Posted by Pat Gallen, Wed, February 01, 2012 09:49 AM | Comments: 54
Analysis, Black History Month 2012, News, Opinion, Posts
This is a special guest post written by a friend of Phillies Nation, Zaki Edwards, from the always-funny website, PhillyGameday.com. Check out some of his old stuff and have a laugh or two.
———-
Barry Bonds could have hit 100 home runs in 2001 and I still wouldn’t have been able to convince other black guys at my high school that baseball wasn’t wack. No amount of stealing from Rickey Henderson or wall-climbing catches from Torii Hunter could have changed their minds.
To them, baseball wasn’t flashy enough. It wasn’t black enough. It was a “white sport”.
I’m pretty sure I slept through that day in Blackness Prep or something since I always have and always will think baseball is the greatest sport known to man. No one had to convince me that it was cool to take that piece of metal the coach gave you to hit a ball and run as fast as you can. It’s all I’ve wanted to do everyday for the past 20 years of my life.
Of course, I’m in the minority of the minority. And so is every other black baseball player and fan that can name more than five players on their favorite team.
It’s a phenomenon that has been talked about at length for the past few decades, but one that seems to be fading in the City of Brotherly Love as of late: The Phillies are employing more black players and the number of black Phillies fans seems to be on the rise.
One explanation for the rise in black fans is that the Phillies’ roster now boasts a whopping five African-American (non-Latino) players: Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, John Mayberry, Jr., Domonic Brown and Dontrelle Willis. Throw in the newly acquired Juan Pierre and outfielder Tyson Gillies (who is currently on the 40-man roster) and the Phillies start to look like the bizarro New England Patriots.
Some people may say it’s racist to watch a team even partially because of its black players, but it goes a little deeper than that.
For people like my father, seeing Howard and Rollins play for the Phillies is a reminder of the progress the team, the sport and this country have made over the years.
“For guys my age, I can remember back in the 1950′s when the Phillies were still one of the most racist teams in baseball,” my father told me. “To see guys like Howard and (Jimmy) Rollins on the team now, that means something.”
For reasons too numerous to list, a lot of people identify with people of their own race or group, right or wrong. It is this identity that may draw someone to say “hey, there’s a guy like me out there playing baseball and that’s kind of cool.” On a side note, I think professional athletes make so much money these days that the notion of “a guy like me out there” doesn’t apply to anyone, white or black, unless you’re a fellow athlete or CEO–but that’s neither here nor there.
The other explanation–and the one I subscribe to–for why more blacks are tuning in to more Phillies games is a simple one: Because the team is winning.
Winning literally solves everything. It can turn the most wack, boring sport into the coolest and most-watched sport in town. The Phillies won 102 games last year, but see what happens if they win 120 or 140 games. Every black kid in the tri-state area will be rockin’ a Howard or even a Roy Halladay jersey. Houses and cars everywhere would have broken windows from kids playing baseball in the street all day and all night. Winning is cool, and the more teams win, the less cool you become if you don’t keep up as a fan.
Ultimately, I could care less about the number of blacks that watch or play baseball–as long as the reason doesn’t have anything to do with discrimination, of course. But so what if fewer blacks like baseball than in the 1970′s. That’s just the way of things. People get their news online now instead of in a newspaper. Black kids play cooler sports like football and basketball instead of baseball. Who knows, maybe the pendulum will swing back to baseball at some point, but with fans that are more excited by the prospect of a double-switch than a designated hitter, I seriously doubt it.
54 CommentsPosts: 0 Ajay
This is a really interesting article. But I’m wondering about the major premise that black Phillies fans are on the rise. Do you have any kind of statistics to back that up, or did you mean that it was based on your experience?
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 09:58 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1305 Pat Gallen
Just based on experience. I think it’s noticeable at games. Even if black people were fans of the team, fewer supported them at the park.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 10:30 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 schmenkman
Pat (and Zaki), is it your impresssion that
- there are now more black fans at the games than there used to be, just as there are more white fans,
or
- that black fans are a bigger percentage of the attendance than they used to be?
Posts: 551 Brian Michael
Philly has certainly come a long way from when Curt Flood refused to play here and paved the way for modern free agency. But it’s probably at least safe to say the number of Phillies fans of all races is on the rise.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 10:26 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Oh ok
So, black people are bandwagon jumpers…. got it.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 10:28 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1305 Pat Gallen
There have to be 100x as many white bandwagon jumpers.
