Baseball Can Become a Model of Progress

Blacks and other minorities in baseball--problem or opportunity?

We in baseball see it as both. The lack of minorities in managing, coaching and front-office positions is evident. Admittedly, baseball hasn’t been progressive in addressing the situation. It is unfortunate that we had to publicly sacrifice a valuable baseball management resource in order to get our act together.

However, we’re not alone in dealing with this issue. If baseball is a mirror of society--as many have suggested over the past two weeks--then so be it. It will give us the opportunity to create a model program that, perhaps, others can shape and adapt to their specific purposes.

Baseball has a history of addressing a problem, developing creative alternatives toward its solution and helping people at the same time. Headway has been made in the fight against drugs in baseball, with novel ideas that appear to be working in other segments of society. Once again our ballplayers are viewed as positive role models by the youth of our country and Canada.

An important by-product of this process is the knowledge that one’s role is not diminished, but enhanced, by facing, accepting, dealing with and solving a problem. No longer is there any shame in making a mistake so long as one follows up with the necessary effort to correct it.

Affirmative action in baseball is a similar challenge and the time is right for attacking it. Baseball’s owners and management personnel are people of integrity and good will and they are intent on making progress.

We first addressed this issue last December, at baseball’s annual meeting, where it was agreed to dedicate the 1987 season to Jackie Robinson, and that the best way to honor the man would be to make meaningful progress in affirmative action this year. A public forum, we knew, such as the one honoring the first black to play big-league baseball, would give us the environment to get it done.

The scrutiny and the resources made available to us through diverse minority interest groups around the country is welcomed and needed. Not only will they help us find possible answers, they will enlighten us on the right questions and make sure that we cover all the bases in developing an action plan for the national pastime.

We’re keeping an open mind and, given the challenge before us, the creativity is already beginning to flow. We’re approaching this situation with the thought that there is no such thing as a bad idea. We’re considering everything from management internships to be offered to minority students who have excelled in academic and community affairs to creating a pool of talent from which all clubs could draw as management positions open up. Also, as a beginning placement program for the sport, we are considering the development of a winter program to train players in management techniques.

The opportunities to create a model program are endless, and the people who truly love the game and are its caretakers are ready to do the right thing. Hopefully, and once again, we’ll go down a road where others will follow.

With that in mind, we believe that Jackie Robinson would have been honored to provide the impetus for this second wave of opportunity.

One of the most memorable statements Robinson ever made was: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

We hear you, Jackie, and we’re working on it.