CC Sabathia Says Black/Hispanic Players Face Pressure to Play Baseball ‘the White Way’ 

Chris is absolutely right!! Baseball popularity in the 80's & 90's was hella high in the African American community and it absolutely rivaled football and basketball!!!

I did my senior thesis on the decline of black players in Major League Baseball. I have so much info on this, as well as my own conclusions. Race is a major factor, as is socioeconomic status in America - which is intertwined with race.

CC might be at leastt 15 yrs late on this. Baseball has been on the decline even while he was playing. More boring every year. Hell if we didn't have the steroid era wonder where the game would be now.

Hello from Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 God bless America 🙌.

There’s a lot of butthurt non African American Latino people in these comments and it’s true, black and Latino players always have flair and there’s always a white dude the next day saying “that’s not how you play the game”. Ex Tatis, Griffey, Batista…..

I remember that! Griffey Jr. is my favorite baseball of all-time and they did make comments about him wearing his hat backwards.....

The sandlot type games were the best 👌 I even would throw a tennis ball against the wall and imagine myself pitching in a real game

Baseball in 80s and 90s had white guys with personality lol....baseball went conservative after the steroids era....once the game became conservative less black kids became interested in playing baseball....its boring...the players are like robots....the game is played slower now..less hits .less bases being stolen..baseball stars use to be on the same level as basketball star players when it came to star power in 80s and 90s..this has nothing to do with race or culture or the right way to play it...baseball took a major hit with the steroid era and they went the conservative route to clean its imagine up..its like watching pop Warner..let men be men again

I'm Black and grew up playing and watching baseball, but it was the only sport where Black and Latino players essentially got a rock to the head for expressing their culture on the field.

Just let the players juice for gods sake. Problem solved.

They say ironically "White is right" but with all things there's a balance. Culture comes into play, it takes the black and White keys to make harmony in music!!

I am not a big baseball fan but I can appreciate the coverage these guys give it. Most networks just cover the same teams and guys in the NFL and NBA. I would like to get into baseball but I feel like it is too slow for me personally.

Bro u can say what u want but if they don't market their players it's gonna just be regional

Nobody cares about Baseball like they did in the 90's Rob 🤷🏾‍♂️

Yes latin-black players may have different cultural beliefs and daily practices but they're black, make no mistake...which is fine, it's great. Just like germans, french, english, and polish people are all caucasian. But bottom line, baseball does need to allow more flair, excitement, individuality, style, and entertainment in baseball.

You want to make it entertaining than let the players take steroids.

Black is an American term. No other country uses that to describe themselves. They may have African knotty hair but they don't consider themselves black or African. Americans consider black skin - black people.

It's culture not race or skin color. Everything that happens in this Country is due to Culture whether it's good or bad.

Always appreciate the fact that the Odd Couple isn’t afraid to tackle topics like this. Big ups guy and continue to keep doing what you’re doing. 💯✊🏿

The game is already in trouble. Tatis has flair but has 20 errors. Can’t play Shortstop. Meanwhile Tim Anderson from the white Sox has 5 errors. That’s a shortstop. Bo bichette butchering the shortstop position. Harold Reynolds and mlb network won’t give the black players any publicity only Latino players. And most Latin players get a pass because they are Latin players. Yea I said it. Some can’t play. Fools hitting into shifts. Constantly! Tony Gwynn rolling in his grave… Catchers catching on one knee. Ricky Henderson would have a field day against these skips. The Game is in trouble and It’s MLB’s fault. It’s hard to watch.

Bout time the Padres are starting to get talked about they are the most fun team to watch in all of sports rn football basketball included it’s like a breath of fresh air no one hating and downing the players on every sports show just get to watch and enjoy the game even if they loose it’s still entertaining

Glow stick They are not FBA y’all want give everybody the black card and they don’t even want it

Rob Parker amazes me with his ignorance! People of Latin heritage or Hispanic an other ethnicities are of African decent. They came upon the same slave ships. They just had different slave masters. With different languages. That's all it is.

I was just thinking the other day about how none of the sports shows cover baseball, as Broussard mentioned.

