June 29, 2003

After ethnically classifying all major league baseball players, the Toronto Star states that the Toronto Blue Jays has the team with the least non-white players in baseball and labelled the team the "White Jays". Toronto Blue Jays officials are quite upset by this article. In the Toronto Sun’s words: Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi resents the insinuation from the Toronto Star that he is a racist, that he prefers white baseball players to Afro-Americans and those from Latin American countries. The Toronto Star is trying to defend itself. However this tasteless headline did not give attention to the fact that it is the Blue Jays lack of money for scouting, a preference for older more developed players and Ricciardi’s management style that contributes to older American players being selected by the team. However if the Toronto Star really thinks that urgent action should be taken by major league baseball to fix this problem that can put up some money to help attract minority players to the team. I expect to see Barry Bonds and Pedro Martinez sent to the Blue Jays any day now. 8:08:50 AM