This isn’t meant to divide blacks and whites, but we thought it would be cool to look into why there has been a shift. Does it make it easier when great black players come up through the ranks? Seems like it has to do with it.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 10:52 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Oh ok
Band wagon jumpers.
Flag commentPosted: 10:56 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Ryne Duren
hey i’m white 61 yrs old and can’t ever remember myself or my family looking at the phils and what color they are! all i see is red and white pinstripes. same with the rest of the teams in philly i don’t sit there and watch a game and count how many whites, blacks, or hispanics are on the team. it has never been and issue. my issues are when any of them screw up. i’ll yell at the tv and equally call any of them names and color doesn’t matter an out is an out, error an error, color doesn’t change that! i’d still root for them if they were all black, white, or hispanic. cause they’re are phils no matter what! lets go spring training!
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 10:31 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Mazinman
I don’t think we should focus on the number of black players but rather the quality. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins won’t be remembered just for being, arguably, the greatest Phillies to play their positions but also being friendly, outgoing guys. These are guys who go out, look to be part of the community, and contribute. Its easier to be drawn in by them than the likes of Barry Bonds who never demonstrated being friendly. Ryan can be seen every day on TV and J-Rol is the leader of the team. They have stepped into being role models.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 11:38 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 phil
Oh ok is obviously a racist. I’m glad to see everyone catching Phillies fever no matter what color the skin. I don’t think it is just because they are winning though. Sure that plays a part but this is a fun team to watch with great players and personalities. On a side note it looks like the white community is jumping on the sixers bandwagon…the sixers have always been my second favorite team in Philly and i am white. If black people are band wagon fans so are white people oh ok
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 11:40 AM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Alex
I am an avid PhilliesNation reader and I am fascinated by this topic. The Phillies have some spectacular talents and some amazingly nice human beings on this team. That, with winning, are why fans in the area have rallied behind them… even if they let us down in the playoffs. I agree that there are definitely more black fans rocking Phillies gear. That topic is worth exploring. But this article just flat out fails to connect any of the causes to effect.
This article does such a poor job of supporting it’s thesis with a rational explanation, it whimpers into the finish line. If I were Jimmy Rollins and read this article, from a prominent Phillies fansite, I would be perplexed at how this made it to print.
Pat, who I deeply respect, this article is desperate need of assistance… otherwise, it makes you guys kind of sound like racists (ie black people only like this team because they win).
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 12:00 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Black people still don’t care about the Phillies. Wearing a T-shirt with the “ill” in the Phils script around 69th Street in Philly/Upper Darby doesn’t make a black person a fan. Black Philadelphians doesn’t even like the Sixers let alone the Phils.
The Dipsy
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 12:04 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 davehist
Well, the Phillies have certainly come a long way from the late 1950s, when they were one of the very last major league teams to get a black player. It’s great to be a fan now and root for Rollins, Howard, Utley, Halladay, Mayberry and the rest and barely even notice whether they are black or white. That is the way it should be.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 12:14 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Don M
First… I believe this was written by an African American, so any claims that this is a racist article are ridiculous. Discussing the topic of race does not make someone (or a website) racist… He says that the draw to the Phillies right now, is that there are players that they (black kids) can relate to, and those players are performing at a very high level… and winning. Regardless of this trend, he doesn’t think that baseball will ever overtake basketball or football in among black kids. All very valid points. (Check out the RBI program, Reviving Baseball in Inner cities…which leads to my Second point…
-Jimmy Rollins is one of a few black athletes in MLB that openly discussed the lack of black athletes in MLB a few years ago (along with C.C. Sabathia, and Dontrelle Willis). In 2005, a sports diversity study found that only 8.5% of major leaguers were African American (Whites 59.5%, Latinos 28.7%, and Asians 2.5%) … look up the history of Jackie Robinson, and the things shouted at him from the Phillies dugout- and then-manager, Ben Chapman. It’s not a pretty thing to read. Philadelphia was way behind the curve in terms of integration.
Lastly… The fascination with African Americans succeeding in baseball right now (again, a largely White, and Latino sport) is no different than how white people were so fascinated when J.J. Redick, Adam Morrison, or Jimmer Fredette were lighting up college hoops… Or how Tim Tebow somehow gathered more attention last year than Cam Newton (higher QB-Rating, Completion%, etc.. definitely better overall by almost any measure).
