Positional Segregation and Professional Baseball

Abstract

Both the sociology and economic hypotheses predict that Blacks will be under represented at "central" positions (infield, catcher, and pitcher). The sociology hypothesis attributed this result to the deliberate exclusion of Blacks from positions which entail responsibility, decision-making and outcome control. The economic hypothesis contends the result is due to differential costs. Relatively few Blacks will choose these positions since the costs of acquiring skills are expensive. Both the economic and sociology hypotheses are found to be consistent when data is considered at a particular moment in time. However, the sociology hypothesis is found to be inconsistent and the economic hypothesis consistent when the data is considered over time. In addition, alternative theories were considered and found to be equally invalid.