In 2012 the MLB was 63.9% white. That’s up from the low of 60.3% in 2004. In 2013 the NFL was 29.26% white. In 2012, 78% of all professional basketball players were US blacks.
I think part of the reason that so many bullpens are full of tall athletic white lanky kids throwing 95+ in recent years is that they have started choosing baseball instead of trying to compete with tall athletic black lanky guys at younger and younger ages in basketball.
The great equalizer in baseball is hitting a round ball fair with a round bat, especially when it’s 90+ and your timing is messed up with slower breaking balls and change ups. If you can do that, some of the other more physical skills that might be lacking don’t matter as much. Generally, the skill set of NFL and NBA requires more physical skills. Also, the skill set for baseball at the major league level usually requires very frequent repetition at a very young age, usually from fathers.
FReegards
Yep, about 10,000 hours of practice.