Jackie Robinson West, a youth baseball team from Chicago, will head to the Little League World Series. The team is the first all-black team to make the prestigious youth baseball tournament in 30 years. The team clinched a berth in 1983.
Jackie Robinson West earned a spot in this year’s tournament after rallying to defeat a team from Indiana in the Great Lakes Region Tournament 12-7.
It’s an amazing feat because of the lack of black athletes who participate in baseball. Since the 1980s, there has been a sharp decline of blacks who play baseball. There are several contributing factors to the decline of black youth athletes in the sport.
One reason is that basketball and football are culturally more appealing to most of today’s black youth. Star athletes such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Michael Vick have led to the allure of basketball and football.
As a result, the top black youth athletes often participate in AAU basketball during the spring and summer months. Moreover, football training occurs during the spring and late summer for most programs.
Youth who participate in baseball would likely have to dedicate their entire spring and summer to the sport. Baseball can also be costly for parents who may have to pay for baseball gloves, cleats, and other equipment.
Jackie Robinson West’s victory is impressive because the young players dedicated themselves to the sport and are being rewarded.
The team will play their first Little League World Series game Thursday, Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
