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) The first game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros marked the first time since 1950 that neither was born on the World Series roster. American black players.
MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark with The Athletic’s Evan Drellich on Persistent Diversity Issues in Baseball had a conversation.
“It’s 2022 and we’re still having the same conversations that we were in 2006,” he said. “I’m a half full glass of wine – I try to be. But if things had been revealed in 2006, when we had that conversation, and now we’re sitting here 16 years later having the same conversation… That’s not going to change overnight.”
Clark went on to say he was “not surprised,” And “it’s really unfortunate that any young black player might be watching these games tonight [and] won’t see someone who looks like them.” Clark was referring to a 2006 meeting in which he spoke with the office of then-MLB Commissioner Bud Seliger about the declining number of U.S.-born black athletes playing baseball. . Report released in May by the Institute for Sports Diversity and Ethics (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida (h/ t Meghan Roos of Newsweek ), black players account for only Major League Baseball 7.2 percent of players, the lowest percentage for the sport since TIDES began evaluating data in 1991. Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Thursday that things “look bad,” but It does express optimism for the future. Mark Berman @MarkBermanFox26 Dusty Baker asked about the first World Series since 1950 without a black American-born player: “I Thinking baseball shouldn’t be so proud. It looks bad. It lets people know that it doesn’t take a year or even a decade to get to this point” pic.twitter.com/N4WLPBqdyx
Bob Kendrick, director of the Black League Museum, told The Associated Press’ Ben Walker that it was “eye-opening” that there were no American-born black players in the World Series.
“It’s amazing how two cities with large African-American populations don’t have a single black player,” Ken Derek added.
Major League Baseball has taken steps in recent years to try to get more black players into the game. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in July 2021 MLB’s $150 million commitment to the Players League, a group of 150 current and former major league players aimed at creating opportunities on and off the field Addressing “Baseball’s Systemic Barriers to Equity and Inclusion.” An undeniable black talent pipeline. “
Major League Baseball’s financial commitment will be paid in annual installments starting in 2023, which will help build various Program, including support for public and city school baseball, and the provision of scholarships and educational grants.
The Phillies The team does not have any black players on its opening day roster this season. Michael Brantley and Josh James are black players on the Astros roster, but they did not make the playoffs due to injuries.
