Category: Baseball

Baseball is a game that involves the use of balls and bats and it is played by two teams with each team comprising of nine players. Steroids on the other hand are drugs that are taken by the players in order to enhance their performance in the field. The issues related to the use of steroids can be traced back to the year 2002 when major league baseball carried tests on the use of steroids during the performance. The use of steroids to provide a competitive edge for the players is a subject that has been discussed for a long and has always formed part of the sports news. The steroids that are used by baseball players are normally referred to as anabolic steroids. They resemble the normal testosterone hormone structure. Anabolic steroids work to increase the level of testosterone in the body which then stimulates the body to build stronger and larger body muscles. The use of steroids is not only in the baseball game but it has also been found in other sports especially the athletes. The use of steroids may be used to improve the performance of the baseball teams but this comes at a great cost to the individual’s health and the integrity of the game (Rao, 2004).

The use of steroids in baseball was triggered by the fact that any player who managed twenty runs in a season was considered a star in the game. This was during the early 1990s. The players, therefore, sort for a way that could help them hit this target, and most of them found the solution in the use of steroids. During this period, the demand for very competitive teams was very high and the team managers opted to purchase the players rather than raise their own. The managers, therefore, kept raising the prices of the best players and this created a very high demand for them (Yesalis, 2000). With the increasing demand, the players had to ensure that they were perfect for the laid down requirements. The owners and the sponsors also placed big rewards for the stars and this also increased the use of the drug by the players. Many turned to the power of steroids to satisfy the market demand. As the performance of the players gained public attention due to their high performance, many more individuals started to use them to rise with the exhilarating statistics of good performance. Baseball now became a game of playing just to rise up and break records in the public eye. The use of steroids by baseball players was not really a big issue in the past. However, as the effect of the use of steroids started to manifest themselves in the players it raised a lot of concern and this has lead to declaring the use of the drugs as illegal (Liaboe, 2007). The issues about the use of steroids in a baseball game were heightened in the year 2005 when the top players such as Sosa, McGwire, Curt Schillings Canseco, and Rafael Palmeiro were summoned before a congress over the use of steroids to maintain their high performance. Most of these players tested positive and they accused congress of being unable to control the use of steroids by the players. Congress then resolved to mount a lot of pressure on the Baseball association to enforce more strict measures to arrest the situation. This saw many of the baseball players suspended due to the use of steroids which had now been declared illegal.

In the following year, research was undertaken to establish the level of use of steroids among the base ballplayers in the past and in the current period. The report from the study carried indicated that there were eighty former and current players who were on steroids. Many of the baseball players were then investigated for the use of steroids. Since the fight of steroids took ground in 2005, a policy that stated the penalties for using the drugs was put in place and it stated that if a player tested positive for the first time, he would be suspended from playing 10 games, a second positive test attracted a penalty of suspension of thirty games, a third test would result to suspension of sixty games, a fourth positive test would award the player a full year suspension while a fifth positive test would lead to a penalty that would be directed by the commissioner. Many players were suspended at this time since most of them were using steroids to enhance their performance (Wire services, 2003).

The use of steroids by the players is very risky to their health especially if they are taken for a long time. They disrupt the normal functioning of the male and also female hormones in the body. Some baseball players have reported the effects of the steroids on their normal production of testosterone while most women have been found to have problems with their monthly cycle. The use of steroids has also resulted in death for example in the case of Steve Bechler who collapsed during training due to a heat stroke. It also destroys the moral support given by the fans since they feel deceived by the player since the high score has only being aided by the use of drugs (Yesalis, 2000).

The best solution to the use of steroids is to strictly penalize the culprits and they should specifically face legal charges for using the drugs. The legal charges should include jail terms, a total ban from participating in any baseball team, withdrawal of previous awards such as medals and trophies, and also cash fines (Rao, 2004). The annual testing of steroids in the players has been very unsuccessful since it is always thought that some officials may have tipped off the information on testing. The punishments that are given to the players are very lenient and this, therefore, does not work to solve the problem. The current methods used to test should be more tough and harsh to the players who violate the rules on the use of steroids. Since the testing is done annually, the MLB should avoid programmed testing sessions and instead focus on random testing since this will get the players unawares. Other solutions that have been included in Mitchel’s report suggest that the players should be put under educative programs on the effects of the use of steroids in the game. He states that the players should be tested regularly by very independent bodies. The organizations that fun in the game should also sponsor the clubs and assist in advocating for players who are free of any drug influence. He urged the major league baseball to create a department of investigation that would enforce the laws formed regarding the use of steroids in baseball. He also urged the commissioner’s office to be more cooperative in dealing with the challenges brought by the use of steroids. Other recommendations include the performing of random tests on the players. The MLB which has previously been accused of non-compliance and lack of strict measures should institute better policies to deal with crises of drug use during the baseball field events. The players themselves should be encouraged to feel responsible for the solution since they are the major culprits of drug use. There should be very strong bargaining power that would encourage the players to upgrade their performance through fair play (Wire services, 2003).

In conclusion, the use of steroids in baseball and also other games reduces the integrity of the game. It also makes the fans of such games lose confidence in the players since they cannot perform the same if they are not under the influence of the drug. It also brings unfairness in the game where teams who have players under the influence of steroids always emerge as the winners over the innocent teams. This kills the morale of the game and also reduces self-confidence in climbing up the ladder (Hyman, 2007). We have also seen that steroids not only affect the perception of the game but also affect the health of the users. With continued use of the drug, it would simply mean that the teams would lose their prominent players to the effects that result from long-term use of the steroids. The use of steroids in baseball is today illegal and it should always remain illegal in order to encourage the players to work hard and star in a fair manner.

Works cited

1. Charles Yesalis. (2000). Anabolic Steroids in Sport and Exercise. Human Kinetics Publishers
2. Mark Hyman. (2007). Will Steroids Finally Hurt Baseball? Business week magazine, 2007,
3. Philip James Liaboe. (2007).Use of Steroids in Baseball. Web.
4. Vivek Rao. (2004). Squeezing the Juice out of Baseball. The tech newspaper, 2004 Wire services. (2003).Baseball to penalize steroid use. St. Petersburg Times, 2003

Introduction

Sports have been for years on end considered a co-curriculum activity in most countries in the world with the exemption of just a few. But the latest trend has revealed that most nations have so far changed this direction and sports is now seen as a full time career for individuals. This can be seen by the way there have been a lot more international championships. Sports is therefore used not only to generate money for the organizers and participants, but also as a means of entertainment for thousands of spectators and funs. Sports can be of various kinds: – Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Gymnastics and Athletics among others. Different people have got different kinds of sports interests. In my case, I have been a baseball player since the age of four. This research paper contains my experiences, memories and feelings that I have had in my baseball sporting career and what these experiences have taught me in life.

