Why the Increase in Blacks in MLB?

ESPN reported yesterday that the percentage of black ballplayers in MLB increased to 10.2% in 2008. The percentage had not been that high since 1995.

Hmmmm. I wonder why. Here's my take:

The mid 90's saw the beginning of The Steroid Era in baseball. Fred McGriff led the NL in HR's in 1992 with 35. By 1998 that would have been good for 10th in the NL...35 HR's behind the leader, Mark McGwire. I could go on and on but everyone knows the guys were juicing and HR's became more prevalent in the game.

Steroids made big, strong guys who could hit the ball a country mile the ideal ballplayer. The glorified 5 tool player - hit, hit for power, run, throw, field - was not necessary anymore. All you needed was the 2 tool player - hit & hit for power.

Also desirable during the Steroid Era was the ability to draw a lot of walks (Moneyball) because that meant more men on base when somebody came along and hit that homer. Didn't matter that you couldn't run because you'd be trotting, not running, around the bases anyway. In the Steroid Era run, throw, field just weren't important anymore. (Notice how Barry Bonds was comfortable bulking up to the point that he could barely run or play the outfield. He knew his speed and fielding ability just wasn't in high demand anymore.)

All fine and good, you may say, but what does this have to do with a decrease in the percentage of black ballplayers during the Steroid Era? Stay with me now...

It's an established fact that some of the better athletes in the USA are black. But with the speed game all but gone in baseball and teams not valuing fielding that much, there wasn't as much value in youngsters who were athletically talented but in terms of baseball skills...raw. (Austin Jackson, top Yankee prospect, is an example of this type of player. He's always been a very good athlete but just starting to become a very good baseball player. )

Most blacks grow up playing multiple sports. They are less likely to have developed a "trained eye" for the strike zone in high school. (Foreign-born Hispanic ballplayers are known for being free swingers, too, but are enormously cheaper to sign than Americans and thus, more desirable.) Scouts were mainly looking for guys with high OBP who could bulk up and be HR hitters. The black kids were pulled to other sports who appreciated their all around athletic abilities, i.e. football & basketball.

Now with drug testing in MLB, teams have for the last couple years started to again try to build around speed & fielding ability to make up for the decrease in power. Guys like BJ Upton, Curtis Granderson & Cameron Maybin are in. Guys like Jason Giambi, Pat Burrell & Adam Dunn are out. Don't get me wrong. There is a place in baseball for all types of players. That's what makes the game so great. But now you just want one Pat Burrell type in your line-up, not 5.

Not sure if the percentage of African Americans in MLB will continue to rise, but I hope it does. It's good for the game.