The problem with baseball is the games take too dam long...after every pitch the guy has to walk out of the batters box...or the pitcher has to walk around the mound...also it's homerun or strike out....what happened to the hit and run..the bunt...stolen bases...and not to mention these awful umpires

It’s funny people complain about Baseball being boring but all baseball stadium’s are full every game meanwhile the WNBA plays every game in a damn near empty gym smh 😭

Willie the Phillie Montanez was the forerunner for being a hot dog and entertainer. He flipped the bat while walking up to the plate and for his flair when catching the ball at first.

Why do you call black people african american but don’t call white people european american???

God forbid you have personality and emotion

Having fun in the dugout doesn't equate to excitement on the field for me the casual watcher. When i see any flair I'm almost certain he'll be hit by a pitch next time up. Thanks to dumb unwritten rules.

I love how anything “white” is considered bad. And we think we can just keep on going like this and there won’t be problems ? Sooner or later it’s gonna go too far and there will be a pushback and at that point it’s gonna get bad for everyone

But the majority of the Latino players aren’t from the USA. So the % of latino population in America doesn’t have a direct correlation to the increase participation in baseball

Black people invented hockey if u don't believe me look it up

Chris is spot on about race and Rob is right about culture good convo around the world "black" usually means us black Americans even though racially we are the same as our diaspora brothers

Only why it's not a whole lot of African American players in the MLB Because it's no Ken Griffey jr. Another is that it won't be as not free on TV and a whole lot of black people do not want to watch baseball.

What’s the black way ?

Afro Latino/Hispanic is the same thing as black.

I agree, let people make their own choices. Stop trying to get more black americans in the MLB. Clearly baseball isn’t cool to them so let them play whatever they want.

So Harper says to make baseball fun yet boring baseball is the "white way". Got it! There are probably no black old time players that feel that way. It is certainly a black and white issue instead of an old and new one. I feel so educated today thanks guys lmao.

So being black and Hispanic you just wear your hats backwards- Jackie Robinson , Doc Goodden this guy is stereotyping Black and Hispanic-

Respect The Odd Couple for talking about baseball. It has storylines that are worth following.

They know that black pple do EVERYTHING with swag so to force us not to be ourselves and act like them which they say is the "professional way", he's absolutely right.

My cousin is John Shelby played in the 80's and 90's and played on the 1988 World Series team with the Dodgers. His sons are big and strong and very athletic. All played baseball and none made it to the Big Leagues. I don't know why but it can't because they weren't talented. Something is going on when a ex Baseball player has 5 sons all play the game and know how to play the game and not one of them can make it on a team? Something is up with that.

FERNANDO TATIS JR LOL IF U ASK HIM DO U CONSIDER YOURSELF BLACK, HE WILL MOST LIKELY SAY NO BUT Y R U WEARING LOCs LOCs R A "BLACK' HAIRSTYLE I THINK IF U DINT WANT TO BE CALLED BLACK STOPPING JOCKING OUR 👀 LOOKS & STYLE

Odd couple does the best topics n deserves a show ...cause speak for yourself is hot garbage 🗑

I see a lot of comments about blacks not being interested, or there aren’t any baseball fields in the hood. I will see I kind of agree with the first part. Young blacks aren’t as interested in baseball because the game moves slow for a hood kid. Hood kids aren’t interested standing in the field waiting, actually hoping a ball gets hit to them. Or batting once everything 3 innings. Black kids like to run, move,. Baseball just isn’t that. As far as no fields being around? I absolutely disagree with that. Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s. My hood didn’t have a true baseball field. And, I’ve been to plenty of others at that time that didn’t have a true baseball field. But, we could a field of grass, whomever was batting we laid their gloves down as bases, and we marked a spot when there was a home run. We made due because we wanted to play. We had one bat. It was huge for use at the time, but we adjusted. We used tennis balls, baseball, raquetball, whatever, as the baseball. We were kids and just wanted to play. It’s the same as using a crate on a telephone pole as a basketball hoop. You find ways to play what you want to play. May not be pretty, but you make I do what it do. Bottom line is, for MOST kids that are between 8-12 years old, baseball is too slow of a game for a kid in the hood.