My Sports Background

Though not a famous kind of sport in most countries, baseball is the in thing in my country, and immediately I came of age, I knew what I had made my mind to go for as far as sports was concerned. Therefore, at only a tender age of four, I was already in our junior baseball team. Thanks to my mum who saw my interest in the game and encouraged me to nature my talent [it sounds surprising for such a statement to come from a female figure yet baseball is not that common to the womenfolk]. My encouragements did not stop at that, my coach too realized how great my interest was in baseball and took it upon himself to help me utilize that potential. Though I was nowhere near the standards of the so called best players, my interest and willingness to give my best, pleased the coach and I was mostly in the starting team. I believed would be the best…it was only a matter of time.

I continued playing baseball into my senior year in high school. By then, I was a great asset of the team. I could stop at anything which help me improve my talent. At Thirteen, I was selected to join Michigan Wild Cats and for the next six years, I played with them before joining University where my talent was yet again noted by the Lahser Knights coach. For subsequently three years, I played with the Lahser Knights.

My Experiences, Memories and Feelings as a Baseball Player

In my life as a baseball player, I have learnt a lot in life. And just like most retired sportsmen would say, that the time they have had during there hey days in sports were one of the best in their lives, I too can assert to that. Lucky enough, I still enjoy my early days to date since I am not yet retired. The memories I have since I begun playing baseball are so fresh as if it were yesterday. The days when I would miss to hit the butt severally but still promise myself that I was the best. At some point I would be left out of the team in favor of another player during a crucial game.

The most memorable times though are my days in high school when I had fully developed my talent and I was a dependable player in the team but still we could be beaten by our chief rivals. I was expected to save the team from humiliation but things just did not go right. Our supporters [mostly ladies that form choir groups to boost the teams moral] at some instant could get tired with cheering a losing team…but what else could I do? In such scenarios, I felt I was letting the team, the coach and more particularly myself down. And looking at the ladies [who were singing their hearts out and dancing as if no one was watching], one would never stop to shoulder the blame of a lost game.

Impacts of These Experiences in My Life

There is a saying that goes “one person doing something alone can not do much, but many people doing many things together have got unlimited ability to their achievements”. That is the spirit of real sportsmen, and it was our motto in the baseball team of Lahser Knights. Through baseball, I learnt the principle of team work and how much one can achieve working within a group of supportive individuals, as compared to the results when working a lone. This is a principle that I have managed to apply even in my life outside sports and the results are outstanding.

Leadership skills is also another attribute that I got to acquire as a baseball player. Though I was never directly in charge of neither of the two teams that I served, There were instances where I was put in charge of a group of individual fellow players in order to do some sort of activity together. I have to admit that those were the most trying moments as far as leadership was concerned. I had to deal with some players who were much older than me, some of whom had different opinions which they felt had to be respected. As a leader, I had to harmonize all the ideas [even the remotest ones had to be taken into consideration] lest the final decision misses to reflect a universal decision and interests of the team. I had to deal with people who had been shaped by different circumstances in life, fixed minded, emotional and all other negative traits. And in case of a failure, it is the leader to shoulder the responsibility. I can say being in the baseball team helped me identify this hidden talent of leadership that I had.

Have I talked of the “never give up” attitude? No! What of “never say it is over until it is so”. These two sayings were my driving force as I developed my talent. I applied the former, basically during the times when was training. Some people would look at me, gauge my standard and compare it to what was required then say, “Boy you will never make it”. But I knew from deep within my heart that I could do it, even though from the physical eye, I was pathetic…I did not stop even for a moment to give a thought to the negative comments that such people had to make about me. But I have to admit that at some point, I almost believed them, but thanks again to my mum and my junior coach who believed in me. They kept my spirits burning. I am now a living testimony that “it is possible if you believe so”.

I applied the second phrase after making it into the big teams (Michigan Wild Cats and Lahser Knights). During some crucial games, we would be drugging behind and it was apparent that we were going to lose only to come back from nowhere and win the game. Though in some matches we would lose but we still managed to narrow the gap and at least lose honorably. We used the phrase to mean that before the last whistle is blown, we still had a chance to make it. We never conceded defeat until we heard last whistle. In my life, I have managed to apply this teaching to never give up on anything. I believe that one is only considered a failure once he/she stops trying.

Baseball is never a ladies game, but I believe that they too can perform just as good as their male counterparts. My mum on her part is a lady yes, but she managed to see the baseball talent in me. The ladies who were charged with the responsibility of sparking ours spirits when the game was not in our favor were just great; they were able to read the state and mood of the game and asses the overall situation. I believe that they can make good players too. A ladies team needs to be encouraged in all countries in the world to help those that want to make baseball a career.

Introduction

Baseball has always been a distinctly American game. While the rest of the world plays other games like soccer, the Americans focus on baseball, however in the game of baseball the age and skill level of those participating must be considered and the moral effects of play are most important (Bronson, 2004, p.141).

Baseball rules

In the game of baseball or any other form of the game, the play of a boy corresponds to the work of an over-aged player. Every quality that is requisite in an overage player to make him completely and honorably successful is necessary to complete success in the plays of the boys.

In baseball, it is morally justifiable to have respect for the game with its written and unwritten rules along with respect for one’s opponents. However, cheaters do not respect the game. Neither do coaches who use overage players (pitchers) and spend more time on trick plays than on fundamentals.

Let’s consider the case where a little league baseball coach anticipates a poor season because he lacks a competent pitcher. Just before the season begins, a new family moves into the neighborhood. The coach discovers that one of the boys in the family is an excellent pitcher, but that he is over the age limit for little league participation. Because the family is not known in the area, the coach is sure he can use the boy without being discovered. He wants a winning season very much, for himself and his team.

