themselves. "The Negro Leagues gave blacks a chance that 'white baseball' denied them." (Rampersad, pg.115)But inventions had also been brought about from the Negro Leagues, such as the shin guard,batting helmet, and the hit-and-run bunt technique."The shin guard and batting helmet are both said to have their origin in black baseball." (Conrads,pg. 5) Although they have no real inventor, these modernizations have revolutionized baseball towhat we know it as today. What would baseball be if there were no batting helmets or shinguards for the catchers? In my opinion, I believe that Randy Johnson, who throws up to 100miles per hour, would have an extraordinary increase in his strike out rate. In addition, "Andrew'Rube' Foster, called the father of 'black baseball' for hisdeveloping the hit-and-run bunt duringhis days as a manager." (Conrads, pg. 5) Without this development, I firmly believe baseballwould not be the same as it is today. Therefore, the Negro Leagues have contributed far more tothe game of baseball than anyone had ever imagined them to do. Other than the Negro Leaguesinnovations and moral support, the Negro Leagues have also proved to be an economic strengthamongst the African American community. It was said, "By the end of World War II, when theywere at their peak, the Negro Leagues were a two million dollar empire." (Conrads, pg. 9) Infact, it was "One of the largest black-dominated business in the country." (Conrads, pg. 9) Infact, it opened up new job opportunities for African Americans as the Negro Leagues gainedpopularity. It not only acquired money from the African American community, but also from thewhite community as well; white peoples were infatuated with the "show" that the AfricanAmericans put on for them - they thought African Americans playing baseball, was much like asea - lion juggling. Although there was a strong sense of inequality amongst the entire American societyduring this time, African A...
