[ad_1]
This yr’s World Collection between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies will possible characteristic zero U.S.-born Black gamers for the primary time since 1950. Throughout a media availability session on Thursday, Astros supervisor Dusty Baker shared his ideas on what which means for baseball.
Baker informed reporters it is not a great luck for the sport however stays constructive about its future.
“I do not suppose that that is one thing that baseball ought to actually be happy with,” stated Baker, who performed 19 MLB seasons. “It seems to be unhealthy. It let’s individuals realize it did not take a yr or perhaps a decade to get up to now. However there’s assistance on the way in which. You may inform by the variety of African American No. 1 draft decisions.”
Main League Baseball Gamers Affiliation director Tony Clark continued the dialog Friday afternoon forward of Sport 1.
“I can say I am upset. I can say (it is) unlucky. And I can [say] I am not shocked,” Clark stated, as reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. “This is a matter that has been entrance and middle for a very long time.
“It’s really unlucky that as any younger Black participant could also be watching these video games tonight is just not going to see somebody that appears like them. In consequence, they could decide towards proceed to maintain taking part in our nice sport and transfer to one thing else.”
Jackie Robinson turned the primary African American to play within the league on April 15, 1947. He and the Brooklyn Dodgers went on to compete within the World Collection that yr. Since then, solely the Phrase Collection between the Phillies and New York Yankees in 1950 did not characteristic a U.S.-born Black participant.
The Astros and Phillies do have another gamers of coloration on their rosters. Houston has Jose Altuve from Venezuela and Philadelphia has Jean Segura from the Dominican Republic. Even so, Bob Kendrick — president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. — told the Associated Press it is “startling” to not see a U.S.-born Black participant within the World Collection.
“That’s eye opening. It’s considerably startling that two cities which have excessive African American populations, there’s not a single Black participant,” Kendrick stated. “It lets us know there’s clearly a number of work to be achieved to create alternatives for Black children to pursue their dream on the highest degree.”
The Astros are internet hosting the primary two video games of the Fall Basic on Friday and Saturday at Minute Maid Park. For the remainder of the schedule and extra info on learn how to watch, click here.
[ad_2]
Source link