In such a case study it is not morally justifiable for the coach to use an over-age player in the league. A baseball coach who uses an over-age player in the little league baseball in an attempt to win a competition has no respect for the game or the opponents. Being a good coach also means knowing when a young player is ready to take his place on the ice because it is easy to get caught up in an exciting new prospect. Moreover, trying to push a player too early can be detrimental to his development, hence deciding the proper time to play a player is the coach’s call.

Although major leaguers know how to retaliate in ways to attempt to keep respect for the game, the physical means they use cannot be used at lower levels of play (Voigt, 1983, p.114). Coaches at lower levels or little leagues should be aware that it is morally unjustifiable to use an over-age player in the little league game and they should also have respect for the game and another team.

As odd as this may sound respect and sincerity must be reinforced by any coach because someone who plays and understands the game of baseball should be able to teach which acts of deception are respectful of the game and one’s opponents. If, though, strategic plays of deception can be occasionally used, they should not be used to detract from or replace a team’s basic skills.

Generally, baseball authorities have given limited attention to respecting the rights of young pitchers. There is still a very low level of awareness and understanding about the specific human rights issues generated by intensive training and leagues. Due to their vulnerability, children can be put at risk in any situation in the baseball league. However, to ensure the rights of the game, safeguards must be put in place, and pre-existing models must be implemented (Bronson, 2004, p.287).

Conclusion

The baseball administrators must implement and carry out a check on all players or pitchers that will play for a league and they must respect the rule of law and play since they are bound by the human rights law and policies and can no longer remain an entirely closed hermetic system.

In addition, to ensure that baseball leagues remain a largely positive experience for the young people, its potentially use of overage players by coaches must be addressed, so that the number of pitchers whose holistic development is irreversibly affected is kept to a minimum.

Reference List

Bronson, E. (2004). Baseball and philosophy: thinking outside the batter’s box. Illinois: Open Court Publishing.

Voigt, D., Q. (1983). American Baseball: From the Commissioners to Continental Expansion, Volume 3. Pennsylvania: Penn State Press.

Introduction

The formation of the Negro Leagues provided a platform for African American players in professional baseball to showcase their talents during the early 20th century. Yet, the Negro Leagues were plagued by social injustices that exposed and sought to improve inequality during this period. One social injustice in the Negro League Baseball during the 1920s and 1930s was the lack of equal pay for African American players compared to their white counterparts. This was a significant social injustice that exposed and sought to improve the inequality within the baseball industry.

Prominent Figures Connected to the Movement

Effa Manley, co-owner of the Newark Eagles, and Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, were crucial figures for equal pay for African American players in the Negro Leagues. Manley was a vocal advocate for the rights of African American players and worked to improve their pay and working conditions (Overmyer). A unique example of this pay disparity was the case of black women baseball players in Southern Ontario as “male sport simply ignore women’s existence in other important contexts of physical activity” (Nzindukiyimana and Wamsley, p.1290). They faced discrimination and were paid less than their white and male counterparts despite their equal skill and dedication to the sport.

Important Events Connected to the Movement

One significant event that brought attention to the issue of unequal pay for African American players was the 1946 Negro League World Series between the Newark Eagles and the Kansas City Monarchs. The Monarchs were considered the best team in the Negro Leagues, while the Eagles were the second-best team (Overmyer). Despite this, the Eagles were only offered half of the Monarchs’ salary for the series, highlighting the pay disparities within the league.

Important Causes of the Movement

The leading cause for equal pay in the Negro Leagues was racial discrimination and segregation in the United States during the early 20th century. This caused African American players to face unequal pay and limited opportunities in professional baseball (Campbell). African American players were restricted from playing in the major leagues (Breaking the Color Line) and were often paid less than their white counterparts in the minor leagues (Faina). One example of this pay discrepancy was Alfred “Army” Cooper, who played for the 25th Infantry, a team made up of African American soldiers, and was paid less than his white counterparts in the military league (Eberle). The formation of the Negro Leagues provided a platform for African American players to showcase their talents, but they still faced discrimination and unequal pay within their league.

Important Results of the Movement

The movement for equal pay in the Negro Leagues had limited success in achieving its goal during the 1920s and 1930s. Pay disparities between white and black players persisted (York and Miree). However, activists like Effa Manley (Overmyer) and players like Jackie Robinson (Campbell) helped bring attention to the issue and laid the groundwork for future progress. The eventual integration of Major in 1947, led by Robinson breaking the color barrier, helped to pave the way for more opportunities and better pay for African American players in professional Baseball (Ruck). Despite these changes, the fight for equal pay and representation for African American players in baseball continues to this day.

Conclusion

The lack of equal pay for African American players in the Negro Leagues during the 1920s and 1930s was a significant social injustice that exposed and sought to improve the inequality within the baseball industry. Although the movement had limited success during this time, it laid the groundwork for future progress. It helped pave the way for more opportunities and better pay for African American players in professional Baseball. The legacy of this movement is still evident today in the way that the sports industry continues to address and work towards addressing issues of pay and representation for athletes of color.

Works Cited

“Breaking the Color Line: 1940 to 1946.” The Library of Congress, Web.

Campbell, Brian E. “African American Sports Journalists and Athletes as Foreign Correspondents for the Black Press, 1930-1950.” Journalism History, vol. 46, no. 4, Informa UK Limited, 2020, pp. 358–74.

Eberle, Mark. “Alfred ‘Army’ Cooper: A Baseball Career with the 25th Infantry, Negro Leagues, and Tournament Teams.” FHSU Scholars Repository, Web.

Faina, Joseph M. “Baseball Made ‘Whole’: Rhetorical Hierarchy and Post-racial Discourse in Major League Baseball’s Inclusion of the Negro Leagues.” Communication &Amp; Sport, SAGE Publications, 2022, p. 216747952211209.

Nzindukiyimana, Ornella, and Kevin B. Wamsley. “‘We Played Ball Just the Same’: Selected Recollections of Black Women’s Sport Experiences in Southern Ontario (1920s–1940s).” The International Journal of the History of Sport, vol. 36, no. 13–14, Informa UK Limited, 2019, pp. 1289–310.

Overmyer, James. Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles. Negro Leagues Centennial, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2020.

Ruck, Rob. “Reflections on African Americans in Baseball: No Longer the Vanguard of Change.” Race and Social Problems, vol. 13, no. 3, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021, pp. 172–81.

