Stealing America’s Game: Why MLB is Choosing Latino Players over Americans
James DuganMajor League Baseball’s steroid issue might not be the largest problem facing our billion dollar pastime; they may have a much larger crisis on their hands if their exploitation of Hispanic foreign players comes to bat. For some time in baseball, especially in the last fifteen years, more Latin American players have taken to American ball parks. It is not uncommon today for half of the players on a major league roster to be Latino. The rationalization has been that American kids don’t like the sport or that Latino children play more. MLB has sold the public that the absence of African American players has been the abandonment of baseball in inner city. Almost every major league team has a camp and recruiting team in Latin America waiting to scoop up a five star diamond prospect for the cost of a plane ticket and meal to the United States. Two questions are proposed in this problem: How did the racial face of baseball in America get so foreign and what does it mean to America’s game?
An astute article in a recent Philadelphia newspaper, Studying baseball's other color line, explores the Hispanic influence in baseball as well as gives us the answer to our first question. Arcadia professor Jeffrey Shultz explains his preoccupation with the topic and offers justification for the large and growing presence of Latin American players in the game. He suggests that Major League teams find it more economical to hire Latin players as free agents for thousands of dollars than to pay American born players who are drafted hundreds of thousands of dollars. American players who are drafted can not be free agents but foreign players, who are ineligible for the draft, can be signed as free agents and sent to the minor leagues. From this one article by Dan Geringer of the Philadelphia Daily News, a myriad of economic, political and racial insinuations are made against MLB.
In some ways Americans, as members of a capitalist system, can understand that cheaper labor does lower the cost of a product, thus insuring a greater profit. American jobs have long since left our shores to exploit this tenant of business. But it is one thing for a factory to close and move far away and leave us unemployed, but a whole different beast to allow that cheaper labor to enter our borders and our dearest game. Based on Professor Shultz’s claims, Major League Baseball is developing talent that is cheaper in other countries because it is cost effective, not because they play better baseball. The talent they find in Venezuela or Guatemala must still come through the system and be shaped into major league players. MLB organizations are replacing good American jobs with foreign players because of money.
The political water of MLB’s argument in investing and pilfering athletes from foreign lands is borderline traitorous. Are they playing on a baseball visas? What right does foreigners have to play on baseball fields if they do not enter here legally? Most players do not have to pass a citizenship test or even relinquish their citizenship of their homeland. The money they gain from American fans and MLB soon leaves our shores. What money is passing hands from MLB to Venezuela, a sworn enemy of United States, to take their citizens as well as set up baseball development centers? Many of South American governments thwart the rights of their citizens using poverty and political corruption, and yet some how the ranks of the MLB rosters are filling up with Latino prospects. How can our government allow more foreign born players who are not citizens to play for a national sport on television and then complain about illegal immigration and penalize businesses who hire illegal immigrants to improve their bottom line? The politics of players coming from lands that are hostile to America and taking our most coveted jobs is overtly wrong and insulting to the American worker, a segment of the populace that is used to being abandoned by government policies that allow businesses to sell their product in the United States and yet refuse to make it here.
The racial implication of one of America’s most successful entertainment industries coming to a poverty stricken nation and offering young men money to play a sport in a foreign land is evident. The racial tension is not only felt in baseball but also across the United States by Latinos struggling to gain respect and equality. In Black optimism rises: Hispanics wary on race, polls show Hispanics dealing with racial discord, “The poll found that Hispanics, not blacks, now are seen as the ethnic group facing the most discrimination. Twenty-three percent of all respondents say Hispanics are discriminated against "a lot," compared with 18 percent for blacks, 10 percent for whites and 8 percent for Asians.” American born Hispanics believe they suffer worst discrimination, “Hispanics are much more likely to believe there is significant discrimination if they were born in the United States. Forty-eight percent of foreign-born Hispanics say there is "a lot" or "some" discrimination against their group; 79 percent of Hispanics born in America felt that way.” Baseball has exploited an economic situation but also created a racial one that includes a language barrier. With the lopsided rosters filled with Hispanic players, baseball is becoming a sport dominated by one race. It may be that Hispanic players are better than White or Black or Asian players, but the large majority of Hispanic players are from other countries. Race is becoming a factor in Major League Baseball whether they intended it or not, and as they choose more foreign players, the game gets less and less American.
MLB is not perfect but it should be held accountable for the integrity of the game and its obligation to hold American ideals and patriotism. Each year on opening day they pull out the huge flag that covers the whole outfield in support of America and yet each year, more and more players in the dugout do not hold that flag as their national emblem. Should the government or the fans force MLB to put in a quota system to insure a certain amount of American players are in their farm system and on their major league team? I think Major League Baseball can pay the foreign players the same as the Americans and the issue would be resolved, but until they do, the economic, political, and racial issues of Latinos in baseball is a curve ball that is only beginning to break.