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 12:48 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 96 buffy08210
Let’s appreciate the community giving of time and treasure both the white and black players have contributed and be thankful for the uniting effects of their efforts. Perhaps some of this accounts for black engagement in the Phillies. Supporting the Phils is a win-win.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 01:16 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Laura
First and foremost, why would you post this on the first day of Black History month???? Second off, fans are rising everywhere, as the Phillies have the most wide-spread fans in the MLB. Doesn’t matter who is supporting the Phillies.. black white red purple.. who cares? And why make an article about it? Let them support any team they want and if it’s gona be Phils, then you are a friend of mine. Back offfffff the Phils and black people. Nothing positive came out of this article. Unreal.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 01:25 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1402 Chuck A.
Laura, I think that’s the whole point….TO post it on the first day of Black History Month. I don’t think the author or this website are doing anything other than to point out the fact that this is a trend and that Philly has come a looooonnnnnggggg way. In no way was this meant to be racist or inflamatory. Re-read the article and then decide again.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 02:05 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Black people don’t even like baseball. Black kids don’t grow up playing baseball because baseball is now almost exclusively a “suburban” sport and not a “urban” sport. They don’t play it so they could care less about it. Americans don’t like hockey because we don’t play hockey because its not cold enough and there are no rinks. Same principle. That’s just the way society is…whatever you are exposed to is largely what you become.
Opinions about race and PhilliesNation should remain separate from each other. Whats next? Pro-life fans like Cliff Lee more than they like Wilson Valdez? Lets talk baseball.
The Dipsy
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 02:13 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 625 Manny
It’s not pro-life. It’s ANTI-CHOICE!
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 02:17 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 George
If you think opinions about race should remain separate from Phillies Nation, you shouldn’t make blanket statements on their site like your comment that “Black people don’t even like baseball.”
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:50 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 625 Manny
Pwned!
Flag commentPosted: 04:10 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 brooks
My beef with Wilson was not doffing his cap during the National Anthem.
Pat just brought up a very interesting point, nothing more, nothing meant by it, nothing less.
When baseball was considered America’s sport (in the mid to late 60′s) it did not matter what color, kids all over were lined up to play ball. When the AL refused to allow integration, look at the skew in the AS victories – how many in a row did the integrated NL win in the 60′s? Only one reason – follow Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron these guys could do it all where Charmin Harmon, Frank Howard, Mantle and co were awesome in their skills but more one dimensional in their capabilities. The NL dominated. What’s my point? The more integrated the league becomes, the more diversified, the better the competition. So, if more black kids are showing interest and playing ball, bring it on!
Posts: 1305 Pat Gallen
I didnt write this.
This post was written by a black man, Zaki Edwards, of PhillyGameday.com. So he’s speaking as someone with at least some experience on the matter.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:17 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Jeff Dowder
“PhillyGameday.com is a Philadelphia sports satire site founded by Zaki Edwards in January 2009.”
So, this was meant as a satirical column?
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:26 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1305 Pat Gallen
No, it was meant to come from the black perspective.
Flag commentPosted: 03:29 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Jeff Dowder
I go to a lot of games, and really haven’t observed that the “number of black Phillies fans seems to be on the rise.” Why does it seem to be on the rise? Maybe there are studies that back up the column’s premise?
I don’t understand the knock on NL baseball in the sentence either. The DH is pure nonsense, and I’ll continue to enjoy the NL brand of baseball.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:21 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Jeff Dowder
Hmm…that should read “I don’t understand the knock on NL baseball in the LAST sentence either.”
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:23 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Don M
One of the reasons basketball is so popular is that you can play it alone, with just a basketball and a net (which are located in almost every school yard in the country) ……..