York, Kenneth, and Cynthia Miree. “Achieving Competitive Balance in the Face of Resource Uncertainty: A Resource Dependence Perspective on the Negro Leagues.” Management &Amp; Organizational History, vol. 15, no. 1, Informa UK Limited, 2020, pp. 22–39.

Annotated Bibliography

“Breaking the Color Line: 1940 to 1946.” The Library of Congress, Web.

This primary source provides an overview of the history of African American players in professional baseball, focusing on the period leading up to Jackie Robinson’s historic debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. It provides valuable historical context for the essay on the movement for equal pay in the Negro Leagues.

Campbell, Brian E. “African American Sports Journalists and Athletes as Foreign Correspondents for the Black Press, 1930-1950.” Journalism History, vol. 46, no. 4, Informa UK Limited, 2020, pp. 358–74.

This article examines the role of African American sports journalists and athletes in shaping the narrative of race relations in the United States through their reporting to the black press. The article helps to understand how the black press covered the issue of pay disparities in the Negro Leagues and how African American athletes used their platforms to speak out against racial discrimination.

Eberle, Mark. “Alfred ‘Army’ Cooper: A Baseball Career with the 25th Infantry, Negro Leagues, and Tournament Teams.” FHSU Scholars Repository, Web.

This monograph provides an in-depth biographical study of Alfred Cooper, a baseball player who competed in the Negro Leagues during the 1920s and 1930s. This source will offer a personal perspective on the challenges faced by African American players in the Negro Leagues during this period.

Faina, Joseph M. “Baseball Made ‘Whole’: Rhetorical Hierarchy and Post-racial Discourse in Major League Baseball’s Inclusion of the Negro Leagues.” Communication &Amp; Sport, SAGE Publications, 2022, p. 216747952211209.

This article discusses the discourse surrounding the integration of the Negro Leagues into Major League Baseball. This article provides valuable insight into the discourse surrounding the integration of the Negro Leagues and how it perpetuated racial hierarchies.

Nzindukiyimana, Ornella, and Kevin B. Wamsley. “‘We Played Ball Just the Same’: Selected Recollections of Black Women’s Sport Experiences in Southern Ontario (1920s–1940s).” The International Journal of the History of Sport, vol. 36, no. 13–14, Informa UK Limited, 2019, pp. 1289–310.

This is an examination of the experiences of black women in baseball in Southern Ontario during the 1920s-1940s. This article provides unique insight into the experiences of black women in baseball during the 1920s to 1940s and how they fought against discrimination.

Overmyer, James. Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles. Negro Leagues Centennial, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2020.

Overmyer provides an in-depth look at her life, from her childhood and early career to her time as an owner in the Negro Leagues and her activism for civil rights. This source offers a detailed look at the life of one of the most influential figures in the Negro Leagues, providing insights into the history of black baseball and the struggles faced by black players and owners during the early 20th century.

Introduction

The main aim of the research project was to establish what sports statistics that best predict player’s salaries; to get the measurable parameters for the research, Major League Baseball was chosen as the sampling sport. However, the number of players involved could not allow data to be collected from each one of them; thus a sample population was chosen. This paper describes the research process undertaken to collect, analyze, interpolate and generalize the data.

Research Goal and Objective

The research aimed at creating a model that can assist in predicting players in major basketball leagues salaries; with the model, policymakers, players, teams, and other stakeholders can easily predict how much a player is likely to earn from an engagement.

Data Collection

Data were collected from a total of 380 players in the income and parameters that were used to settle their dues in 2008; the information was gotten through official basketball website and questionnaires of coaches, players, and club chairmen.

The Statistics That Were Collected/Considered

There were several variables that the research had; they are:

• Batters Faced (BFP) Shut Outs (SHO)
• Saves (SV) IPouts
• League Intentional Walks (IBB)
• Wild Pitches (WP) Hit By Pitched (HBP)
• Balks (BK) Games Finished (GF)
• Runs (R) Hits (H)
• Earned Runs (ER) Homeruns (HR)
• Complete Games (CG) Walks (BB)
• Strikeouts (SO) ERA
• Salary Throws
• Wins (W) Losses (L)
• Games (G) Team

The above variables were used to collect relevant data for the research and had different weights according to the role they played in determination of a player’s salary.

Method and Research

To complete the research, there were seven main steps that were undertaken; they are:

1. Choosing the research topic: out of the given number of issues, problems, or queries, the researchers settled on a single item that aimed at determining the main parameters that determine players’ salaries.
2. General overview: after choosing the topic, the research team decided to review the available information to ensure that the base of the problem was wide and comprehensive; at this stage, the researchers were concerned with known parameters that determine players’ salaries like the club a player is playing for.
3. Narrowing down: with the general information collected, the researchers had to come with specific topics and questions that should be answered by the research; although individual variable was addressing something different, in total they were to offer a concrete answer to the research question.
4. Determination of type and amount of information: with the specific research questions at hand, the next step was to choose the kind of information to collect as well as the source of the information.
5. Choosing the access tools: there are different methods of accessing data; the methods that were used for this research are library catalogs (for general information on the field), periodicals, internet, and questionnaires.
6. Result examination: with the data having been collected, it had to be sort and trimmed, this assisted in separating irrelevant data and retaining credible information. The step was a strong step in preparing for data analysis, interpolation, and the making of inferences.
7. Repeating and generalization: research process is a cycle. Thus there was a need to repeat the process once again to correct any mistake, make adjustments, and polish issues that might have been encountered (Burns, 2000).

References

Burns, R. B. (2000). Introduction to Research Methods. London: Sage.

Data collection is a critical and sensitive aspect that requires some technical skills to allow for success in the process. It entails the practice of preparing and collecting information related to a certain point for different purposes, for instance, to carry out a specific project or to improve an already ongoing process.

Data collection is intended to get relevant information that is used in making decisions and conclusions regarding a specific topic of study (Sekaran, 2003). This piece of work looks at the aspect of data collection with much emphasis being given to the possible issues and biases from the sampling data provided in the Major League Baseball Data Set assignment.

From the Major League Baseball Data Set assignment, I will look at some data collection elements, for instance, the population from which the sample was obtained, the appropriateness of the sample size as well as the possible bias or error that could occur when sampling in terms of validity and reliability.

