Major League Baseball has a diversity problem, experts say. This year’s World Series is proof

In Minneapolis they build outdoor rinks even in the middle of the city. The first time I saw the boards for one I asked a friend why did they build a corral in that park since it looks like a rodeo corral. They were mystified and when I explained the boarded up areas they said that is for hockey.

This scene from the Mighty Ducks was shot not too far from my house and is in Phillips park which is actually a predominately black and Native American neighborhood.

 

Once Basketball established itself in the 80's as a marquee sport on par with baseball, the sport never stood a chance when it came to competing for athletes. Basketball is flashier, has better off court fame, far more college options, has a less qualifiers for participation, is what their friends are playing, and is dominated by people who look like them. There's literally not one thing they can point to a hold up as a reason they should play this sport instead.

Black people also only comprise 12% of the population. When you look at the overall ratio of Americans in the league, they aren't as grossly underrepresented as you would think. I don't see this changing, and that doesn't really bother me. Do I wish more black guys liked baseball, sure, but baseball and black people will be fine without each other.

 

Basketball and football are more popular HS and college sports. Most students do not attend HS or college baseball games.

Popularity drives spending in HS and college. Getting a good coach. Recruiting good players. etc.

If you have a kid who likes playing baseball, you can not expect the middle school and high school coaches be worth a damn. To grow your kid's skills you will need private lessons and to join a travel team o as to play more competitively. Both are serious time and money commitments.

To play D1 baseball, your kid will likely need to play on a top regional travel team, which is even more time and money.

 

Mostly agree.

If you are a great HS athlete, there are better odds that you can become a pro baseball player than basketball ... and better odds, if you do become a pro, that you will have a longer career. These are thoughts that HSers do not have though.

 

I've heard from parents and coaches that it's getting harder and harder to succeed in basketball (getting college scholarships) without doing those things.

 

Have you been to the DR? It's not like the urban areas in the US, it's total sprawl

 

I am not sure this is true.

First of all, there are a lot of overseas leagues you can play in - a ton, and get what would be a very good salary compared to a job in the US.
Secondly, it's less risky. In baseball after college you have to spend years in the minor leagues. Whereas with basketball you go from college to the NBA or another league. Even if you end up in the g league you are going to make a lot more than you would in the minor leagues.

 

Pro baseball only has 3 leagues with significant earnings (MLB, NPB, & KBO). Pro basketball though has leagues that pay well throughout the world. If you want to make a living playing one, Basketball is easier if you are willing to go overseas.

 

I know a guy that played low level college basketball and played professionally for a few years overseas making 6 figures.

 

Perhaps this thread will unite the D&D….perhaps?

 

Who said it was easy?

 

I'd be interested to see data on this.

I wonder what sport, of the big American 4, is the easiest to get a college scholarship in?

 

Preferred sport to watch in the United States as of January 2020, by ethnicity

Football
White - 38%
Hispanic - 40%
African American - 36%

Basketball
White - 11%
Hispanic - 19%
African American - 39%

Baseball
White - 16%
Hispanic - 11%
African American - 8%

 

Let's be TOTALLY honest.

A lot of KIDS are not that interested in baseball now a days.

Football is king. Basketball is more popular with black kids. It's also easier to play. I don't know about everyone here, but me and a group of 3 guys could regularly play a "game" of basketball in my driveway.

Baseball with two friends isn't that fun. You play a little catch and then bail.

Overall viewership trends show the same issues. Viewership down with black people but also down overall with young people. It's just not America's pastime anymore.

 

Glad you mentioned this.

I have not seen a deep dive article on this but ...

I was including minor league ball in my thought "experiment". There are 32 MLB teams. Each has minor league teams at levels AAA, AA, A+, A- and complex. Astros have more and most teams also have a DR team. Ball parking, each team has 5 minor league teams with about 30 players per, for a total of about 150 minor league players per team. 32 x 150 equals 4800 players in the minors. 32 x 26 equals 832 players in The MLB. Teams play all sorts of games in roster construction, so these numbers are low.

Versus basketball

30 team x 15 players x 2 league (NBA, G) equals 900 players.

My thought experiment did not include overseas pro basketball league, which there are quite a few (or overseas pro baseball leagues for that matter).