Racism in baseball

(Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis delivers a pitch in the first inning against the New York Mets, Saturday, May 28, 2005, in Miami.)

Some random thoughts on Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins winning his 21st game of this season. Dontrelle Willis is African-American. Why is that important? Because of what it tells us about baseball.
Since 1987 there have been 56 20-game winners. How many of them have been Black? Two. Dave Stewart in 1987 and Dontrelle Willis in 2005.
In the entire history of baseball there have been only 13 African-American 20-game winners. I think baseball needs to enter the 21st Century in terms of race relations.
Obviously I wouldn't know all this if I weren't a baseball fan. But being a fan, doesn't absolve me of concern about racism in the sport.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)


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