When the spring season approaches, the end of one season comes to an end and another one arise. The World Baseball Classic gives fans a tease of baseball before the real season’s starts in April. The World Baseball Classic is when different countries put a team together and play each other for bragging rights. As it approaches one only must look at Team USA roster, and go down the list of names and see familiar names and faces. Based on the MLB.com, The team is made up of 34-man roster, but I notice out of those 34 only six are African American. I understand for this situation the best of the best get in, but it makes me wonder how many African Americans are in the sport of baseball. April 15, 1947, a man name of Jackie Robinson broke the color
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African Americans integrated the game of baseball one by one after Jackie. Today the percentage of African Americans in the game is cut in half from what it was back then. The decline of African Americans in baseball is attributed to cultural factors, cost of playing baseball, and the benefits of choosing Basketball or Football over baseball. African Americans first integrated the game of baseball in 1947. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball April 15, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson started a movement not only for baseball but for other sports around the …show more content…
Let’s say the numbers are great but your team is not so good, how do you get your exposure to play in front of such cases. So now the question is how you put yourself in such position to be seen by College coaches. Travel baseball a year-round thing where your team can play in such tournaments against other teams while college coaches evaluate you. Sounds legit, right? But what if your parent can’t cover the expenses it cost for their child to play travel baseball. “Most Greek organizations charge around $700 per year in dues” (Powell, pg.3). Some athletes are grateful enough to find coaches who will take them in as their own and cover the cost of the payment. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburg Pirates Center fielder understands what it’s like growing up and not being able to afford the cost of travel ball. Jimmy Rutland, McCutchen AAU coach took him in as he was one of his sons because of financial difficulties at home. “Long time big leaguer LaTroy Hawkins said it directly: Baseball in the United States has become a sport for the rich” (Keown, Pg.2). What he means by that is if you want to be seen by college coaches and get that exposure to play at the next level like college ball. Pay to play what they call it, parents are willing to pay the price that 700-1000 dollars a year or extra so their child can get that exposure to colleges. That
African Americans integrated the game of baseball one by one after Jackie. Today the percentage of African Americans in the game is cut in half from what it was back then. The decline of African Americans in baseball is attributed to cultural factors, cost of playing baseball, and the benefits of choosing Basketball or Football over baseball. African Americans first integrated the game of baseball in 1947. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball April 15, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson started a movement not only for baseball but for other sports around the …show more content…
Let’s say the numbers are great but your team is not so good, how do you get your exposure to play in front of such cases. So now the question is how you put yourself in such position to be seen by College coaches. Travel baseball a year-round thing where your team can play in such tournaments against other teams while college coaches evaluate you. Sounds legit, right? But what if your parent can’t cover the expenses it cost for their child to play travel baseball. “Most Greek organizations charge around $700 per year in dues” (Powell, pg.3). Some athletes are grateful enough to find coaches who will take them in as their own and cover the cost of the payment. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburg Pirates Center fielder understands what it’s like growing up and not being able to afford the cost of travel ball. Jimmy Rutland, McCutchen AAU coach took him in as he was one of his sons because of financial difficulties at home. “Long time big leaguer LaTroy Hawkins said it directly: Baseball in the United States has become a sport for the rich” (Keown, Pg.2). What he means by that is if you want to be seen by college coaches and get that exposure to play at the next level like college ball. Pay to play what they call it, parents are willing to pay the price that 700-1000 dollars a year or extra so their child can get that exposure to colleges. That