Thurs., 5/17/12: Inner City Youth Baseball

Inner City Youth Baseball
The baseball season is off to a running start and the Red Sox are on a hot streak. With the baseball season in full swing, youth baseball leagues are also up and running. Though there's still interest in youth baseball, it now competes against video games and computers, friends and cars, and more popular sports such as lacrosse and football. Youth today are less likely to play on the sandlots or play catch on a lazy afternoon. 

The problem is especially acute in the inner city, where greenspace is at a premium, sports are expensive, and kids are overbooked. For kids of color it's even worse: they may not see themselves represented in major league baseball like they do in sports like football and baseball. Today we talk about how baseball can grow again in the inner city and regain its title as the national pastime for a new generation.

GUESTS:
  Harry Smith, president of Jamaica Plain Regan Youth Baseball League
  Mike Kudisch, South End Baseball's Commissioner for ages 7 to 12