• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Friday, September 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Baseball offers a third option for athletic success

by MSR News Online
August 7, 2013
23
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

 

 

JuliasaysBaseball has existed for over a century, but among inner-city children it’s almost non-existent. Why isn’t this sport as popular as football and basketball, especially given baseball’s potential to offer the successful player both a very lavish lifestyle as well as a long playing career?

Frank White, the Minnesota Twins Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) coordinator, believes the love of sports, no matter what type of sport, often is nurtured at home. He surmised that for many inner-city children, their parents probably grew up around basketball and football, so that it is probably what they will talk about or watch on television during family time.

“Most children will be interested in what they are exposed to in their homes,” he pointed out.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

White, a St. Paul native and longtime baseball proponent, played youth and high school baseball. His late father once barnstormed with Negro Leaguers during their heyday and was a featured player on several local baseball teams.

Furthermore, White believes that Black youth began flocking to football and basketball, and as a result abandoned baseball as early as 1958-59, when colleges began offering substantial scholarships to young athletes. He said baseball today only offers, on average among Division I schools, 11.7 scholarships a year, and that number is usually spread out between 30 athletes, compared to football that gives an average of 90 full-ride scholarships a year.

“Most do not know that even Dave Winfield did not get a full ride to the University of Minnesota for baseball, until he started to play basketball as well,” added White on his fellow St. Paulite.

Also, playing baseball is pricey, which can be problematic for the family of the inner-city child wanting to play because of the expensive purchasing of bats, spikes and gloves, continued White, who also decried the limited Minnesota spring and summertime, which are prime times for baseball.

“This is not the best state when it comes to playing baseball to begin with due to the weather. Therefore, baseball is a seasonal sport out here,” he pointed out.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

White strongly suggested children start playing the game as early as six years old — if they start as late as 12, their success rate isn’t as good. He also encouraged parents to avoid having their child solely focus on one sport too soon. There’s no guarantee that playing basketball and football is a clear path to success, he advised.

“Keeping your child’s focus only on basketball and football also diminishes their chances of success, especially when they can succeed in baseball as well,” reiterated White.

White wants people “to be open-minded to the fact that a child with athletic abilities of strength and speed can be very successful in [baseball]. “We are denying our [Black] kids the opportunity to succeed in other areas when we only keep their focus on basketball and football.”

 

Julia Toles welcomes reader responses to jtoles@spokesman-recorder.com.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 

 

 

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

What is chronic sinusitis?

Next Post

Tiger wins No. 79

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Wanted: Younger workforce ready to learn about climate jobs
Go Green

Wanted: Younger workforce ready to learn about climate jobs

Gopher tennis coach rebuilds a competitive team
Sports

Gopher tennis coach rebuilds a competitive team

College athletes need help negotiating NIL deals
Sports

College athletes need help negotiating NIL deals

Southside group attempts to rebuild trust in police
Local

Southside group attempts to rebuild trust in police

Employment

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) is Hiring!

Linemen lead St. Paul Central past city rival
Sports

Linemen lead St. Paul Central past city rival

Next Post

Tiger wins No. 79

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 29
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

Sep 30
10:00 am-12:00 pm

dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment with Sharon Bridgforth

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: