Apr 15
by Jeff Fannell in Baseball, MLB, People 0 comments tags: African Americans, Baseball, Diversity, Hispanic, Jackie Robinson, Minorities, MLB

Stepping up to the plate on Diversity

April 15 is officially Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball. A day in which the game honors the man who broke baseball’s color line in 1947. A day in which every player, manager, coach and umpire wearing a uniform, dons Jackie’s number 42 in celebration and remembrance of the tremendous contributions Jackie made to the game of baseball and to American society. It is also a time when many will reflect on the lack of African-Americans playing the game at various levels. You have probably read the statistics: roughly 20 percent of Major Leaguers in 1981 were African-American; as of last year, there were fewer than 8 percent. The reasons for the decline have been discussed and analyzed from various angles. Whether it’s the lack of full scholarships to play at the college level, the relatively high financial cost it takes to play the game, or the fact that many minority youngsters view the game as boring (especially compared to basketball and football), we’ve been there, done that. Now what? Well, the good news is there are fresh faces in baseball’s leadership ranks – MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, and MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark both recently ascended to their […]
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Mar 18
by Jeff Fannell in Baseball, MLB 1 comments tags: Arizona Diamond Backs, Diversity, MLB Diversity Business Summit

Views from the MLB Diversity Summit

I recently had the pleasure to attend the MLB Diversity Business Summit in Phoenix, AZ. Getting right to it, I will say that Wendy Lewis and her staff put on a wonderful event. Wendy’s title is an impressive mouthful (Senior Vice President of Diversity Inclusion & Strategic Alliances, Major League Baseball), but the event was even more impressive. From beginning to end, there was important information being shared, connections being made and opportunities set forth and presented that were all geared toward helping those interested, including minorities and women, get into the game of baseball. I attended the event on behalf of the Major League Baseball Players Association, and had the honor of participating in the summit’s opening, which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Following that, there was a “Fireside Chat” with MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds conducting a one-on-one interview with the Commissioner. The next panel focused on The Player Perspective on Diversity and Inclusion, and it included Kim Ng, Senior VP, Baseball Operations, MLB, recently retired MLB player LaTroy Hawkins, Billy Bean, VP, Inclusion & Social Responsibility, MLB, Luis González, former Major Leaguer and currently Special Assistant to the President & CEO, Arizona Diamondbacks, […]
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Mar 04
by Jeff Fannell in Baseball, MLB, Sports Issues 0 comments tags: Black History, Diversity, Major League Baseball, MLB Diversity Business Summit, Tony Clark

Baseball’s Diversity Challenge

Baseball is back. Spring training camps are opened and games have begun. In a few weeks, the excitement of Opening Day will hit all 30 Major League cities. On April 15, baseball will once again celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, commemorating and honoring the day Jackie made his Major League debut in 1947, breaking baseball’s color line and becoming the first African-American ballplayer in the Majors. All field personnel will wear Jackie’s No. 42 uniform number in his honor. It’s a great celebration of a great man, whose contributions transcend sports and are firmly woven into the fabric of our nation’s history. As we celebrate Jackie, we will also hear what has become a familiar refrain: the dwindling number of African-Americans playing baseball at all levels. It is an issue that has been diced and sliced to such a degree through conversation and analysis that there is nothing really left to be said. Thankfully, MLB and the MLBPA have taken steps to move beyond the talking stage through their $30 million joint initiative to increase youth participation in baseball and softball. The initiative was announced last year and there have been a number of positive steps taken, the early returns of […]
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