Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day on Saturday, 70 years after he broke the big leagues’ color barrier in the modern era. At the same time, USA Today reported that the percentage of African-American players on big-league rosters (7.1) on opening day was the lowest since 1958.
Braves outfielder Matt Kemp, one of two black American players on the roster, along with second baseman Brandon Phillips, said he wants to see that trend reversed.
“Our numbers are getting lower and lower every year,” Kemp said. “Of course as African-American players, we worry about that and try to find way to make baseball popular in the African-American community.”
Kemp said finances are a barrier for many black children who want to play baseball at a high level. He cited the costs associated with playing on teams that travel to tournaments to play top competition, both in terms of fees and the time parents must take away from work.
By contrast, Kemp said, kids can develop their basketball skills with very little money invested and football players can get equipment from schools or local leagues.
“I was fortunate enough to play on some good teams,” said Kemp, who grew up in Midwest City, Okla. “My mom couldn’t take me to some of these practices, but I had some pretty good coaches that would come pick me up, take me home, give me food. I was fortunate to be able to play on teams and play travel ball and have guys help out with the tournament fees.”
Kemp said he gained a greater appreciation for Robinson when he played for Robinson’s franchise, the Dodgers. Kemp played for Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006-14 and Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947-56.
Kemp said that while playing for the Dodgers he would imitate Robinson by wearing his uniform pants high. He said former teammates of Robinson such as Don Newcombe would provide first-hand accounts of what it was like for black American ballplayers as the league became racially integrated.
“To get to hear personal stories, to sit down and hear these stories it was just unbelievable the things they had to go through just to play a game they wanted to play,” Kemp said. “I did a book report on Jackie Robinson in elementary school so I knew about him. But as you get older and realize what he went through and get older, and hear the stories from people who actually played with him, it’s crazy.
“I don’t know if I would be able to do some of the things he was able to do, just turn the other cheek. That’s a tough thing.”
