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Article

Abstract

When you look at baseball at every level today, it’s clear that the sport has become predominantly a "white man's" game. The lack of African American representation at both the player and fan levels has become a significant issue, and many wonder how the sport can reclaim its connection with African American communities and revitalize its cultural relevance in the years to come.

Not only has such a shortage prevailed within the MLB, but also at a collegiate level. According to the NCAA’s 2014-15 student-athlete ethnicity report, only four percent of baseball players at the Division I, II, and III levels combined were African American (NCAA, 2015). This disparity continues down through high school, youth, and recreational baseball, specifically within inner-city areas. The decline of baseball in inner-city areas has led to diminished participation, reduced diversity in the sport, and altered the trajectory of baseball’s popularity and development over time. The purpose of this paper is to examine the roots of the racial disparity within the game, specifically focusing on inner-city youth, and to investigate the factors contributing to this issue. Baseball, often referred to as America’s pastime and once one of the most popular sports in the country, now faces an alarming decline in African American participation. This research will explore the reasons behind this decline and discuss ongoing efforts to address the problem.

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