Introduction
The evolution of baseball has taken it from America’s greatest pastime, to the means of endorsing integration and diversity. In 1871, Major League Baseball (MLB) was launched as a traditional game. From 1945-47, Baseball made political and legal history through major league baseball. In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American players in the major league. His number 42 is worn by all players as a memory of Jackie Robinson overcoming the colour barrier on 15 April, and the day is celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day. In honour of Jackie Robinson, Allan Selig, the MLB commissioner stated, “Jackie Robinson is an American icon whose accomplishments and leadership continue to inspire us in Baseball and our society at large” (Lapchick 40). Today, Baseball has become a powerful game that unites many people into one group of baseball fans. People from different racial backgrounds are now playing in the same team, which would have been tougher before 1947.
Racism in Baseball
Major league Baseball started in 1871, and up till 1880s there were no rules that banned teams playing black players. In 1884, Toledo Blue Stockings faced hostility from other teams, fans and players when they fielded two black brothers Wellday and Fleet Walker.
Up until 1947, the limitation of using black players in major league baseball remained and black players were limited to Negro league. Even though other ethnicities faced problems too, but by 1947 all ethnicities were allowed to play, apart from African Americans. Hank Greenberg a Jewish player played in the major league from 1930 to 1947; he became a major icon for the American Jewish society. Greenberg’s achievement as a major league player was unlike the Jewish stereotype as he was only 2 home runs short of Baseball legend Babe Ruth. Several years later, American Jews used to say about Greenberg’s performances that, “when Greenberg hit a home run, for me he was hitting one against Hitler” (Rubenstein 20). Another player that broke the racial limitation was Joe DiMaggio, who played between the years 1936 to 1951. DiMaggio also was unlike the stereotypical Italian as he was considered as, “a prince among men and a man who exuded class from every pore” (Rubenstein 21). As time passed, Major League Baseball kept accepting other minorities, but African Americans were not allowed.
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to player to join the Major league from Negro league. His introduction to the Baseball fraternity was highly controversial as fans, cities and many teams opposed the presence of Jackie in Dodgers team. Racist hurls became common to the game when Jackie used to play and even many Dodgers players threatened to walk out. But, Dodgers management stuck to their guns and offered to trade players who were threatening. Jackie’s performances started to speak for themselves and the team started to unite behind Jackie. Jackie success meant that other African American players joined major league teams and Major League Baseball was no longer a white man’s game. Jackie Robinson’s efforts and courage has been recalled many times by today’s African American players that made their path easier to play Baseball. Also, in the 1980s, baseball teams were dominated by African American players. For his achievement on the field and his courage on and off it, Jackie Robinson was indicted in Baseball’s Hall of fame. Also, in Jackie honour, every year on 15 April, all baseball players wear the number 42 jersey to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, as he managed to break the colour barrier in baseball (Helgeland).
Jackie Robinson became the benchmark for other African American players as in 1948, more players were recruited from the Negro League like Larry Doby, Hank Thompson and many others joined to Major league teams. Within the next decade all major league teams had at least one African American player in their squad. Some of these players joined the Baseball Hall of fame, among them was Jackie Robinson. One person helped in breaking the racial barrier in Baseball and for the last 70 years Baseball has become a game not restricted for any race. In 2004, the first Racial and Gender Report Card (RGRC) for Major League Baseball was issued. Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport publishes the RGRC every year. The report card has been used successfully for years for assessing coloured and gender practices. According to Lapchick, “the Racial and Gender Report Card is a definitive assessment of hiring practices of women and people of color in most of the leading professional and mature sports and organizations in the United States” (Lapchick 20).
Today, MLB represents a game where diversity is widely accepted as players from different racial backgrounds are playing under one roof. It also means that gone are the days of racism from the game and the legacy of Jackie Robinson lives on in every African American player free to play their favourite game. Lately, Baseball has been involved in several controversies, none bigger that use of steroids for enhanced performance. Great players such as Barry Bonds became entangled in a case of steroid use and it ruined his reputation somewhat in the eyes of the media and some fans. Similarly, the reported steroid use of Alex Rodriguez has certainly changed opinion of public about him as he is now considered as a cheater. The player who was sure shot to become a Hall of Famer has been denounced by the media and suspended from the game. Commissioner Bud Selig has been dragged to the Congress, due to MLB’s inability to set rules for managing players’ steroid use. Today, MLB still retains a large proportion of its supporters, but the organization has to face the flak of authorities. The main cause being their failure to set aside the rules for drug use for players and working towards ensuring that drug use is eliminated from the game (Henry 48).
Conclusion
Baseball is considered as America’s favourite pastime and it has garnered nationwide acceptance for more than a century. From its early stages in 1870s to 1947, use of African American players was banned, even though other ethnic minorities were allowed to play as time passed. It was not until Jackie Robinson was recruited in 1947 by Brooklyn Dodgers that African Americans were accepted as major league players. Jackie Robinson had to face the flak of fans, opposing teams, media and even his own teammates when he joined the major league. But, with time he was accepted and other African Americans started joining other Major league teams. Jackie Robinson’s efforts have been recognized as heroic and every year on 15 April, Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated as every baseball player wears jersey number 42 in his honour. With time other efforts such as RGRC were introduced to assess the fairness in recruitment of coloured people and females in American sports organizations. Today, baseball has become entangled in controversies over their inability to set aside the rules for drug use.
Works Cited
42. Dir. Brian Helgeland. Perf. Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford & Nicole Beharie. 2013. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013. Film.
Henry, Marcus. "Why is Congress Picking on Baseball?" The New York Amsterdam News [New York] Feb. 2009: 48. Print.
Lapchick, Richard. "The 2004 Racial and Gender Report Card: Major League Baseball." The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. TIDES, 5 Apr. 2005. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
Lapchick, Richard. "The 2016 Racial and Gender Report Card: Major League Baseball." The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. TIDES, 20 Apr. 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
Rubinstein, William D. "Jackie Robinson and the integration of major league baseball." History Today 53.9 (2003): 20. Print.
