| On a May 28, 2006 Barry Bonds succeeded in | | | | marketing to black youth, who rarely ever go to |
| hitting his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth's | | | | MLB games. And making the National Football |
| homerun record and now second to Hank Aaron's | | | | League (NFL) is far more attractive than an |
| Major League Baseball (MLB) all-time home run | | | | arduous and lengthy learning process on the way |
| record of 755, it is representative in a number of | | | | to earning a MLB contract. Both the NBA and the |
| ways of the present state of MLB. Specifically, | | | | NFL although now require at least a year of |
| the state of the game's future in the | | | | college play, are a fast track on the way to fast |
| African-American community comes to mind. And | | | | bucks for those lucky enough to make it. Still, the |
| it might be an appropriate time to reexamine the | | | | family fabric not only in the inner city, but more |
| decline of participation of the black athlete in | | | | pronounced there, has destroyed the learning |
| baseball, which is a far more multi-faceted | | | | curve necessary to build a baseball following. |
| problem than commonly expressed. | | | | Baseball requires a father or father figure such as |
| While there is a dearth of interest among young | | | | a youth leader or mentor to have an impact |
| boys and teenagers in the black community | | | | upon, what used to be considered the National |
| participating in organized baseball, the reasons | | | | Pastime, the inner-city child. And if they are not |
| most often provided are shortsighted and often | | | | hooked by age 13 or 14, it's hard to get them |
| too easy to come by. Without an honest | | | | interested later. |
| discourse between the leaders of the black | | | | Requisite hand-eye coordination skills do not come |
| communities throughout the United States, as well | | | | to children naturally and must be learned, unlike |
| as some candor coming from the offices of MLB, | | | | the immediate impact of shooting a basketball or |
| what seems an insurmountable problem to attract | | | | running with a football. It takes patience and |
| blacks to baseball, will forever remain. | | | | fortitude for those skills that must be nurtured. |
| And although it is simply too easy to blame any | | | | Historically, such nurturers were fathers. But also |
| one entity for all of the fall-off of black players in | | | | absent today is the presence of present MLB |
| baseball, the primary beneficiary, of ignoring | | | | players who do not involve themselves with the |
| players from the U.S. including white players, | | | | community like Hall of Famers, Hank Aaron, Willie |
| remains MLB. And it must be held accountable, | | | | Mays, Frank Robinson and Reggie Jackson did. The |
| regardless of myriad cultural reasons attributed to | | | | black MLB player today must step up even more |
| children's lack of interest in baseball, predominantly | | | | so, especially because of the lack of male role |
| in the inner city neighborhoods, for its lack of | | | | models in the black community. |
| investment in them. | | | | The dissolution of the once three-sport player has |
| On February 28, 2006, MLB opened its first Urban | | | | also added to the demise of baseball in the inner |
| Youth Academy in the U.S. At a cost of $3 million | | | | city. Many public schools only field a football team |
| which took three years to complete, with the | | | | or basketball team and have dropped baseball |
| idea shopped around for six, MLB Commissioner | | | | altogether. Intramural programs, the victim of |
| Bud Selig clucked, "This is the first of what I hope | | | | budget cuts, only heightens the chances that |
| is a series of academies all over America." The | | | | black youth will be absorbed into gangs, due to |
| facility is located at the campus of Compton | | | | lack of organized programs for them. |
| Community College on 10 acres of land in | | | | And for college baseball players, scouting is limited |
| Compton, CA, south of Los Angeles. It includes | | | | and even more so for the black baseball athlete |
| two regulation size baseball diamonds, a youth | | | | who rarely competes in baseball in college due to |
| field and one for girl's softball and a 12,000 square | | | | the small scholarships awarded for baseball. Even |
| foot clubhouse with locker room, weight room | | | | Howard University has dropped its baseball |
| and other training facilities. It is expected to be a | | | | program, which one would think is a no-brainer for |
| prototype for other U.S. facilities, through the | | | | the development of African American baseball |
| Urban Youth Initiative, which will serve not only as | | | | players, given its vast appreciation of black |
| a catalyst for reviving baseball but a place for | | | | history. The National Collegiate Athletic Association |
| inner-city youth to enjoy each summer and after | | | | only allows for 11.7 baseball scholarships at any |
| school. | | | | given time for a team of 30 players on a roster. |
| Starting in June 2006, 125 children each day are | | | | Full scholarships are rare. Football, however, is |
| expected to participate and to be given instruction | | | | allowed up to 85 scholarships and basketball gets |
| by professional level coaches on playing the game. | | | | 13 for a roster half the size of baseball's. Both |
| The monetary investment however was not | | | | programs are provided far more full scholarships. |
| solely supplied by MLB. $70,000.00 was collectively | | | | Frank Robinson, now 70, and presently the |
| donated by Enos Cabell, Jr. and Tim Purpura, GM | | | | Manager of the Washington Nationals after holding |
| of the Houston Astros for batting cages and | | | | several positions within MLB, became part of the |