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:24 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Bob in Bucks
Everyone loves a winner. Personally the major difference I see at the games now versus 20 years ago is the average age is going down. Young people are hanging at the game partially because the park is much better and partially because of the winning. Either way it is a good trend – black or white.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:40 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1305 Pat Gallen
It’s absolutely a great thing. The more the merrier and I hope that having J-Roll and Ryan and Dom Brown and Mayberry opens more eyes in the inner city.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:46 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Don M
Phillies tailgaiting, and crowds are nuts … in a good way …. the tailgate has become an Event, like that of Eagles home games, only we have 81, and they have 8 …
There is no doubt that the Park-factor is a huge difference, going to the Vet was like being trapped in a basement – unless of course you were in the nose-bleeds … but the openess of CBP is great, and just adds to the atmosphere down there (having visited Camden Yards in Baltimore, PNC Park in Piitsburgh, AT&T Park in SanFran, Wrigley, Fenway, etc… i was originally less than thrilled with our “new” stadium the first few times I was there .. but its actually a great park, all the seats are good, everything about it is so much better than the Vet that you can’t really complain – and its easy to see why EVERYONE wants to be there!)
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 03:55 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Where were the black fans when we had Garry Maddox and Bake McBride? And before that Dick Allen? Black people don’t like baseball anymore. Lets face it. In fact, they are not really much for going to games of any sport. Black people don’t go to Sixers games, either. You could argue that the majority of blacks are priced out of going to Sixers and Phils games but the middle to upper class blacks don’t go either.
Who cares who goes and who doesn’t. I loved the Sixers in the 70′s and 80′s and now I could care less about them. Computers, video games, the Wii and XBox and cell phones. Nobody goes outside and nobody talks to one another anymore. People say that the information age is great and maybe it is but it isolates people because they can employ all that technology all by themselves, and they do. Baseball is a communal, lets go out and have fun in the fresh air thing. Nobody does that anymore. But thats not a black thing, its a Dispy thing.
The Dipsy
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 04:05 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 George
The U.S. obviously still hasn’t come to terms with race. If skin color weren’t an issue, this article would have no reason to exist.
But, then again, when our own government demands to know a person’s race for census purposes, I suppose color will always be an issue.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 04:14 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1402 Chuck A.
The “majority of blacks are are priced out of going to Sixers and Phils games”??? I think the majority of LOTS of people are being priced out. I’m much more cautious where I sit at Phils games now than I was 3-4-5 years ago. Just the way it is for the average fan these days.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 04:16 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Chuck, are you more cautious about where you sit because you are afraid of being accosted by a black person? Of course race will always be an issue…for the rest of our lives. Its been only 150 years ago that blacks were freakin slaves. Notice that this topic is getting NO insight from any blacks. Phillies Nation is a white site…through no fault of anyones.
The Dipsy
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 05:07 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Don M
Dipsy, I think you should sit the next couple of plays out … maybe stop talking for a while
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 05:51 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 The man
Why do we have to bring race into a game? I just don’t understand how race can be related to everything. The fact is that racism exists because people make observations like this. Why does it matter? Who cares about what color they are? Why should someone’s color have anything to do with anything?
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 05:22 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 100 Ian Riccaboni
“Why do we have to bring race into a game?”
Because race is a very pertinent topic in baseball. Baseball helped break down barriers for the Irish, the Italians, Jewish, and Black Americans that weren’t yet broken down in our cultural norms. There is direct evidence that archaic laws and rights that were held from certain groups became more accessible as sport broke down walls. Baseball has always been a sport in the forefront of this and hopefully will continue to be, which is why it is discerning to see the level of African American participation in the sport dwindle but very optimistic that Philadelphia-area African American fans enjoying it. Sport builds unity, community, and often the economy in cities, particularly when a team is winning. To see everyone getting involved rooting on the Phillies is great and I’m thankful for Zaki’s post and perspective.
“The fact is that racism exists because people make observations like this. Why does it matter?”
The fact that racism exists is not because people make observations, it’s because people choose continue to reinforce negative views of people who are not like them in some fashion. Racism exists only because we DON’T confront these issues and maintain the status queue.
“Who cares about what color they are? Why should someone’s color have anything to do with anything?”
Philadelphia, as of 2010, is 44.2% African American. Having relatable pro-athletes that are positive role-models for the community is never a bad thing. The fact that the Phillies have a number of black superstars is great for a community whose population is a majority African American and is great to bring Philadelphia together in a way it may not have before, which is what I got from Zaki’s piece.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 01:10 AM on February 2, 2012Posts: 0 George
Baseball may have played a part in breaking down barriers, but it was only a part. Even before the American Civil War many whites and freed slaves were already trying to change the status quo. Booker T. Washington, Medgar Evers, and George Washington Carver didn’t play the game. Baseball also wasn’t the only sport Blacks began participating in. Look at all the Black boxers; they date back to way before baseball even considered integration. Another field which helped break barriers was popular music.