Reader Comments (3)
There has obviously been a decrease in African American ball players and, as you mention, an increase in Latino players; however, the allegation that America's game is being stolen and exploited is irresponsible. MLB is under no obligation to uphold American ideals and patriotism, nor should they be obligated to hire Americans. Not only are the game's roots across seas, not all of its teams even play in the United States.
Do the Toronto Blue Jays salute the red, white, and blue on opening day? Should they have a quota for Canadian-born players? Disallowing worthy Latinos or other players of a particular race in order to fill a quota is analogous to the segregation between MLB and the Negro league in the '40s, and, ultimately, a true act of neglecting American ideals.
A quick look at the top salaries in MLB and the list of MVPs since 2001 will indicate that, despite having the highest percentage of players in the league, Black and White Americans are paid less on average and have acquired fewer awards than Latinos.
As of 2009, the racial breakdown in MLB was as follows:
29% Latino
8% Black
60% White
3% Asian
Despite this heavy favor in total number of players in MLB, the American player is, on average, earning less and performing at a lower level.
The top 10 paid players currently in MLB:
1. Alex Rodriguez ($33,000,000) Latino
2. Manny Ramirez ($23,854,494) Latino
3. Derek Jeter ($21,600,000) US-born
4. Mark Teixeira ($20,625,000) US-born
5. Carlos Beltran ($19,243,683) Latino
6. Carlos Lee ($19,000,000) Latino
7. Magglio Ordonez ($18,971,596) Latino
8. Johan Santana ($18,876,139) Latino
9. Carlos Zambrano ($18,750,000) Latino
10. Barry Zito ($18,500,000) US-born
Seven of the top ten (70%) highest paid players are Latino. This doesn’t look so much like a discount in the end as it does a clear indication that the top players in MLB are, in fact, not American. In addition to being some of the highest paid players (although maybe not initially as draft picks, but eventually), they have also won a greater number of MVP awards per percentage of players in the league.
MVPs (since 2001)
Barry Bonds (x4)
Albert Pujols (x3)
Alex Rodriguez (x3)
Jimmy Rollins
Ryan Howard
Joe Mauer
Dustin Pedroia
Vladimir Guerrero
Miguel Tejada
Ichiro Suzuki
Justin Morneau
MVP breakdown totals as of 2001 are as follows:
8 Latino
6 Black
3 White
1 Asian
Once again, despite having a significantly lower number of players in the league, Latinos still outpace their percentage. In the end, Latinos are better ball players and are paid as such.
I appreciate your comments and the stats. You make an excellent point of the rich and deserving place that Latinos have in baseball, present and past. The Hall of Fame has recently recognized that but to say that baseball is not American? That's harsh. I know it was criket before Hobokken or Cooperstown made it our sport. I also must admit that the first Latino player played in 1870.
My goal was not the focus of Latinos being worthy to play in the league, but proving baseball that America's game and business is exploiting Latinos in the minor levels at the risk of racial and political embarrassment. You clearly make a statement of Latinos performing better, but that list of highest paid in the majors is a far cry from the minors, and MLB paying a Latino different than an American because they can't be drafted.
Just a few articles for you to ponder if you think Latino players are the saviors of the game. They may be mostly to blame for the latest blight on baseball, steroids. The article is both praising and damning on the influence of Latinos in MLB.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/24/opinion/oe-chafets24?pg=2
"This image owes a good deal to the fact that the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball was revealed to the public by the self-proclaimed "Godfather of Steroids," slugger Jose Canseco. It is also true that a disproportionate share of Latino players have been caught juicing. In 2005, according to Newsweek, almost two-thirds of the players who tested positive (and half the minor leaguers) were from Latin America."
If MLB is protecting anyone in this steriod debacle, it is protecting their interest in garning cheap baseball products from Latin America so teams like Pitts, Florida and Cinncinnati can field a team.
Finally, many countries protect the integrity of their sport or their home's money by placing limits on foreign players. If you look at European basketball with this site
http://www.ballineurope.com/european-basketball/euroleague/will-the-hgp-change-european-basketball/
you will find countries who take an active role in preserving their country's money and providing professional sport positions by not hiring out to foreign lands.
It is America's sport. We pay for the seats and watch the game. We know the history and play it from birth. It is our soccer. Most importantly, it is played in our cities and land. Maybe Toronto should make some slots for Canadian players, but then again Canada is not hostile to America's ideals.
MLB is really just starting their Latin American plundering. The smaller market teams lead the way. I just hope they realize while they exploit a third world nation for profit, they make the players and game less indentifiable for Americans.
Thanks for the comments -- your argument was very good.
B. Traven,
One more thing. I really liked your quote, "Disallowing worthy Latinos or other players of a particular race in order to fill a quota is analogous to the segregation between MLB and the Negro league in the '40s, and, ultimately, a true act of neglecting American ideals."
Just one problem. Latinos aren't Americans. I have no problem with Hispanic players born in America playing baseball, because they will be paid what they deserve. I really don't want a quota or anything like that though. Just Americans not getting undercut by American businesses seeking out cheaper labor and then eventually selling it to us.
It was a great line and I hope you will write with us here at the lunch break.