This morning I read an article posted at Baseball Prospectus (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7730) about the apparent causes of the decline of African-American participation in MLB. It is a topic that I have given some thought to because in the past I have been a coach and mentor in several of the local inner city leagues in the Milwaukee area. So my take on this issue is a little different then the day to day baseball writer (Dayn Perry) or the crusading sports columnist (William C. Rhoden) may have on this issue.

First, I agree with Rhoden's sentiments which is that African American kids are allowing an enormous part of their history to be washed away because of transient social and economic fads (ie... fixation on the fast fame that football and basketball provide). Why would black people who were born before 1960 care so much about this issue? Why would Bud Selig care so much about it? It is actually pretty easy to understand why when you look at baseball's history. Often two events are cited as powerful protagonist for the Civil Right movement in America in the 50's and 60's. One was the integration of the Armed Forces during World War II and the other is the integration of Major League Baseball. That is why Rhoden and Bud Selig care so passionately about this issue. It is a huge historical legacy that the sport is and should be proud of.

However, (there is a however whenever I talk about any issue) I don't think MLB should be concerned about the number of African American ballplayers in the sport because it reeks of exactly what they spent from 1948 until the late 60's eradicating, which was placing a value on skin color in baseball. What made baseball special from 1948 on is that the sport tried to live up to the best ideals of our constitutional republic, not always successful, but at least a critical mass of men in the game tried to do the right thing and reward merit. However, I don't think anyone in MLB who supports this program actually believes it will have any significant impact on the number of African Americans who play MLB.

Instead I think the decline in AA participation in MLB has been used as an excuse to intiate these programs for a lot of the supporters of them. In reality the programs that MLB has instituted I think have been a boon for many inner city communities that have been ravaged by dwindling tax bases and a reduction in community programs and after school activities for some of the highest risk kids in this nation. So I will admit to being someone who believes in programs like the one MLB has started because I think it has and will have a positive impact on the communities they have targeted. Also, I have no problem with athletes trying to give to the communities that they came from. I could care less if it increases the number of African American athletes who play baseball or not, but I do care that a lot of these programs have gotten kids who otherwise would not be in any type of structured program into one, and lowered the likelihood that some of these kids become crime statistics or  part of the burgeoning correctional system population in this country. Finally, since almost no tax money is being used in these programs, I really don't feel that baseball or the private donors need to justify their social-engineering effort. So I guess my conclusions are that (1) MLB has all the best intentions, (2) I think they are wrong-headed intentions... it will not increase significantly the number of African-American ballplayers in MLB & I don't think MLB should care about the issue anyway, (3) the programs have a positive effect which is good for all of us, and (4) it is MLB's money and the businesses they can find to support the program so no has a real legitimate complaint about their existence. If you think there is a need for such a program for Suburban kids find some players, or former players, who have a passion for such a program make the case and pitch it to Bud Selig the way Dave Winfield, Joe Morgan and others did this one.  By the  way baseball has had programs like this for years supported by this team or this owner and that owner for groups as diverse as Native American kids, Hawaiian kids to kids living in Appalachia.