And while “The fact is that racism exists because people make observations like this” is definitely NOT the basic reason, I do agree that by continually bringing race into a game certainly does nothing to dispel any perceived differences among the various peoples of the world. It would be nice if we lived in a world truly color blind, but pointing out that a person is White, Black, Oriental, Mixed,or whatever other categories exist will never help anyone achieve that.
Flag commentPosted: 08:52 AM on February 2, 2012Posts: 587 betasigmadeltashag
I know this has nothing to do with the topic I am just excited that I locked in my Home opener tickets today, along with Hunter Pence Bobble head game(which I will be sending my sister since it is near imposible for me to drive down from VT on a tuesday to see a game) And Tickets to a Saturday game behind the Phillies dug out. Now for my Sunday Package tickets to arrive so I can really get excited about the season being right around the corner. Oh yea and my June tickets to Camden Yards to see the phillies are on their way too. Pitchers and Catchers only 19 days away right?
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 05:47 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 Don M
Beta, what section are your Sunday tickets?
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 09:49 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 108 Jay Floyd
A couple years back I asked Michael Taylor if he would like to participate in a program that marketed black players to black youths, as he progressed in his career. He seemed to like that concept and told me the following-
“Yeah, I think in the right situation, sure! Any time you can market something positive, I think I’d definitely be for it. Baseball’s done a lot for me in my life. And not just my success to this point, and an opportunity to make money, but being able to go to school and the people I’ve met…the discipline it’s taken just to play this game and go to school and do all these different things have all enriched my life and made me a better person. So, I mean, just from that stand point, baseball is unique in that it’s one of those things that’s very failure oriented. And if you can deal with being a baseball player, and still have joy and happiness in your life, outside of results, outside of the game, I feel like you have chance to be successful in all areas of your life.”
I asked Dom Brown the same question that season and he refused to comment.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 06:14 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1402 Chuck A.
Dipsy, I am “cautious” because of the PRICING of the tickets. Sitting next to or near blacks and being afraid of being accosted has NOTHING – ZERO to do with it. Frankly, I’m more afraid of some of the dumbass, drunk, white-trash fans that are constantly looking for a fight more than I am of any black person.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 06:46 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 john heller
Who cares why is everything allways about black this and black that give me brake allready with that garbage
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 07:35 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 john heller
And pat gallen is a dope
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 07:38 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1955 Lefty
I see nothing generally disagreeable about this posting. There is one statement at the end I didn’t totally agree with, but since the writing was from a black person’s perspective, and he was speaking from his own perspective it’s fine.
This one-
“Black kids play cooler sports like football and basketball instead of baseball.”
I think you could say that about ALL kids nowadays. I wish more kids of all races and creeds played more baseball. (Because it really is the coolest sport!)
In the diverse neighborhood where I grew up, we played sports constantly. And when the weather was right we played anything involving bases, kickball, Wiffle ball, baseball in the street with a broom handle and a tennis ball. Along with both pick up and organized baseball.
But my own kids had very little interest in baseball or softball, they tried it and said it was boring. They loved Soccer, Lacrosse and Basketball much better.
I guess what I’m saying is that kids just don’t play as much baseball as we used to, it isn’t mutually exclusive to the black community.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 08:13 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 100 Ian Riccaboni
Thank you for your perspective on this Lefty. I agree that baseball as a whole is not as popular to play within youth circles.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 01:01 AM on February 2, 2012Posts: 0 TheDipsy
Haha Chuck. I knew what you meant. I saw an article on race on a Phillies blog so I decided to play the role of blog idiot to try and make things a bit interesting since I think the article is unnecessary and …..unnecessary. Its not provocative or thought provoking. In fact, I think its a tad insulting.
The Dipsy
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 08:14 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 BART SHART
I love baseball. I do believe it is an acquired taste. A lot of sports — hockey, basketball, football, track, —- impress the viewer with the sheer flash of the game and the players. Baseball usually requires an appreciation developed in youth. IF inner city kids are exposed to the sport and if it is marketed to them in an intelligent and educational manner, then more inner city kids will develop a love for the game. Black players will attract Black kids as well as kids of various backgrounds. The ability to indentify with the sport and its heros are important factes.
