Black MLB player protests lag NFL and NBA
On Robinson Day, daughter cites small numbers as reason
NEW YORK (AP) — Jackie Robinson’s daughter thinks black baseball players are more reluctant to speak publicly about racial issues than their NFL and NBA colleagues because they constitute a lower percentage of rosters.
She spoke at Citi Field on Sunday to mark Jackie Robinson Day, the 71st anniversary of her father breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
While 200 NFL players protested racial inequality last season by kneeling or sitting during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell was the only baseball player to take a knee.
“I don’t think they have much choice,” Sharon Robinson said. “They are in the minority and where in football and basketball you have a group and therefore you can take a group action. So players if they speak out individually, they could be the only AfricanAmerican player on their team and it could be a difficult spot for them to be in.”
The percentage of black players from the United States and Canada on opening-day active rosters rose to 8.4 percent, up from 7.7 last year and its highest level since at least 2012. The percentage peaked at 19 in 1986, MLB said last week.
Pittsburgh All-Star second baseman Josh Harrison said there’s not much mentoring from older players. “If you don’t have anybody telling you one way or the other, you’ll keep your mouth shut. You don’t want to ruffle any feathers,” he said.
“Guys feel it’s a lose-lose situation for them,” he said.