WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA9) — Every year major-league baseball gets a report on how they rank as far diversity. Last year it showed that the number of minority players on opening day was at an all-time low. According to the Racial and Gender Gap Report Card for 2018 there is not much improvement.
Over the years, The number of African-Americans or Afro-Latinos in the field has gone down. In 2013, MLB commissioner Bud Selig started a diversity task force to study and address the issue.
The Nationals celebrated Black Heritage Day and Jackie Robinson on Sunday.
The day falls on the 71st anniversary Jackie Robinson‘s major-league debut. MLB started commemorating the occasion in 2009. Players in on-field personnel and wearing a jockey Robinson‘s number 42 jersey.
Robinson‘s debut in major-league baseball was not just big for the sport, it was big for the American civil rights movement. Back in 1947, the Dodgers signed Robinson — baseball’s breaking the color barrier.
That same year Larry job he became the second black player. He played in Cleveland.
Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis threw the ceremonial first pitch. Lewis has been representing Georgia’s fifth congressional district since 1987.
In the 80s about 20% of players were African-American. In 1991, there was about 18% and in 2017 it went down to 7.7%.
On the other hand, the NFL and NBA are made up of predominately African-Americans.
In 1947, The legalist 98% white. Every year that number went down until the 90s and now it has leveled out to around 60%. On the other hand, Asians have the smallest representation — making up 2%.
Basically, in the past 20 years, the number of black players in the game has gone down but there are more Asians and Latinos players. Therefore making the league as diverse as it is ever been.
