Lasting Impact

“It has occurred to me that, 22 years after his death, Wendell’s peers remember his work and dedication to making the game of baseball a favorite past time for every American."
~ Wyonella Smith, 1994

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Major League Baseball has opened several opportunities for minorities all over the world. Since the color line was broken in 1948, the number of black players has gone from 0% to 8%, and that number continuously rises every few years. In fact, it has been 71 years since the end of baseball segregation and already 23 African American players have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

One of the biggest changes is that baseball hasn't only been improved for black men, but it has since accepted all types of minorities. Today, MLB is made up of 42.5% of non-white players.

"The only change is that baseball has turned me from a second class citizen to a second class immortal."
~ Satchel Paige

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"On the field, blacks have been able to be super giants. But, once our playing days are over, this is the end of it and we go back to the back of the bus again."
~ Hank Aaron 

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"Kids are our future, and we hope baseball has given them some idea of what it is to live together and how we can get along, whether you be black or white."
~ Larry Doby

"Baseball gives every American boy a chance to excel. Not just to be as good as someone else, but to be better. This is the nature of man and the name of the game."
~ Josh Gibson

" Baseball has done more to move America in the right direction than all of the professional patriots with all their cheap words."
~ Monte Irvin

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Baseball now serves as a great equalizer given the fact that the value of a player is determined by skill rather than color.

The sport opens its doors to all Americans and brings us closer together as a nation, no matter what color our skin is.