J man,
yes black inner city baseball is dying big time and so is anywhere there is overpopulated areas and less space. To have baseball, funding has to be had in some shape or form whether it be from the parents or the community center.
Basketball is less demanding economically and plus you can always play by yourself or with only a couple of people. I definitely agree however that the main reason for the black American decline in baseball is the fact that the NBA has exploded. The NBA is the main reason for the decline in numbers and interest amongst urban areas.
(i used to play whiffle ball with only one other person all the time...i hardly see that anymore except with 5 and 6 year olds playing with their dads!)
The NBA to many is more glamourous, fun, and easier to get the money than Major League Baseball. Baseball is stuck still in the 1960's.
Basketball players are superstars their first couple of years in the league and for some even before they touch the floor of a real NBA game. In baseball, they dont' become stars until acheiving certain stats or winning goals.
Baseball does a horrible job marketing its players as they rather market the game itself. I think baseball is the fairest and less underhanded of the main sports including hockey. If baseball marketed its black players a little bit, you would see an increase in young black players particularly in the urban communities.
Basketball does a great job of marketing what society asks for, the players. The athletic builds of basketball players makes it easier to market the players as they almost always stand out in crowds, commercials, etc...
It is easier to market a basketball player in that respect.
Anyway, i just was thinkin off the top of my head.