Data collection ought to be very objective for there to be informative and relevant data. Objectivity is however undermined by the human nature of biases. Sampling is usually a good data collection method but only when used effectively. To achieve a high degree of objectiveness, the sample should be as representative of the total population as possible.

Regarding this particular assignment, it is evident that the researcher followed an appropriate method that is systematic and hence has a high probability of yielding relevant data that could help in the determination of the salary that should be earned by players in the Major League Baseball team (Burns, 2000).

The fact that the total population of the players in the Major League Baseball is relatively large made the researcher choose the sampling method to determine the salary that a player should earn. The population is appropriate because in getting what the players in Major League Baseball should earn as salary, it will help in the determination of an estimate of what a player in any team ought to make and the factors that determine the pay, for instance, the state’s involvement in the sport and the fans involved.

Regarding the sample size, it is evident that it is fully representative. According to current statistics, the Major League Baseball has a total of about 30 teams each with an approximate figure of 25 players. The total players, therefore, add up to 750 players. Taking a sample of 380 players is therefore representative enough since it approximately 50.7% of the total population (Rader, 2008).

In as much as objectivity would be aimed at in the research, there still could be possible chances of biases or error in the event of sampling and analyzing the collected data to come up with a conclusion. For instance, in the process of result examination, there could be some personal biases in the determination of the data that should be considered to be irrelevant and trimmed, and that to be retained.

Some error could also occur in the comparison of information obtained from the different research variables. It is evident that the process of data collection should be handled with a lot of care since it determines the results or conclusion made regarding a certain issue.

Reference List

Burns, R. B. (2000). Introduction to Research Methods. London: Sage.

Rader, G. B. (2008). Baseball: A History of America’s Game. 3^rd ed. USA: University of Illinois Press.

Sekaran, U. (2003). Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach (4th ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

For major league baseball (MLB), payroll amounts relate to team wins. While introspecting the MLB game phenomenon, Killins (2014) established that there is a strong relationship between payroll and amount and team wins. Applying regression techniques by drawing a scatter plot of real-world data of MLB payroll amounts (independent variable) and win totals (dependent variable) copied to the Excel spreadsheet, it is practical to establish the nature of the relationship between the two variables.

Comparing Least Square and Linear Regression Models

Least square regression is a technique of estimation, which allows analysts to predict the parameters of the models. For example, OLS models are a model applied when estimating the parameters of linear regression models. On the other hand, a linear regression model is a technique applied in joining a set of distributions that satisfy a set of postulations. These models are both used in predicting independent variables.

Scatter Plot and Linear Regression Model

The scatter plot in Figure 1 represents the values of total wins as an independent variable, while MLB payroll amounts are considered dependent. In addition, the chart in Figure 1 displays a linear regression model, which explains the relationship between payroll amounts and total wins, as shown in Equation 1. The model is used in calculating predicted win totals and associated residuals, as indicated in Table 2 (Appendix). The coefficient of correlation squared is provided alongside the linear regression model. To find the correlation coefficient, the analyst obtained the square root of . Undeniably, the correlation coefficient is slightly above 0.5, indicating that there is a fairly strong positive relationship between MLB payroll amounts and total wins.

Assuming the MLB payroll amount is $150 million, we can determine the wins total using Equation 1 as shown in Exhibit 1. The predicted value calculated in Exhibit 1 lies within the range of win totals data points.

Determination of Correlation Coefficient Using Formula

Where x and y represent MLB payroll amounts and wins total, respectively, and n=30. Table1 shows the values of the items in Equation 2, copied from the Excel spreadsheet.

Table 1: Summary of the Items in Equation 2 from the Excel Spreadsheet.

Determining Outliers Points

After fitting a linear regression line and activating data labels as shown in Figure 2, outlies points are far away from the line. There are two points identified, including Rays (50,90) and Orioles (80, 47).

Conclusively, linear regression techniques, especially constructing scatter plots and fitting linear regression lines are useful in solving practical problems. The MLB scenario analyzed, yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.5339 (manually calculated) or 0.5338 (Excel generated). This value is slightly more than 0.5, showing a relatively strong positive relationship between MLB payroll amount and win totals.

Reference

Killins, R. (2017). The impact of payroll allocation on winning in Major League Baseball (MLB). Applied Economics Letters, 24(16), 1189-1193. Web.

Appendix

Appendix A: Table 2 Showing Predicted Win Totals and Residuals

One day, being in Mourning Tree Bolin’s house, Lena stumbles upon Ezol’s journal. Outwardly the journal features the history of Ezol’s life, Ada’s citizens, and the Twin Territories; however, in truth, it goes beyond that and has a much deeper symbolic meaning. Ezol’s journal not only allows the readers to get a deeper understanding of Ezol’s beliefs and character but serves as a connection between different time planes.

Ezol’s journal represents a collection of different materials: letters, news items, drawings, and diary notes, all of which belong to different genres and come from various sources. However, all these materials serve one purpose: to recreate Ezol’s life and the lives of Ada’s citizens. Thus, the author portrays the interconnectedness of the land and the people, of different personalities and fates. This metaphor can be extended further to connect all existing things.

Not only different souses of information are used in the journal, but this information dates back to seemingly different periods. On closer examination, these periods portray Ezol’s perception of the time continuum as an absolute with no past, present, or future. Ezol says: “[] everything, even the farthest universe, has already happened. They’re stories that travel now as captured light in someone else’s telescope” (Howe, 2007, p. 35). Thus, Howe () portrays interrelations of all things and wants to say that nothing in this world is truly isolated. Ezol’s journal serves as a portrayal of the universal continuum and an example of tribalography. It highlights the central theme raised in the novel: the universal character of all things and their interdependence and the tendency to view the past as ever alive in the present and future.

Work Cited

Howe, LeAnne. Miko Kings: An Indian Baseball Story. Aunt Lute Books, 2007.

Robert Peterson’s Book, Only the Ball Was White: A History of Legendary Black Players and All-Black Professional Teams, is a seminal book that traces the origin and growth of Black baseball leagues in America. The book provides a vivid picture of the myriad experiences of black players in the game of baseball. The author shows how many good Black players could not find a place in the national team because of the racial divide and provides a list of the black baseball players who could have performed much better than their white counterparts if given an opportunity.