| $500,000.00 was donated by L.A.'s Anaheim | | | | first generation of great black players who |
| Angels. Access to classrooms and computers are | | | | followed Jackie Robinson's breaking the color |
| being made available by Compton Community | | | | barrier in 1947. And Frank Robinson holds today's |
| College. Compton was picked primarily as so | | | | players accountable. "People don't see minorities |
| many African-Americans from MLB's past arose | | | | attached to the community or going home and |
| from Compton, but also because the college | | | | giving something back. Now the stars and the top |
| donated a number of its facilities. It takes on | | | | players, they hide. They don't go into the |
| average three years to build a Major League | | | | community. They don't go back into the inner city |
| stadium. It is stunning how long it took to put in | | | | or where their roots were. Baseball is now third, |
| four ball fields and a clubhouse with so little | | | | maybe fourth in the [inner-city] household." |
| financial investment from MLB and whose idea | | | | Yet, the baseball draft instilled in 1965, with |
| largely came to the Commissioner's Office as a | | | | stricter age limits, combined with MLB's vastly |
| grass roots effort. | | | | increased development in Latin America over the |
| In 1989, former Major League player, John Young, | | | | past 20 years, remain the biggest impediments, |
| developed a program called RBI or Reviving | | | | along with the lack of MLB's moral will, in increasing |
| Baseball in Inner Cities in South Central Los | | | | the African-American presence in MLB. Much like |
| Angeles for children ages 12-18. In 1991, MLB got | | | | the ill-fated acceptance of the offshoring of U.S. |
| involved and assumed its administration. MLB then | | | | manufacturing jobs by U.S. multi-national |
| teamed with the Sporting Goods Manufacturing | | | | corporations, MLB has enjoyed the same |
| Association from 1993-1996 in providing grants to | | | | misguided regime, regardless if it ultimately hurts |
| various cities demonstrating financial need. After | | | | the American athlete. |
| five years, Young went national and by 1997 RBI | | | | Commissioner Selig stated after the 2005 season |
| collaborated with various chapters of the Boys | | | | that gate receipts, merchandising revenue, team |
| & Girls Clubs of America. However, MLB and | | | | revenue- sharing and acquired broadcast rights |
| its individual teams have only provided $15 million | | | | revenue were at all-time highs in MLB. He likes the |
| for RBI since 1991. | | | | public to know that, given his abysmal |
| The RBI program now includes both boys and | | | | management in other areas such allowing steroids |
| girls and its objective is to also include nurturing | | | | in baseball over the years, the 1994 strike, the |
| children's interest in school along with baseball as | | | | handling of the sale of the Montreal Expos, |
| the main component. It claims that it has helped | | | | including his lack of involvement with the black |
| more than 150,000 children in more than 200 | | | | community. However, while baseball enjoys such |
| cities worldwide play baseball. And its Quick | | | | "good times," like its multi-national counterparts, |
| SMART! Program addresses the issues of alcohol, | | | | MLB does not reinvest in the U.S. |
| tobacco and other harmful drugs with city youth. | | | | Much like cheap labor overseas appears to be a |
| Says Roberto Clemente, Jr., who founded the RBI | | | | required component of U.S. industry, similarly the |
| program in Pittsburgh, "RBI keeps kids out of | | | | benefits of signing and investing in baseball players |
| trouble and off the streets, while at the same | | | | has been relegated to Latin American players and |
| time teaching them to stay in school. The | | | | more recently in Asia, where the rules of the U.S. |
| educational components help them realize their | | | | do not apply. So instead, MLB has found new |
| potential and worth in receiving college scholarships | | | | ways to circumvent its problems by merely |
| based not only on athletics, but academics." But | | | | skipping over U.S. players. And while the |
| one can question the program's expansion | | | | African-American community has seen the |
| worldwide before the job is done in the U.S. | | | | starkest decline in participation, the white |
| "Campos Las Palmas has set the standard for | | | | community is also losing ground to foreign players. |
| what a baseball academy should be and we're | | | | More than 40% of major and minor league |
| extremely proud of the work done here, not only | | | | players are born outside of the U.S., with nearly |
| on the field, but in the community as well." No, this | | | | 30% comprising the major leagues. It is predicted |
| is not another baseball academy planned for the | | | | that by 2007 over 50% of all major and minor |
| U.S. but a quote from Frank McCourt, owner of | | | | league players will be Latin Americans. |
| the Los Angeles Dodgers, upon his visit to the | | | | Prior to 1965, teams could contract with any high |
| Dodger's Dominican Republic baseball complex, in | | | | school graduate that scouts identified. Since it was |
| celebrating its 20th year anniversary, earlier in | | | | believed that this advantaged only the wealthier |
| 2006. And while no one can find fault with the | | | | teams, MLB imposed the draft. U.S. citizens could |
| individual efforts of the RBI program nor with the | | | | no longer be signed immediately, starting the cycle |
| idea of Urban Youth Academies in the U.S., it is | | | | of lack of development investment by particular |
| necessary to contrast those programs with over | | | | clubs. Along with supposedly eliminating the |
