"Except the Ethiopian, the Mick, the Sheeney, the Wop, the Dutch and the Chink, the Cuban, the Indian, the Jap or the so-called Anglo-Saxon - his nationality is never a matter of moment if he can pitch, or hit, or field." - The Sporting News, 1923 (1)
Joe DiMaggio, Frankie Crosetti, and Tony Lazzeri
Because New York City was the destination for millions of immigrants during the early years of Major League Baseball, it is not surprising that the early New York City baseball teams were ethnically diverse, reflecting the city's immigrant population. The names of the players on the Yankees alone are indicative of how the recent immigrants were affecting baseball: Tony Lazzeri, Frankie Crosetti, and Joe DiMaggio. Baseball in New York was mirroring the upward movement of immigrants.(2) The Giants tried very hard to recruit Jewish players between 1910 and 1930, in order to attract fans from the Polo Ground's surrounding neighborhood, which was becoming increasingly Jewish. They found Andy Cohen, who paved the way for other Jewish players. The Yankees avoided hiring Jewish players until 1930, when Jimmy Reese joined the team.(3) African-Americans were excluded from Major League Baseball from 1898 until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. It is understandable that such a momentous event would occur in progressive and liberal New York City.
"If I were a magnate in Great New York at least, I would send scouts all over the United States and Canada in an effort to locate some hook-nosed youngster who could bat and field. Then I would ballyhoo him in all the papers. The Jewish people are great spenders and they could be made excellent fans. You could sell out your boxes and your reserved seats any time in Greater New York." - Eddie Reulbach, one of the first Jewish Major League Baseball players, as quoted in a 1926 article in Baseball Magazine(4)
Eddie Reulbach
Race and nationality also played a big role in the attendance at the stadiums, particularly at Ebbets Field. With integration came not only a change in the racial makeup of the teams, but also in that of the fans. Jackie Robinson and other black players attracted more black spectators to Ebbets Field, and the atmosphere began to change. Prior to 1947, the population had been mostly white middle-class men. They formed a sort of club, and enjoyed each other's company. However, after Jackie Robinson joined the team, more African Americans began coming to the game, and the fans grew less comfortable with each other. In addition, many of the white fans had begun to move to Long Island, making the trip to Ebbets Field less convenient.(5) This, coupled with the fact that the games were beginning to be televised, also contributed to the decline in attendance of the traditional white middle class fan.
Race played less of a factor in Yankee Stadium. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Yankees were a horrible team and the Bronx was considered terribly dangerous. There was a lot of violence, and white people were afraid of the area. Nevertheless, attendance did not dip too drastically; people were willing to come up to Yankee Stadium regardless. After Yankee Stadium went through its renovation in the 1970s and the Yankees began winning again, their attendance nearly doubled, despite the decline of the area around the stadium.(6)