Peterson’s personal interviews with black baseball players and officials enrich the book; the poignant experiences narrated by the black players themselves add to the credibility of the book. The work clearly tells the reader the saga of the tribulations and humiliations that a black player has to undergo because of the color difference, and the author points out how the game of baseball has helped the black communities to nourish and foster their identity.

Thus, the story of the growth of baseball in the nation is the story of the black man’s growth; a shift from racism or color difference one comes across a celebration and acknowledgement of Black culture. Peterson shares the experiences of many a black baseball player, and the book is regarded as the best guide to understanding black culture.

Slavery and racism are the two binding constraints that kept the black baseball players marginalized and sidelined. There have been a number of black baseball teams who were playing regularly in Yankee Stadium and Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field during the 1930s and the 1940s; however, the talents and the professional excellence of these players went unnoticed as they could not make it to the mainstream of American baseball game.

The story of Black empowerment in the American society can be traced back to 1867 when the blacks were offered the right to vote. However, it took a long way for the glorious black baseball tradition to get recognized at the national level. As Peterson makes it clear, from 1898 to 1946, “black men were barred from the organized leagues by an unwritten rule, and behind this color line there developed a uniquely American spectacle called Negro baseball” (Peterson 1992, 3).

However, one could notice that a strong black baseball tradition was in the making. Negro football clubs were organized in various parts of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, which attracted the attention of many Negro fans of the game. According to Peterson, most of such Negro baseball leagues merely served the purpose of entertainment. However, he believes that these Negro leagues in the late 1920s have been instrumental in developing an American conscience that was purely Blackish.

Peterson observes that “Negro baseball was at once heroic and tawdry, a gladsome thing and a blot on American conscience” (Peterson 1992, 10). The first chapter of the book is comprised of the narrative experiences of black baseball players, which provide the reader with ample details of how all these players cherished this American Conscience.

The second chapter of the book is entitled Pioneers in Black and White and the chapter begins with the Nominating Committee of the National Association of Baseball Players’ recommendation that no club that are comprised of one or more colored persons should not be given admission to play in the authorized baseball leagues( Peterson 1992, 16). The move of the association not to provide admission to the clubs that are comprised of was politically motivated.

The white-dominated Northerners never thought the Negros as culturally capable of figuring out in an association led match. Later in 1871, the NAPBBP was formed, and the provision of excluding the black community from the game was retained as an unwritten law under the newly formed association too. However, these moves were insufficient to put an end to the growing popularity of the game among the black people, and there were a lot of Negro organized baseball matches and leagues. Among the pioneers of Black football the name of Bud Fowler stands honored as it was he who established himself as the first known baseball professional.

Bud Fowler stands as an iconic figure for the Blacks and for the game as his talents saw him through various white professional clubs, even though he could not be part of the national league because of the racial divide. However, he was renowned as the best second baseman of his time. There were continuous news on his performance in the dailies and periodicals, and one such report goes like this:

December 30: Fowler, the crack colored second basemen, is still in Denver, Colo., disengaged. The poor fellow’s skin is against him. With his splendid abilities, he would long ago have been on some good club and his color been white instead of black. Those who know say there is no better second baseman in the country; he is besides a good batter and fine base-runner (Peterson 1992, 21).

As it is evident from the recording, Fowler lost his chance to represent the national team as he was a back even though he was the most valuable and talented player of his time. Moses Fleetwood Walker, George. W. Stovey and Frank Grant were the other eminent black players who played in the professional league. All of them had proven talents to soar higher in the game. But, unfortunately, they were born in Black families and could never expect professional growth, which for a white man was quite easy. Thus the second chapter of the work provides clear details of the pioneers in Black baseball who played professional game but could not represent the national team. However, the author believes that these players have turned the game in favor of the Black man for the generations to come.

The last two chapters of the book deal with the growth of Negro players and the way by which they became accepted as baseball players by the society. The book is not only the history of hardships that Negro players faced to reach the mainstream of white dominated baseball in the USA, but also the history of discrimination that Negroes had to face. It was the time of the Second World War and in US preparations for the first atomic bomb that was used in Japan was going on.

But for a Negro player who is conscious about his situation in the US is not able to be happy or proud about his country. At that time in US, the Negro players are not allowed to play infamous baseball teams. They know that they are talented, but they are not allowed to show their talent because they were Negroes. So, one can see that discrimination based on color prevailed in baseball.

In the USA, the main baseball teams like Red sox and Braves agreed to conduct a tryout for the Negro players. After the game, manager Joe Cronin and Coach Hugh Duffy were so impressed by three Negro players. They were asked to fill out application. This can be considered as the first development in the history of Negroes in baseball of US. This must be considered as a tribute to the humiliating experiences that Negro baseball had to suffer from white organized baseball.

From this point onwards, the Negro baseball players became aware of their potential and skill in baseball. Another important event was the appointment of a two-man committee by major league owners to study the color question. Robert Peterson quotes the words of the new commissioner, A.B. Chandler: “I don’t believe in barring Negroes from baseball just because they are Negroes” (Peterson 1992, 185). So, from these words, one can see that there is a slight change in attitude towards Negro players.

The evolution of black baseball teams by blacks can be considered as the first step of black players who decided to fight against segregation and discrimination against Negroes in America. In the 1940s, a man named Rickey, who was a simple businessman, announced that he wish to start a Negro team called –The Brooklyn Dodgers. Generally, his plan was not acceptable because he was a white man. Moreover, he was criticized that he was trying to imitate Abraham Lincoln as the liberator of all Negroes in America. Here, one can see that anyone who tried to help Negroes was criticized mercilessly. This was the attitude in general against the Negroes.

But Rickey was so determined to interview a Negro player namely Robinson. The historical agreement in 1946, between Robinson and Montreal Royals team can be considered as the most important historical event in the history of black baseball in the USA. So, that was the time of acceptance of black baseball to the mainstream of sports. The efforts of the New State Fair Employment Practices Commission to sign an agreement which ensure a non-discriminative environment helped many of the Negro players to enter the limelight of baseball leagues in the USA. In 1946, Robinson was the only black man in the international league of baseball in the USA.