Take polo. I have gone to several matches. It is exciting. it is fun to watch. But I could never identify with it and would not be able to participate financially. Horses are very expensive. I am sure you get the drift here.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 08:22 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 dcphilly1125
Great Article. As a black baseball fan, I’ve been thinking about this topic for quite some time. My pops, who is white, is an avid baseball fan and raised me the same way which is why my favorite sport is and has always been baseball. My love for the Phillies stretches back to those early days of my life when we would take roads trips to the Vet to go see our beloved Phillies. That said, I’ve always been cognizant that when we would go to Phillies games there weren’t too many people that looked like me. There was once a time when baseball was the preferred sport for Black Americans. But for a number of reasons, basketball and football have taken over that title. I think what’s great about the Phillies, from a black fans perspective, is that with so few black AMERICAN players in baseball today, I look at this organization with a sense of pride considering how much everyone from the scouts to upper management draft and develop people who look like me. It’s not that I didn’t or couldn’t love White players (full disclosure: my favorite player of all-time is Dutch), but when I talk baseball with my black friends who could care less about the sport, one thing they always say is how much they root for the Phillies because we have guys like Howard, Rollins, Mayberry, Brown, etc. I think it would largely be a non-issue if there were more black players in the league. But that’s not the reality. The reality is that black players only make up about 8% of MLB players and it seems that the Phillies make up 5% of that 8%…which is pretty cool.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 09:31 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1305 Pat Gallen
DCPhilly, thanks so much for commenting on the topics. It’s refreshing to hear from a black american on the subject that you notice there is a difference. You see first hand that your black friends don’t really care about the sport. But there’s something different going on here and it’s not just the team winning that’s bringing back black fans.
J-Roll, Howard, Brown, they all have a little bit to do with it. And that’s fine by me, I’m happy if the Phillies are opening eyes to all different races or religions. I think it’s very interesting.
Thanks for weighing in!
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 10:25 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 0 brooks
Ok – so this is beat.
How about something really interesting like, why are there more Catholics fans buying Jimmy Rollins & Shane Victorino jerseys that those of our power hitters?
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Well i have plenty of black friends. I have to agree on part with Dipsy, African Americans as a whole dont really care for much baseball.Yes their are Black Baseball fans. I would say maybe 30%. Im not sure this is because its normally a Latino/White dominated sport or what exactly the cause is. They seem to be more in tune with Basketball and Football. I ask my friends they say they consider it slow and boring. Some say they can watch it for a few innings and that’sit. Their will be bandwagon jumpers, no matter what race if any team wins it all. Dipsy no one has been going to Sixers games regardles, Black, White, Spanish, Chinese, French, Taiwanese, simply because the last few years they have sucked. However, if they keep this winning streak up the fans regardless of ethnicity,will jump on the bandwagon.
Reply to this PostFlag commentPosted: 11:55 PM on February 1, 2012Posts: 1402 Chuck A.
Dipsy, thanks for clarifying. You’re kind of like the straw that stirs the drink, huh? Wait, wasn’t that what they called Reggie? He’s a black guy, too!
Anyway, this was a fun article and I’m glad that someone had the guts to write it. It provokes thought and that’s a very good thing.
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According to Philly.com this past summer ….. The Phillies current TV deal expires in 2015 (don’t know if it includes that season or not) …. the deal paid them $24 M Last year, the Texas Rangers completed a 20-year deal with FOX that was worth $75 M per year …. extra revenue that can be [...]
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2012 Phillies SalariesCharlie Manuel
$3 million
Cliff Lee
$21.5 million
Ryan Howard
$20 million
Roy Halladay
$20 million
Chase Utley
$15 million
Jonathan Papelbon
$11 million
Jimmy Rollins
$11 million
Cole Hamels
$9.5 million
Shane Victorino
$9.5 million
Joe Blanton
$8.5 million
Hunter Pence
$6.9 million
Placido Polanco
$6.25 million
Ty Wigginton
$4 million
Carlos Ruiz
$3.7 million
Jose Contreras
$2.5 million
Kyle Kendrick
$2.45 million
Jim Thome
$1.25 million
Laynce Nix
$1.15 million
Dontrelle Willis
$850,000
Brian Schneider
$800,000
John Mayberry
$414,000
Vance Worley
$405,000
Antonio Bastardo
$405,000
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