James Wagner of the Wall Street Journal recently penned an examination of “Baseball’s Other Racial Barrier,” college baseball.
Through the NCAA’s own admission – and some Division 1 coaches – college baseball is overwhelmingly white.
While there are a dwindling number of African-American players in Major League Baseball, this just isn’t a black or white issue in college. The sport is woefully lacking in Hispanic players, too.
White men comprise 86 percent of players in the three main divisions, according to the NCAA.
About 60 percent of MLB players are white, 29 percent are Hispanic and about 9 percent are African American. The remaining two percent are of Asian descent.
The most dramatic difference in college and Major League Baseball is the fact that just 5 percent of college players are Hispanic.
With more Major League teams picking college players instead of 17 and 18 year-old high school players, the end result is missed opportunities for minorities.
According to MLB, 55 percent of drafted players in the last amateur draft came from four-year institutions. A decade earlier, it was just 38 percent.
Wagner wrote, “the number of college players taken in the first four rounds, where teams pay the highest bonuses, has increased by 20 percent over the past 10 years. The average signing bonus through the first four rounds last year was $790,000.”
According to the NCAA, Hispanics and blacks make up nearly 11 percent of Division 1 college baseball players. Blacks comprise 58.9 percent of men’s basketball players and 46.9 percent of Division I-A college football players.
A sidenote to the Wall Street Journal piece. Wagner quotes Mississippi State University coach Ron Polk, who just retired after 29 years, as saying “We don’t like that we’re all-white, either. I don’t want anyone to draw the impression that we’re happy about it.”
During his tenure, there were several racially charged incidents between visiting black players and MSU fans. A black player grabbed a bat at one point and was headed to the stands.
Once reaching the Major Leagues, several of Polk’s former players were involved in racial incidents involving teammates, umpires or fans.
Oh, and the disgraced Rafael Palmeiro is also one of his former prized recruits. But, he is Hispanic.
A fish story
Receiver Terrell Owens was at the movie premiere of Hancock with model Serinda Swan.
Terry “Tank” Johnson was at the BET Awards, while Tony Romo and starlet girlfriend Jessica Simpson are hanging out all over America.
The Dallas Cowboys are getting the most out of their offseason.
So where is Adam “Don’t call me Pacman” Jones?
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says, “(Adam) was telling me he was so tired of Deion Sanders catching more fish than him that he asked a friend of mine if he knew a pro fisherman who could give him some tips. He was so proud that he called me and told me that he outfished Deion. He is a competitor. He caught a big fish in the deciding catch in the competition and called me to tell me about it. That was a big deal to him.”
“Just two good ole boys. Never meaning no harm.”