So the new age of Negro baseball in the USA resulted in a number of changes. Some are: the Negro club owners began to announce innovative plans to develop baseball. “Early in 1947 the Memphis Red Sox announced plans for a new $250,000 stadium, and the Negro National League, seeking stability and recognition by organized baseball.” (Peterson 1992, 197). But the problems were not over yet. Some teams like the Cardinals refused to play with Negro players. But the League president Ford Frick was against this discrimination, so he decided to send suspension messages to the protestors. After this incident, most of the baseball teams in the USA changed their attitude towards the Negro Players.

Among the Negro baseball players, there were so many talented players who played for more than one team in their baseball career. This increased their chance to grow beyond limits. Some of them are: Pat Dougherty, who played for Chicago area teams from 1909 to 1915. Another important player was Dizzy Dismukes who played baseball from 1913 to the 1950s. Moreover, he was an excellent manager and a coach, who was the part of famous baseball team namely, Philadelphia Giants in 1913. So the acceptance of Negroes in the national base ball leagues proved that the color of the skin do not determine the talent in the player.

One can see that the discrimination and hardships that had to be faced by Negro players in the USA was not able to discourage the spirit of the Negro player. But it helped him to prove himself as a talented baseball player. Before the 1940s, many of the Negro players were frustrated because there was no chance to exhibit their talent. When they were allowed to play baseball, they were able to prove themselves as the best baseball players in the history of baseball in the USA. After the 1940s, the history of baseball in the USA is the history of the growth of Negro players. In 1950, there were 5 teams with black players. By reading the book, one can see that most of the famous players who played for important baseball teams in the USA are Negroes.

So one can see that the book “Only the ball was white” by Robert Peterson, is the forgotten story of excluded black players. Earlier, baseball was played by both black and white. The civil war brought the game from New York to the Union side. At the end of the war, the game of baseball was widely accepted, and it was considered as a part of American culture. There were so many white people who wanted to break the color line.

So the entry of black players to baseball teams is based on the efforts taken by white people who considered that there is no difference between black and white players. If you are talented to play the game, you can enter the team. But the discrimination based on color of the skin resulted in the origin of Negro leagues, as well as informal teams. But most of these leagues in black baseball were unsuccessful, and it was because of lack of proper organization and agreement between players and owners. The book cannot be considered as just the story of great teams, but it is the story of great players, who tried to elevate the game up to the sky.

The popularity of the game resulted in the end of segregated professional baseball and collapse of the color barrier among baseball players in the USA. Moreover, the book provides statistics of Negro baseball leagues and biographies of black players of black baseball. So, before summing up, one can see that the book by Robert Peterson is able to evaluate the birth and development of professional black teams in the USA, strictly based on interviews, brief biographies of famous players and statistics of Negro leagues. Moreover, the book must be considered as the story of the effort by the black people who were and treated as slaves for centuries.

So the history of baseball in the USA is also the history of black people who considered sports as the part of their life. So the effort to establish themselves as players must be considered as their proclamation of freedom from slavery which prevailed in the USA for centuries. It is easy to understand, when one read this book on the light of the history of the USA and the contribution of slaves from Africa. So, the adventurous story of black people in USA, who proved themselves as best baseball players in front of white dominated society prove the undefeatable willpower of the blacks in USA.

Bibliography

Peterson, Robert. Only the Ball Was White: A History of Legendary Black Players and All-Black Professional Teams. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.

Introduction

As we give critical speculation over the book ‘INVISIBLE MEN: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues’ by a promising writer Donn Rogosin, we discover lots of things that are kept unrevealed so abruptly in the social configuration of racism.

“In all things that are purely social, we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.”[1]

This is a particular book that is a very fresh scholarship on the Negro baseball leagues. The context as has been dealt with is totally related to racially isolated America during the period between 1920 and 1950. This is the particular phase of racism that has made the dominance so very concrete that the title in itself declares the actual picturesque about the foregrounding towards this dominance.

There is no doubt that history has followed this particular structure of declaration. However, the initiations were discovered by the presentations related to the Negro Leagues. The first person was Robert Peterson, in his write-up ‘Only the Ball Was White’ made a very strong stand. The basis of this particular plot was made over the history that has been collected colloquially. Added to this, all kinds of write-ups on African-American baseball are scarce and are whirl pooled by controversies.

The attempt, as has been forwarded by Donn Rogosin’s Invisible Man: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues, too, is remarkable in its own way. This book makes a detailed exploration and exposition of how the native and the local teams became an important community in the sports institutions. All these sports institutions were operated by black entrepreneurs involved in the numbers rackets in a random way. As history states that in the year 1947, it was Jackie Robinson who very strongly broke baseball’s color barrier and became the most unconquered hero for black and white Americans.

The role played by Robinson was a Negro League player and is all about his struggle till he integrated with the Major League baseball. The Negro League ballplayers were always followed by thrilling black fans. This was an obvious state till 1920. The legends on the line were Smoky Joe Williams, who was famous for his fastballs. He was a player who can deliver fastballs in a really fast way. The force comes in as if off a mountain top. The next legend on the line was Satchel Paige, the player who was more known as an ageless wonder. He had dominance on the pitch for five decades. This was well expressed in

“I hope that someday Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson will be voted into the Hall of Fame as symbols of the great Negro players who are not here only because they weren’t given a chance.” [2]

The players like Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard were some noted legends in the stream of the sport. Their contributions were not only well-acknowledged but are still very much recognized. However, their struggles to this position were like “the Ruth and Gehrig of the Negro Leagues.”

The dominance

The games of these predominant players were very much ignored by white-owned newspapers and radio stations. Their popularity and the performances were never appreciated. They were never even mentioned by these modes of media. The only reason was the color of their skin. The consequence is an absolute example of racism. Even after being good players, they were never recognized by the white communities, and the media was dominated by the whites. The performance was so ignored that they were initially treated as invisible men. No matter how they play, the commentators in the stadium and the radio will never talk about them. It was an open declaration of discrimination over racism. As declared in the lines

“With the admission of Cubans of a darker hue in the two big leagues, it would then be easy for colored players who are citizens of this country to get into the fast company.” [3]

However, their games and the proficient expertise on the fields were acknowledged b their own communities of black. All the fans of black ballplayers became folk heroes in most of the major cities. In the nuke and corridors of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Kansas City, New York, and Washington DC, the discrimination was not much in the air. They could not ignore their expertise, and as such, the flame was shown to prosperity.

