Former Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, middle, doesn't know why he isn't in the Reds front office. He assists the Nationals' general manager.Blacks still absent from front offices
Some progress has been made, say the few who've gained upper management roles, but disparity persists.
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One area where African-American numbers haven't dwindled in baseball is team management.
That's because the number always has been low.
Kenny Williams, senior vice president and general manager for the Chicago White Sox, is the only black now -- and only the third ever -- to serve in such a capacity in Major League Baseball.
"The progress from the days when I was the first involved, to now ... I think progress has been made," said Bob Watson, the second black general manager when he was promoted to that job by the Houston Astros in 1993. "But not fast enough.
"If Jackie Robinson was here today, on one hand, he would say fine. But on the other hand, he would say a lot more needs to be done."
Stepping up to that plate recently was Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, who hired former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin to be a special assistant.
"You have to be given the opportunity," said Larkin, a former University of Michigan standout. "Why am I not in the front office in Cincinnati?
"I don't know. I have my ideas, but I don't know for sure. You just question a lot of things that happen in baseball and wonder what the root of the problem really is."
Bill Lucas, a former minor league player, is considered the first black to serve in the capacity of general manager, although he didn't have the title with the Atlanta Braves. Lucas was named the team's director of player personnel in 1976, and performed general manager duties. Owner Ted Turner kept the general manager title.
Watson was the next, 17 years later. Watson moved to New York and helped put together the team that won the World Series in 1996, ending an 18-year championship drought for the Bronx Bombers.
"This has been on my mind for a long time ever since Bob Watson was let go," said Tigers great Willie Horton. "He was very successful. Then you never heard of him getting hired for any other jobs.
"You have great people that have already been in the industry, but can't get hired again. You wonder why and have to ask yourself what's going on. This is crazy."
Watson resigned from the Yankees in February 1998. He is now vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball.
"I think visible blacks in leadership roles would serve as role models for kids," Larkin said. "But obviously, we have to be given an opportunity to be in that position in baseball because there are so few in upper level management."
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