We often played pickup games with 4 people - 2 on each team.obucard wrote:I think a lot of the reason, at least for the inner cities, is space and equipment. For basketball, all you really need for a pick-up game is a 50' concrete slab with a goal, a ball and 6 people. For baseball, a pick-up game requires a 300' square of dirt or grass, a bat, 9 gloves, a ball, and 18 people. Less stuff, less space, and less people needed will contribute to interest level.
I think it's a problem for two reasons.
One, it's never good that a large group of people who were once involved/interested in the game are gone. It makes sense purely from a business point of view to try to figure out why it's happening, and take steps to correct it if necessary. The more the merrier.
Two, there is such an incredible history of baseball and African Americans. It's always a good thing to know and appreciate your past, and if kids aren't interested in the game itself they sure aren't going to be interested in the history.
I don't think it's racism, but it is a problem. Baseball claims to be America's game, a claim it really can't hold unless it reaches everyone.