Post-colonial affects

The performance of the players could very easily draw large crowds and was considered as the major contributor to the local community life. INVISIBLE MEN: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues’ by Donn Rogosin is a kind of memorable narrative that has got a post-colonial effect on the issue, and the declarations are all very much authentic to this discrimination that existed during the first half of the 20th century. Being black is in itself was a kind of crime, and the people with this complexion were considered invisible as if lost in the dark. As the book gets exposure, we discover that there is content that has filled with the memories of many surviving Negro League players. It has got the historical analysis on the basis of the facts that dominate the psychology as well as the social status of the Negroes.

“Monarchs have done more than any other single agent in Kansas City,” added the Kansas City Call, “to break the damnable outrage of prejudice that exists in this city.” [4]

It is a success story in terms of being able to pull the veil off these “invisible men” who were under all adverse circumstances were forced into the segregated leagues. This book, in particular, has been considered as a chapter in terms of declaring the post-colonial effects in the marginal existence of African American history. The book has had a very important effect on the most overlooked aspect of our American past.

Donn Rogosin has always been a predominant writer in relation to public media exposure. He is an active member of the world of television and had a career as a famous executive and an independent producer of documentaries. His writings were well supported by his craft of documentary, and he always tries to make an attempt to pectoris the whole scene as for the historical impact and implementation. The writings are all very much related to historical events and are well supported by facts. In this particular book, too, he has got the whole list of incidences to make all kinds of particularized declarations related to racism during 1920-1950.

The relation of African-American sportsmanship was under great pressure and turmoil in this particular phase. His attempt as an explorer of Negro League baseball has always been considered as a very strong and dominant periphery. There was hardly any instance when his works were not appreciated. There were more about his clarifications and interpretations related to the genre of writing for the particularized background of racism.

The effects of post-colonial attitude were not only psychological affecting the players but also adding a sense of demoralization in them. There were hardly any beings who could breathe well in that atmosphere. Every single incident and every particular excellence was ignored, and there was hardly any scope for its declaration. There was no chance or space for male opposition, and the suffocation was made a part of the whole socio-political scenario.

Negro National League

In order to review this book, I have tried to go for an in-depth study. My understanding shows that the author in himself is very much convinced with the challenges as has been faced by the sportsman during 1920-50. The post-colonial effects are outrageous, and there was hardly any dominance for the same. With a very appropriate understanding of the title, the consequences can be well assessed.

There are lots of queries and controversies as has been followed by the publication of such a strong social interpretation. Though there are many who don’t want to make a confirmation of the declared incidences, yet the truth has been well supported by much evidence. The very major premises of the book are in its declarations that are related to racisms in a sequence of consequences. The situations start from the selection procedure. In most cases, the black players are not selected just because of their complexion. The Negro National League was the first in history to represent an enormous step forward for black baseball.

“…will open the avenue in the near future wherein [blacks] may walk hand-in-hand with the opposite race in the greatest of all American games — baseball”. [5]

It was the association that first came up with an official declaration related to the protest against racial discrimination. The major role was played by Rube Foster. He was the one who is very much responsible for most of its success. He provided unconquered leadership, business acumen, and lots o financial and strategic support to the association. The financial stability in the earlier leagues lacked all kinds of developed provisions.

This was well handled by the association, and the performance of the players was all well speculated under it. He frequently loaned money to players for all kinds of assistance. This brought in a kind of confidence in them, and baseball very slowly turned up to be a career option for most of the players. All kinds of investments were made to bring the team to an international standard. The coaching and the gaming strategies were all well speculated, and people were all made a part of it. The contributions were though coming in small quantity, yet the support was getting severe.

With the increase in popularity and support of the fans, the media has got no option left other than to cover stories with the team. The invisible team started getting focused by the end of 1950. There were lots of public contributors, and even more supporting organizations came up on their way. The performances were much polished, and the challenges were all very much tougher. The players were determined to make their existence possible they were rather very dominant with their approach. There were very few organizations that still considered the team as invisible. Otherwise, there was nothing to stop their popularity.

There were many players who got recognition, and the visibility came in. Their performances were so great that people were hound to get stuck with it. The gaming strategies and the refined formats were all made a part of their practice. The target was more related to winning over games in order to make an adamant position in the social setup.

“… Cubans of a darker hue in the two big leagues would then be easy for colored players who are citizens of this country to get into fast company. The Negro in this country has more varied hues than even the Cubans, and the only way to distinguish him would be to hear him talk”. [6]

Foster has been recognized as the “Father of Black Baseball,” and very appropriately, he deserved to be the one. His contribution and support were outrageous and the spirit to be the best was the only solution that he discovered to give a heavy reply to the racial discrimination. He created awareness among the players and made them realize their role in the pages of history. Baseball was more considered an instrument against these kinds of discrimination.

It was more social participation than just a game. The realizations were being structured in the set of discriminated social conditionings. The selection procedure was well modified, and there was air in the process of leading the game. A captain who would have never given the preference to the Negro was now getting dependent over him. The hard work and determination of the players made them one of the few selected players. The declaration of discrimination over the complexion was official, and there was no space for its opposition.

Conclusion

Eventually, the outcomes were all related to the dominance led by the performances as has been delivered in the field. No matter what, the suppression and suffocations were always there throughout, but at least an attempt was made to declare opposition against it. There were lots of contributions made to all these aspects, and people can well synchronize the racial discrimination. Being a popular sport, performance was made the criteria for all kinds of assessment.

The Negro national league made a tremendous declaration to this field, and there was an attempt of no looking back. The shattered psychologies of the players were made to tolerate the discrimination and to deliver better performances on the field. The whole functionality of the book depends on the declarations made by the author towards the survival strategy in the world of baseball and the racial influences as a whole.

Reference

Donn Rogosin, Invisible Men: Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues, Published by U of Nebraska Press, 2007, ISBN 0803259697, 9780803259690.

1. Page 33, Appears in 934 books from 1850-2008.
2. Page 176, Appears in 23 books from 1965-2007.
3. Page 154, Appears in 11 books from 1992-2008.
4. Page 35, Appears in 5 books from 1986-2008.
5. Page 89, Appears in 5 books from 1995-2008.
6. Page 154, Appears in 6 books from 1992-2007.