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 Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is the only black player on the entire 73-man preseason roster for the team, despite repping a predominantly black city.
He knows it's a sign of the time, but also see it as a call to action as well. While it doesn't bother the young player, he would like to see more players of color.
"It doesn't bother me," Jones told the Baltimore Sun, "but I'd like to see more black athletes playing baseball."
Jones plans to with the the MLB's RBI program (Renewing Baseball in the Inner City) to inspire more black kids in the Baltimore area to play baseball, especially because he's become more established within the league. For this reason, he would love to give back. Jones wants to change the fact that baseball ranks third as the sport of choice for aspiring young black athletes.
"I would love to do that," he said. "I grew up in a YMCA and a Boys and Girls Club. We still talk about how much fun we had. I didn't know how baseball appealed to young people. I just started to like it randomly. I never really watched it on TV until I started playing.
"Most kids were playing basketball and football. I don't know why I chose baseball. I guess because I was just better at it. I love baseball," Jones continued.
Jones isn't alone in his efforts either. Orioles coach John Shelby is excited about what he's doing for the community, and fully supports him. However, Shelby understands black kids choose basketball and football over baseball.
"One of the reasons they don't continue to play is the expense of the sport," Shelby told the paper. "You've got to buy your own bats and gloves, and all those things are expensive. If you play basketball, all you need is a ball and a court. You go to college and everybody's getting a full scholarship in football and basketball, but there are only 11 1/2 scholarships in baseball. Even at the lower ages, my 13-year-old got invited to play on a summer travel team and it costs $2,000. There aren't many African-Americans who are going to be able to pay that. I don't want to pay it. I'm not going to pay it."
But, if Jones because one of the sports' elite, he may have the power to influence and/or encourage more kids to take interest.
"I don't see why a young African-American wouldn't want to be like Adam Jones, wouldn't want to wear a T-shirt with his name on it and be an outfielder," said Coach Shelby.
Still, even as the lone black player on his team, Jones has no regrets. "I'm not tripping on it," he said. "This is the path I've chosen."
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