As the hype about the Cardinals moving into their new digs three things are for sure. Fans will see the colors red, owners will see the color green and no one will see the color Black when it comes to African American players on the field. In the past when this subject has come up there has been a hint that the Cardinals do not care. That is really not the case on the surface. True that the Cardinals have not developed an African American player in a number of years, the issue is league wide. The Houston Astros went all the way to the World Series with no African Americans on their roster. A feat that has not taken place since the 1950’s.
To the Cardinals’ credit, they have tried to energize interest in baseball in the African-American community over the years with the RBI program and erecting a number of ball diamonds only to go unused. Major League Baseball has tried somewhat with minimal success. The problem goes unsolved. One myth that is used by those who think the game is just fine is “they are all playing basketball or football”. If that is the case, why doesn’t the NBA and the NFL have more players that are between 6’0 and 6’3? At last check the average quarterback is at least 6’3 not to mention the receivers. The 6’2 point guard in the NBA is virtually extinct. So much for that myth.
There was a time when the black player was part of the community. They are so sheltered and so aloof that the few players of African American decent have shown very little interest. Not since the days of Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee and later Eric Davis have aspiring ball players had a chance to rub elbows with their idols. Those guys got it. Ted Savage of the Cardinals has worked tirelessly to get these players on board with little success on a consistent basis. There is sole reason on why there are not more African Americans are not playing America’s past time. It is always followed by the question of why more Blacks do not go to the ball games?
The answer used to be either there were no good tickets or it was too expensive. In one case there may have been a legitimate beef. Savage saw too it that the Boys & Girls clubs in St. Louis were able to come so that one does not work. As for “too expensive,” if some would refrain in investing in watered down drinks in the club on ladies night just once a month, then perhaps an investment in your kids’ future would be money better spent. The lack of blacks in the major leagues should be addressed on the youth level, as well as high school and college. Look at how many black kids play on local high school teams not to mention the College World Series. Not enough. Today’s black player has got to do more. The same player who was touched by time around Ozzie, Willie or Vince should now reach out and touch someone with just a little time. It won’t cost them a thing to have a good memory on how it used to be for them.
Whole Lot of Green
The Cardinals will need a bigger truck to haul away the money they are scheduled to make this year, or will they? You see this ballpark, is said to seat anywhere from five to eight thousand fewer people. So to pass on the loss of seats, here come higher concession prices. If you are one of the fortunate ones to have a ticket these days prepare yourself on the economics lesson of supply and demand. Just how much the Cardinals will make will be a number only a few would ever know. We know one thing. They will have some fun counting all the new loot rolling through the New Busch Stadium. Memo to Cardinals. Your fans will not mind if you spend just a little money on keeping the good players and fixing the holes where needed.
