, or challenging opponents, have been relaxed before. Sport has to become “cool” again.

Earlier this season, the major league proudly presented numbers on diversity in the league. According to the league, 40 percent of baseball players have a “variety” background. By far the largest part, about 30 percent, comes from Latin America. The decline in the number of black American players has been accompanied by a sharp increase in baseball players from countries such as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. They are popular with American clubs because they are not recruited through the draft, the annual round of selection with new talent, but they can sign as players without transfers. So the contracts are cheaper.

Scouts from professional clubs have lost sight of young, black, and American baseball players in recent decades because the sport has become more expensive at the youth level. Parents must pay hundreds of dollars for equipment, training and travel allowances in private. He. She ‘travel ball“which involves so many talented young baseball players is primarily intended for affluent families, a group where black Americans are still underrepresented.” Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers responded, “Kids from the inner city are held back by the high prices.” USA Today. “And a few of them play baseball.”

Cautious shift

The Major League has taken action in recent years to turn things around. Training camps for underprivileged children were held across the country. The Dream Series, named after Martin Luther King’s famous speech, appears to be paying off. A cautious shift appears imminent.

A list compiled by experts of the 100 Greatest Talents lists the names of several black American baseball players. In last year’s draft, nine black Americans were among the first thirty players selected. The increase in this year’s selection round, which begins on Sunday and lasts three days, is also promising, according to experts.

It remains to be seen if the talent will actually make it to the major league; Only a small part of the players who, as usual, start out in development teams, get to the highest level. “The foundation is there, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Tony Riggins, a former player responsible for scouting talented black baseball players on behalf of the Major League. “We need to be patient.”

Jackie Robinson

We feel the lack of black players a little more each year on April 15, the day Major League Jackie Robinson is honored. At the end of the 19th century, black players were banned from the professional league. With Robinson’s debut in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, racial segregation in American baseball came to an end. The star player opened the gate to many others.

C.C. Sabathia of The Players Alliance, a group of former pros who want to bring blacks back into baseball, said the current small number of black major league players is “disappointing.” Progress has been made. I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I’m noticing that a lot of excavation work is going on right now.