MLB needs to let the players be themselves cc is correct

Because baseball is inherently a more expensive and complex sport to play. You need a glove, a baseball, a bat, a good amount of space with bases and atleast 3 or more people to actually start a game. With basketball, you just need a ball, any kind of ball actually and a hoop out of anything. Why do you think soccer is the most popular sport in the world? You just need a ball and goal and pretty play by yourself. I think it comes down to simplicity and cost. But thats just my $.02.

this is why baseball's popularity has plummeted. if you celebrate too much, you're punished by having a stone thrown at your head 90mph.

Chris misses the point about activation and equity for blacks in baseball. He seems to see only from his lens which is limited and disappointing

We always need to bring race into it dont we. I love what Fernando and the Padres are doing as a Dodger fan. It’s not a race thing, its a culture thing. I think of Madison Bumgarner yelling at Muncy when he admired his home run. The white guy yelling at a white guy because of the culture. Quit bringing race into stupid crap like this.

Rob Parker is on point with lineage

Rob is a cornball Brotha

These guys always quite when making millions but say crazy stuff when no longer employed

Just like American white guys and hispanics feels a pressure to play basketball "in black way". That's why you don't see them much in NBA.

I think people are obsessed with race. Personally, I don’t care about being white. I just care about being Pete Pyeatt.

@9:00 they are talking about Undisputed lol

So your not black if your from Cameroon or Columbia ? So ur just Latino ? So if you don’t eat soul food an aren’t born in the us u ain’t black ?

Way to avoid REALLY discussing CC’s insights-you guys are PROS! Whyte Zaddy must be proud! 👍🏾

To these guys, flair = disrespecting opponents

They say baseball is only for the rich but I see a lot of black people playing it 😳

They are Black Latino baseball players dating back from Roberto Clemente to Ronald Acuna Jr now

I like how the homerun derby now give the winner a spinning gold chain along with the trophy. I too agree ken's HOF bust should of had the hat backwards,that would be been perfect!

I love CC and CC never liked being showed up. CC didnt want anyone showboating at his expense over giving up a 3 RUN SHOT. So CC keep it Buck and look at your own footage.

With the scouts not wanting to go to the inner city parks and recreation as well as high schools That's a big majority reason for the lack of blacks Even with the skilled players in the suburban schools Private schools if you will get scouted and drafted But one in eight may be in the show Remember there still is the good ol boy network amongst owners and GMs Scouts are outdated and antiquated with their philosophies They have that issue with charismatic blacks The reason its tolerated in the NFL and NBA is because blacks are a majority Imagine if the homeruns are led by blacks Base stealing is a lost art ⚾ although is the greatest Or one the greatest sport But its too boring Because there are no blacks

This Era needs to learn more about Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders! Two of the BIGGEST names in MLB AND NFL!! ⚾ 🏈 I doubt we ever see two athletes excel in two pro sports like they did!

I have to give full credit to "The Chronicles of Judah 144" on this topic. On his patreon channel he went into full detail why there's a decline in Black participation in Baseball. It's because of the absence of the Father in the home. It all makes sense. How are we all introduced to the game? By our Dad, taking us outside showing us how to Catch, throw, and hit. It's a game of thinking, patience, and monotony. All characteristics of a Man. I was born in 87', all the men in my Family played the game (Dad, Grandads, Great Granddads, Uncles). Look at all the Black greats that played. They were all taught by their Dad. Ken Griffey jr., Darryl Strawberry, Barry Bonds. We have to get the Black Father back in the home, for much GREATER reasons, but also for Baseball. "Without Fathers, there is no Baseball, only Football & Basketball"- Diana Schaud.

Baseball grew when America was rural and the only media was radio baseball benefitted (since it favoured those things). Television, urbanization, and technology have led to baseball's demise irrespective of those other things.

Black people dont play baseball anymore because it has been priced out the average person range. The equipment for baseball and hockey are far more expensive than sneakers for basketball; and football ball is so American based people pour millions of dollars into it helping to offset some of the parent cost.

Analytics are killing the game baseball was fun in the late 90s with the dynasty and sosa McGwire, juice the balls get rid of that cheap ass shift and the game will be fun again , especially now with the athletes who play now

Yup. Couldnt agree more.

