NEW YORK (AP) – The baseball players’ union is frustrated many of its retired members – especially minorities – can’t find jobs working for teams and has asked MLB to help launch a career preparation project.
Union head Tony Clark, a former All-Star first baseman, outlined the plan during an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, a day before the 69th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
Components include college scholarships for all prospects signing professional contracts, creation of a database of minority players and programs to enhance their post-playing employment prospects. The union also wants to establish a coaching school, a “Baseball U.” program for continuing education and courses in baseball analytics, statistics and business etiquette.
“Having this conversation every April 15, I’m tired of having it,” Clark said. “Continuing to do the same things over and over again while acknowledging annually that we still have the problem that we’ve had seems to truly be the definition of insanity.”
Funding would come from money collected by the commissioner’s office from the tax levied on clubs for international signing bonuses.