Barriers to the Ballpark: An Exploration of Social Forces that Limit Black Participation in Baseball

Abstract

Systematic discrimination has had long term effects on the African American community, limiting the ability of this demographic to receive affordable housing, high education, and positions within the workforce that provide substantial wages. In the workplace specifically, cultural biases and homophilic networks decrease access to positions for African Americans, even when these workers are qualified for the position. Through the analysis of in-depth qualitative interviews held amongst six professional players and five MLB executives, this thesis investigates these racial preferences in the context of professional baseball, exploring the factors that have led to decreased participation of African Americans in the MLB. Factors such as early exposure to the sport, financial support, and barriers to accessible baseball all play large roles in forming the small supply of Black players seen today. In addition, organizational preferences and the surplus of talent coming from Latin American countries, have influenced the markets of players that professional teams invest in. Furthermore, this paper explores the experiences of Black players, bringing to light the struggles that come with playing a sport dominated by white contemporaries. By investigating these topics and understanding the social mechanisms that have limited Black participation in baseball, this paper brings awareness to the challenges that this demographic faces and current initiatives aimed at reintegrating black athletes into baseball.