| the $60 million dollars each year which MLB and its | | | | exploitation of underage players, the age |
| individual teams pour into Latin American countries | | | | restrictions followed. However, a player can be |
| for player development. | | | | signed to a MLB contract at age 16 in Latin |
| Most MLB teams have more than one such facility | | | | America with the clubs spending several years |
| in Latin America with the most located in the | | | | developing those players far earlier. By the time a |
| Dominican Republic, followed by Venezuela. When | | | | U.S. player reaches 18 or 21 if they are in college, |
| Camp Las Palmas opened in the 1987 season, it | | | | they are years behind Latin American players. |
| was the first facility of its kind and became the | | | | Secondly, the contracts offered the Latin |
| universal prototype for all MLB teams in Latin | | | | American undeveloped players are far less than |
| America. It sits on 75 acres of land, equipped with | | | | those offered drafted U.S. prospects. And prior to |
| two full and two half baseball fields, a dining room, | | | | 1984 there was no age limit on signing Latin |
| kitchen, recreation room and two two-story | | | | American players who were signed as young as |
| dormitories accommodating 100 players. In | | | | 12 or 14. |
| addition, it provides lessons in adapting to | | | | Since developing players is a big expense, MLB |
| American culture, classes in English, and nutritional | | | | simply went after the "cheap and unregulated |
| counseling. | | | | labor." Sound familiar? And for foreign and U.S. |
| Players stay up to 30 days at a time and can be | | | | players of similar talent levels the expected |
| signed at age 16 unlike players in the U.S. where | | | | recompense for U.S. players is much lower given |
| players must at least complete high school or be | | | | the lack of property rights in developing him and |
| 18 years of age. If they are enrolled in college, | | | | what is expected to be a shorter career. If it is a |
| U.S. players must wait until the age of 21 to be | | | | choice between two players of equal talent in the |
| signed. But then they go into the draft, which | | | | U.S. or Latin America, the MLB club invariably |
| clubs claim deters them from investing in any | | | | chooses the foreign or Latin American player. |
| development of U.S. players, as another club could | | | | While white players who are affluent or have a |
| end up as the beneficiary of such efforts. Also, | | | | family willing to invest resources to have their |
| Latin America does not face competition from | | | | sons join available teams outside the inner city, |
| the sports of basketball and football as baseball | | | | the road still remains a gamble due to the outright |
| does in the U.S., therefore giving MLB many more | | | | scouting delays of Americans, given the |
| prospects to choose from. | | | | preference of the cheaper talent. Unless a draft |
| It is crucial to understand that offshoring of Latin | | | | choice is truly bankable, the chances of that |
| American baseball players is arguably directly | | | | prospect succeeding are contingent upon his |
| proportional to the loss of African Americans | | | | former training either from college or paid for |
| being developed in MLB. Black players were at | | | | opportunities from family. And U.S. baseball players |
| their peak of their composition in MLB in the late | | | | do not have the benefit of competing at |
| '70's and early '80's or roughly 27% of all players. | | | | academies like those in Latin America, often run |
| Today that total hovers around 10%. However, it | | | | like baseball boarding schools with seemingly |
| is the combination of other factors which make | | | | unlimited budgets. |
| the Latin American factor even more decimating | | | | In conclusion, much like the U.S. watches its |
| to the black athlete's chances of ever making it | | | | industries and institutions being sold bit by bit to |
| to the Major Leagues. | | | | foreign entities, it will take the will of the |
| Ideologies include the increased incarceration of | | | | community, not just the black community or the |
| young black males, the lack of positive role | | | | white community, but the American community, |
| models and the lack of two parent families as | | | | to fight for our young people and to show them |
| contributing factors. They, however, cannot | | | | that America is worth fighting for. We can no |
| necessarily be declared the primary determinants | | | | longer afford to isolate ourselves from each other |
| of the lack of blacks' participation in baseball. It is | | | | regardless of our color or ethnicity. For this fight is |
| argued that expense is a factor, as it supposedly | | | | far more than the one between basketball and |
| takes $100,000.00 to build a baseball field and that | | | | baseball. It is symbolic of the erosion of that |
| even if there are baseball fields available, | | | | which once identified America and was a staple of |
| maintenance costs are necessary too. But urban | | | | the family and by extension our neighborhoods. |
| and rural African-Americans played baseball on | | | | And contrary to popular belief, the hijacking of |
| sandlots and played street stickball for | | | | America's National Pastime is not unimportant, but |
| generations, long before pristine $100,000.00 fields | | | | is indicative of a dangerous trend in the U.S. And |
| were considered a prerequisite to playing baseball. | | | | we owe it to ourselves as Americans to not only |
| Others argue that the National Basketball | | | | save our children in the process but in turn to |
| Association (NBA) has done a far better job at | | | | save our country. |