Dusty Baker’s Ashamed Of The Game? Maybe We’re Ashamed Of Him!

Dusty Baker is the manager of the Houston Astros. The Astros are playing the Philadelphia Phillies in this years World Series.

Earlier this week Baker was told that there were no American born black players competing in the Series. Baker’s response was:

“Nah, don’t tell me that. That’s terrible for the state of the game. Wow! Terrible. Quote me, I am ashamed of the game.”

Forgive me while I get on my soap box for a minute. I am literally sick and tired of everything being tied to race! More specifically, I am tired of the race card always being tied to some “perceived injustice.”

First of all, whoever looked up the fact that this was the first World Series since 1950 without an American born black player has too much time on their hands. What does that prove? I’ll tell you; it means Nothing.

There are many black players in Major League Baseball. The World Series consists of only two teams. The fact that the two teams that made the Series don’t have any American born black players is nothing more than a fluke.

It isn’t an injustice. That’s why I was saddened when Baker said he was ashamed of the game.

Dusty Baker is seventy-three years old. He is an African American that started his professional career in 1967 playing in the Texas league, a minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. His family was convinced to let him sign with the Braves by none other than Hank Aaron, who promised to look after him like he was his own son. He went on to have a nineteen-year Major League career with the Braves and Dodgers. After retiring, he had stints managing the Giants, Cubs, Reds, Nationals and now the Astros. So he has been involved with Major League Baseball for over fifty-five years. He has been able to both play the game that he loves and manage teams in the sport that he has loved for the majority of his life. Yet because of random circumstances he says, “Quote me, I’m ashamed of the game.”

Well Mr. Baker, I’m ashamed of you. You have lived a life that most men would love to have had. Playing with and against legends of the game. Playing in a spotlight that Major League Baseball provided.

Baker was then asked if he thought he would make the Hall of Fame. He replied:

“That’s not my motivation for any of this. Most of my life I haven’t gotten what I deserve, so I don’t expect the Hall of Fame. I don’t expect nothing. If I make the Hall of Fame, fine. If I don’t, that’s fine too. I know I’ve done my best, and I know more than anybody how America is, I really do. I’m not bitter about it, I just know how it is man.”

Really? You sound pretty damn bitter to me.

Two organizations afforded you the opportunity to play Major League Baseball and five teams chose you to manage their franchises. Still, in your eyes you have never received what you deserve, and apparently you are the self-appointed expert on America, because you know more than anybody how America is.

Someone needs to remind Mr. Baker that even if there were a “Shortage” of African American baseball players it would be by choice.

According to Statista, only 5 percent of African Americans preferred baseball over other sports in 2019. By comparison, 37 percent of African Americans chose football as their favorite sport, and 29 percent preferred basketball.

If people choose a different sport because of personal preference, it’s ridiculous to blame they sport they didn’t choose.

Go Phillies.