CC is wrong. Blacks and Hispanics love baseball but blacks stopped playing baseball because there was no instant gratification or money right away, prestige. All my black friends stopped playing baseball when basketball and football became so $$$ dominant. That made scouts focus more on Latin countries. The AAU circuit at grassroots basketball is different and slightly corrupt. Baseball is clean and takes time to develop which I believe black youth and their family were not ready or willing to wait

Showing fun and enthusiasm in baseball can bring people back. When I saw the Bautista bat flip a couple of years ago, I loved it. I grew up a Reds fan. The Big Red Machine were my team.

How exciting can baseball really be?

ANYBODY watch "Hispanic baseball"?????

At the risk of starting a youtube comments war....at 2:45 Chris and Rob talk about how Dark skinned Latinos aren't black. That being said...yall think they can say the "nigga"??🤔 (I'm black btw)

Rob Parker what is considered black is if you are of African descent not if you are colonized by Spain.

Didn’t these mfs go to school Latino is not a damn race , us African Americans just had a different boat stop

It’s not many kids back in the hood that even have the access to play baseball for one…

Oh great they’re coming after baseball now. By they I mean the “progress at all cost” types. They did the same thing to professional wrestling 15 years ago and we see how that turned out.

Baseball and hockey both need to be talked about more on the debate shows… it can’t always be about Lebron or cowboys .. the Suns and bucks are in the finals and they have topics about dak Prescott and Lebron , like why?? Lol

Honestly to fix the game or add excitement. Just gotta have more runs, just let everybody juice up lol

Lol of course it’s about race

Ppl don't watch baseball very few

Rob is different,most blacks from Ny don’t look thru the same lens as other blacks in America. He can see Hakeem as black even though his culture is different than African Americans, but not the same as black Latino player who’s obviously of African descent,? What gives? A white from any country is label as white, but not the same of blacks from various countries.

It's about jobs it's all about jobs

Baseball is a fun game to play. Today’s baseball can be tough to watch.

Also baseball is not America pastime anymore. Football is. So therefore it's not emphasize as much anymore.

And also... Pple that are black and Latino have culture!!!! I'm not saying that white pple don't but if you can tell me what it is, I'd love to know! So I feel like they try to take away our culture while playing the game

"Black" is not a race or ethnicity it is a cooperate designation... You're father determines your ethnicity most "Black" people in the U.S. do not know there specific ethnicity so everyone is lumped in together go tell a Nigerian,Ghanian,Senagalese Person that they are "Black" there gonna laugh and give you there tribe name I am Burkinese-American my my ethnicity is Bushanga every person who looks similar to me is not my ethnicity we have no real culture in America that is why it's Constant Antipathy

Selfies guy was marcel ozuna... we all know what happened to him

My Vallejo Nia C.C Yay Area stand up! Yee!!

ROBERTO CLEMENTE PEDRO MARTINEZ RONALD ACUNA JR YASIEL PUIG etc.... YES , THEY R THE SAME NATION OF PEOPLE AS WE R SO CALLED AFRICAN AMERICAN

There used to be inner city baseball leagues in every city in the United States there is no more no more little leagues like there used to be And that's a big reason an of course its about jobs

Hey Broussard. How about you tell mexicans to learn to speak english the same way you told Ohani to

Rob - Black is not a demographic. African American is.

MLB better embrace Tatis, Otahni and Harper. Because those three dudes can help bring people to the game. Also embrace teams just not "star" players. Look at Boban in the NBA, people love him. Look at the past days. Iron head Heyward, George Mursean, Dikembe Mutombo, Refrigerator Perry, Vince Wilfork, Kyle Turley, BJ Raji, Bubba Smith, Too Tall Jones, Yasiel Puig, Muggsy Bogues, Ben Wallace and others I can't think of right now. People (especially casual fans) get attached to players. They don't have to be Jordan for fans to love them because they have a magnetic personality.

This making everything about race won't end well. Take a look at the history of any other country if you don't believe me.

They couldn’t include a modern day black baseball player for the thumbnail? It couldn’t be that sparse in the majors.

What race is a Latino Chris??? Canelo Alvarez is a Latino.