The All African-American All-Star Team

In advance, I apologize to all those who read this post. It was not written with any intention of being offensive, so if it in any way comes out as such, let me just say that I am sorry now. That said, lets move on to the post...

For almost two years now, there has been a single question that the writers of the blog have floated around: are there very many (active) African American baseball players in the major leagues? A few years back, there was a PTI segment dedicated to the topic and Michael Wilbon concluded that there are so few African Americans in baseball because they are much to busy making millions in the NBA and NFL.

Is it true that there are "no" African American baseball players? Of course not; there are many great active black baseball players in the majors and minors, but the ratio of African American athletes in baseball to Basketball or Football is quite small. According to 2008 data collected by ESPN "among major leaguers...just 8.2 percent were black players, down from 8.4 percent in 2006 and the lowest level in at least two decades."

Since that segment, we have periodically tried to piece an all-black baseball team comprised of 100% black players. This means that players like Grady Sizemore and Derek Jeter do not technically qualify for the team. In fact, neither would Russell Martin if it were not for the fact that he is the only half-or-more black catcher in baseball since 2005 (Charles Johnson). For him, we make an exception (despite all the contempt that I continue to hold for his vastly overrated production). We denoted players like Jose Contreras and Kung Fu Panda (Pablo Sandoval) as hispanic, although that classification may be incorrect. Again, apologies for any and all misconceptions.

In compiling this list, the one thing that struck me most was the sheer volume of black MLB players who were outfielders. Almost all of the guys who didn't make the cut for the 25 man roster were outfielders (like Gary Matthews Jr.) or ex-outfielders (like Gary Sheffield). So many, in fact, that guys like Curtis Granderson, Torii Hunter and Jermaine Dye got completely left off the roster.

Anywho, below is a 25 man roster comprised of the best active African American baseball players. Outside of the bullpen, it's a championship-material team.

1-C-Russell Martin
2-1B-Prince Fielder
3-2B-Brandon Phillips
4-SS-Jimmy Rollins
5-3B-Chone Figgins
6-LF-Justin Upton
7-CF-Carl Crawford
8-RF-Matt Kemp
9-DH-Ryan Howard
10-OF-B.J. Upton
11-OF-Adam Jones
12-CI-Derrek Lee
13-MI-Orlando Hudson
14-MI-Rickie Weeks
15-SP-C.C. Sabathia
16-SP-Edwin Jackson
17-SP-David Price
18-SP-Ian Snell
19-SP-Dontrelle Willis
21-CL-LaTroy Hawkins
22-RP-Darren Oliver
23-RP-Tom Gordon
24-RP-Joel Zumaya
25-RP-Corey Wade

The team would be managed by Willie Randolph, but Dusty Baker would be Interm Manager if Willie Randolf was fired.

Active players who didn't make the cut who come to mind:
Andrew McCutchen, Torii Hunter, Curtis Granderson, Jermaine Dye, Milton Bradley, Vernon Wells, Jerry Hairston Jr., Juan Pierre, Eric Young Jr., Elijah Dukes, The Patterson Brother, Marcus Thames, Nyger Morgan, Arthur Rhodes, Bobby Scales, Jerry Owens, Cameron Maybin, Bill Hall, Mike Cameron, Fred Lewis, Emmanuel Burris, Dexter Fowler, Gary Matthews Jr., Joey Gathright, Rajai Davis

Guys who do not qualify for the list because they were forced into retirement:
Frank Thomas (old, ineffective), Kenny Lofton (old, still effective), Ray Durham (old, still effective), Jacques Jones (not exactly old, but he's always sucked), Shawn Chacon (choke-slammed a GM)