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.
It comes on the heels of the Department of Defense removing an article
on Robinson’s military career on its website, only for it to be restored, claiming it was a mistake as part of broader anti-DEI efforts.
The fear now is that if Black representation in MLB is painfully low after their initiatives, what in the world will happen if there are cutbacks in its Diversity Pipeline Program leading to less minority representation among clubs?
These owners have always had the right to do what they want to," says former 20-game winner Dave Stewart, one of only seven Black GMs in MLB history. “They just aren’t in the mood to hire Black males in high decision-making positions.
“I’m not sure how this could make things any worse.
“The numbers are pretty low already, bro."
Stewart, who was dismissed by the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2016 season, says he never got another call to interview for a GM vacancy. It’s no different for Ken Williams, who led the Chicago White Sox to the 2005 World Series championship, was dismissed in 2023, and has never been contacted for another front office position.
If you’re White, you can always get recycled, with Dave Dombrowski of the Philadelphia Phillies in charge of his fourth team. Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners is running the baseball department for a third different team. Ben Cherington of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chaim Bloom of the St. Louis Cardinals are on their second jobs after being fired from their first GM job with the Boston Red Sox.
“I knew that when I got that job," Williams said. “You get one shot. You know it’s your one shot. You better make the most of it."
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