It’s Jackie Robinson Day on Tuesday, with every player wearing No. 42, teams holding ceremonies, ballparks showing video tributes, and Major League Baseball reminding America that he helped spearhead the Civil Rights movement in 1947 with the integration of its sport.
Yet, here we are 78 years later, and the African-American player population on opening-day rosters and injured lists this season is 6%. There are three Black managers. There is one Black general manager.
And, after all of the programs and initiatives designed to increase Black and minority representation in front offices, coaching staffs and on the playing field, Major League Baseball recently scrubbed references to diversity on its careers web page, while also erasing details on its Diversity Pipeline Program, adhering to President Donald Trump’s executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.