Money the root of Negro League's demise

By Brandon Theo Dorsey

Money Talks.

It’s been the driving force behind the majority of historical decisions and events. So it comes as no surprise that Branch Rickey’s history altering decision to sign Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 was driven by the “all-mighty” dollar.

The recent blockbuster film “42” makes mention of the signing being a business decision, but the point was not driven home enough until my visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

An exert from the Museums History Research Guide:

“While this historic event was a key moment in baseball and civil rights history, it prompted the decline of the Negro Leagues. The best black players were now recruited by the Major Leagues, and the black fans followed.”

The abrupt decline of the Negro League was a direct result of Major League Baseball taking the best talent with little to no compensation. Teams in the Negro League lost its luster and its fan bases along with it.

In fact, before making a visit to the museum, I was oblivious to how popular the Negro Leagues were in its heyday. The August 1, 1943 Negro League East West game drew 51,723 fans to Comiskey Park.

On August 20, 1950, the East-West game held in the same venue was down to 24,345 fans. This major cut in attendance crippled the pockets of Negro League owners.

From 1945-1960 Major League Baseball drew all of the Negro leagues talent and fans forcing every Negro league team to fold by the early 60’s. The primary revenue stream for the Negro league came from its fans. When the fans migrated to Major League Baseball, there was not enough money in the pot for the business that was the Negro Leagues.

Obviously Major League Baseball is, and will continue to be, a more lucrative opportunity for the African American athletes in baseball. The desegregation of baseball was a necessary step for the advancement of the nation and baseball, but in the process the structure Andrew “Rube” Foster built was immediately diminished.

The trip to the museum stands as a tribute to the History of the Negro Leagues. But it also is a reminder that the advancements made when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier led to the demise of the Negro leagues.