Baseball has long been considered America’s pastime, and has a long history of being enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. But when it comes to who is actually playing the game, what ethnicity dominates?
African Americans and Baseball
For decades, African Americans have had a strong presence in the game of baseball. From the first African American to play in the major leagues, Jackie Robinson, to the modern day stars like Mookie Betts, African Americans have been a formidable force in the league.
In 1947, Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke the color barrier that had been in place for decades. Since then, many African American players have made their mark in the league. For example, Hank Aaron, one of the greatest hitters of all time, and Willie Mays, who some consider to be the greatest all-around player of all time, are both African American.
In recent years, the African American presence in the league has been declining. According to a study done by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, the number of African American players in Major League Baseball dropped from 17.2 percent in 1995 to just 7.7 percent in 2017.
Latinos and Baseball
In recent years, the fastest growing demographic in Major League Baseball has been Latino players. According to the same study, the percentage of Latino players in the league rose from 27.5 percent in 1995 to 29.3 percent in 2017.
The most obvious example of the influence of Latino players in the league is the record-breaking, seven-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez. However, the influence goes much further than that. Latin American players such as Robinson Cano, Jose Altuve, and Mookie Betts have all had incredible success in the league.
The presence of Latino players in the league has been steadily increasing over the years, and it is likely that they will continue to dominate the league in the near future.
Asian Americans and Baseball
Asian Americans have been a strong presence in Major League Baseball for many years. Players like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideo Nomo have been some of the most popular players in the league.
However, the percentage of Asian American players in the league has remained fairly constant over the years. According to the same study, the percentage of Asian American players in the league was 3.2 percent in 1995, and has been at 2.9 percent since 2017.
Conclusion
When it comes to who dominates the game of baseball, it is clear that Latinos have been the most dominant ethnicity in recent years. African Americans have been a major part of the game for decades, but their numbers have been declining in recent years. Asian Americans have had a strong presence in the game for many years, but their numbers have remained fairly constant.
No matter what ethnicity dominates the game, it is clear that the game of baseball is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds, and it continues to be a beloved pastime around the world.