A lot of people in baseball have been trying to do things about this for years.
Torii Hunter has his RBI Program which is sponsored by black players in the league.
RBI stands for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities
The thought is blacks are easily getting involved with football and basketball. They need more exposure to baseball. A lot of these guys dont realize the natural tools they have for baseball. They can fly around the bases and throw the ball over the backstop, but they never develop it from there.
Although I'm not black, I have been working with a group that tries to educate young black males to pursue baseball. May actually have Fred McGriff joining soon. In my opinion it's all about dreams and role models. They need to see more black players in the big leagues that they can relate to, and can have as their heros. Right now, Carmelo Anthony is their hero.
They also need to visit stadiums, swing the bat on the field, and pretend they are scoring the winning run. Anything to make baseball cool again and make it a dream.
Cost is another thing. A glove can run you $70, a bat can run you over $100, + baseballs.
Basketball you need a ball and the local hoop. Football you need a football and someone to throw you a pass.
Overall, the big leagues is becoming a world game. World Baseball Classic is facilitating that. And some of the best players in the league, Dice-K, Andruw Jones, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, King Felix, Mariano Rivera, are not American.
Torii Hunter has his RBI Program which is sponsored by black players in the league.
RBI stands for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities
The thought is blacks are easily getting involved with football and basketball. They need more exposure to baseball. A lot of these guys dont realize the natural tools they have for baseball. They can fly around the bases and throw the ball over the backstop, but they never develop it from there.
Although I'm not black, I have been working with a group that tries to educate young black males to pursue baseball. May actually have Fred McGriff joining soon. In my opinion it's all about dreams and role models. They need to see more black players in the big leagues that they can relate to, and can have as their heros. Right now, Carmelo Anthony is their hero.
They also need to visit stadiums, swing the bat on the field, and pretend they are scoring the winning run. Anything to make baseball cool again and make it a dream.
Cost is another thing. A glove can run you $70, a bat can run you over $100, + baseballs.
Basketball you need a ball and the local hoop. Football you need a football and someone to throw you a pass.
Overall, the big leagues is becoming a world game. World Baseball Classic is facilitating that. And some of the best players in the league, Dice-K, Andruw Jones, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, King Felix, Mariano Rivera, are not American.
Exactly...Baseball is more of team game that BasketBall or Football. What kid wants to stand in the outfield for 9 innings just to get a chance to catch 1-3 balls a game. They only are up at the plate 3-4 times a game...w/ Football and Baskeball the action is much faster and although it is a team game the chances to make yourself standout are more common than in Baseball. Another great point brought up is the costs associated w/ the gear...at least if they get some Jordan basketball shoe's they can wear them to school...can't wear cleats to school.
Black kids aren't playing baseball; they have opted for basketball and football. It starts in the little leagues. Baseball costs more money to play (equipment) and you need fields (inner cities) and of course baseball isn't as exciting as slam dunking is in basketball and of course the lure of easy money (James, Garnett, etc.).
