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The Black College World Series played this week in Alabama hopes to spur pro careers amid declining numbers of U.S.-born Black players in the major leagues. Not a single alum from a historically black college or university was on a Major League Baseball opening day roster. U.S.-born Black players made up only 6.2% of those rosters. Last year's World Series was the first without a U.S.-born Black player since 1950. Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith said it’s a trend that concerns current players and his contemporaries alike.

The Black College World Series played this week in Alabama hopes to spur pro careers amid declining numbers of U.S.-born Black players in the major leagues

The Black College World Series, held this week in Montgomery, is giving dozens of HBCU players from NAIA and Division II schools a chance to compete for a title beyond their own leagues and perhaps attract attention from Major League Baseball teams.

The spectators were mostly Black kids, ranging from elementary school to high school. The teams - all from historically Black colleges and universities - had names that won't resonate with the average baseball fan.

MLB’s popular RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) now has Nike as the presenting sponsor, providing the kind of muscle that will only enhance its impact and outreach globally.