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Black managers also a rare breed

Summary:

Baseball celebrated the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the majors' color line Sunday, but it would be difficult to convince African American managerial candidates that significant progress has been made in hiring practices.

As the 2007 season begins, merely two - the New York Mets' Willie Randolph and Texas Rangers rookie Ron Washington - manage major-league baseball teams.


Granted, that represents 6.7 percent of the 30 jobs, not far below the 8.4 percent of African Americans on major-league rosters. But there are reasons for the drop-off among players. What's the excuse for not hiring black managers?

"You try not to be stereotyped," Mets coach Jerry Manuel said, "but then you look around and start thinking, What do we all have in common? And then you tell yourself, 'That can't be it - it's 2007.'

"It's very discouraging. A lot of guys give up because they know they won't be hired to manage. I can see their bitterness and disappointment. Look how Frank (Robinson) was treated by the Nationals, and he's a legend."

Robinson, 71, back working for Major League Baseball, was left hanging by Washington management before he was dumped, shown little respect for a Hall of Fame player who saw the Montreal Expos through tough times before they moved to D.C.

Addressing the issue this winter, Robinson told ESPN.com: "I had four chances (to manage), so they'd say, 'Look who's talking.' But, yeah, it seems a little strange that minority managers don't seem to be held in as high esteem as the white managers who are let go.

"It's like, They had their shot - see you later."

Robinson's age probably was a factor in how he was viewed as a candidate, but how about Dusty Baker? The paint still is fresh on his managerial career following 14 consecutive seasons with the Giants and Chicago Cubs, yet he wasn't in demand.

"I don't know why there aren't more black managers," Baker said, suggesting some teams might not seriously consider black managerial candidates based on geographical location. "Let's face it, there are some areas (of the country) where you're more readily accepted.

"I feel I'll get another opportunity, but I wonder why I only had one interview this winter. That was in San Diego, and I had an 'I'll get back to you' call from Washington. So, evidently, you don't get as many chances."

And how about Cito Gaston, who won two World Series with Toronto (1992 and '93) and hasn't been heard from again? Or Don Baylor, Davey Lopes, Hal McRae, Jerry Royster and Manuel, who was A.L. Manager of the Year with the 2000 Chicago White Sox?

"Since I managed the White Sox, I've interviewed with Cincinnati, Seattle and Kansas City, but nothing this winter," Manuel said. "But I see a wave of new, young GMs who probably don't know the guys from our generation as well. I was happy to see Ron land in Texas, but why not Oakland? If you've been in an organization 12 years, you'd think they would know your capabilities."

A's general manager Billy Beane became a little defensive when asked about Washington, especially in the context of Milton Bradley being the lone African American on the squad as soon as free agents Frank Thomas and Jay Payton departed, although the A's later signed Shannon Stewart.

"As a GM, you're going to go through the interview process and give everybody a chance you feel that's earned that right, and you're going to try to make the best decision possible," Beane said.

"Teams do interview minority candidates. Timing entered into it because we hadn't completed the process. Ron was great, but if you interview one person and give him the job, then there is no process."

Washington, a well-respected A's coach for 11 years, was thankful to get the Texas job and voiced no complaint over Beane instead hiring fellow former A's coach Bob Geren.

"I have a lot of confidence in what I'm trying to do," he said. "If, for some reason, I don't get it done and have to look for another job, so be it. I know I'm going to be successful."

Of course, Washington speaks like a man who is fulfilling his dream. Others, such as Baker and Manuel, have confidence and proven track records but are insecure about managerial opportunities.

Manuel contends it shouldn't be an issue 32 years after Frank Robinson crossed the managerial color line with Cleveland in 1975.

"People lose jobs, learn from what they went through and grow from that," Manuel said. "Apparently, (baseball) doesn't seem to think there might be some growth in some of us who have lost jobs."

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has implored teams to do better in their minority hiring practices and insists more are being interviewed, but told ESPN.com: "I can't tell the clubs whom to hire. All I can tell them to do is increase the pool."

Still, men like Manuel wonder why they're not part of the process, and Baker summed up: "You can't hire yourself. And most of the time, when you get a job, it's not going to be with a top team. But those are the jobs you're going to get.

"Give me a semi-opportunity with a good team, and I'll win."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)

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