MLB Should Move 2011 All-Star Game, Exit Cactus League Over Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Law

Much has been written about Arizona’s outrageous new immigration law, which, not to mention, is most likely unconstitutional. Well, America’s pastime put Arizona on notice this past Friday, when the Major League Baseball Players Association issued a statement calling for its repeal.

The recent passage by Arizona of a new immigration law could have a negative impact on hundreds of Major League players who are citizens of countries other than the United States. These international players are very much a part of our national pastime and are important members of our Association. Their contributions to our sport have been invaluable, and their exploits have been witnessed, enjoyed and applauded by millions of Americans. All of them, as well as the Clubs for whom they play, have gone to great lengths to ensure full compliance with federal immigration law.

The impact of the bill signed into law in Arizona last Friday is not limited to the players on one team. The international players on the Diamondbacks work and, with their families, reside in Arizona from April through September or October. In addition, during the season, hundreds of international players on opposing Major League teams travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks. And, the spring training homes of half of the 30 Major League teams are now in Arizona. All of these players, as well as their families, could be adversely affected, even through their presence in the United States is legal. Each of them must be ready to prove, at any time, his identity and the legality of his being in Arizona to any state or local official with suspicion of his immigration status. This law also may affect players who are U.S. citizens but are suspected by law enforcement of being of foreign descent.

The Major League Baseball Players Association opposes this law as written. We hope that the law is repealed or modified promptly. If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.

My statement reflects the institutional position of the Union. It was arrived at after consultation with our members and after consideration of their various views on this controversial subject.

According to a 2009 report from the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, Latinos represent 27 percent of the total population of Major League Baseball (MLB) players. Not to mention that 28 percent of players are actually foreign-born.

In Arizona, persons of Hispanic or Latino origin account for 31 percent of the population (15 percent in the U.S.). Ironically, this closely mirrors MLB. That’s where the similarities end, however.

You see MLB has taken a decidedly different route in reaching out to this very important demographic. Where Arizona has chosen to encourage racial profiling and discrimination, MLB and its clubs have chosen to open their doors and create an extremely welcoming environment to fans and players alike.

Many MLB clubs now have Hispanic marketing departments and have focused a great amount of energy on outreach to the community. Plain and simple, this makes great business sense. This Hispanic consumer market is the fastest growing segment and it shows little sign of waning. We’ll examine this a bit more in a moment.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics accounted for one-half of the nation’s growth between 2000 and 2006. The Hispanic growth rate was more than three times the growth rate of the total population. Arizona, in particular, had the fourth most gain in population (490,124), from 2000 to 2006. Maricopa County, Arizona also ranked as the second highest county by Hispanic population growth in the nation, which, when totaled, ranked them fifth in the nation by Hispanic population size (1,129,556).

According to the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth, Hispanics’ buying power topped a whopping $978 million in 2009 and is poised to approach $1.3 trillion by 2014. To put this in further context, Hispanics’ buying power increased in value by 100 percent from 2000 to 2009; and, it far outpaces the growth in buying power of non-Hispanics (45 percent increase) and consumers as a whole (49 percent increase).

They also noted the increased education attainment of Hispanics and the relative youthfulness of the population when compared against non-Hispanics. With a higher proportion of  “Hispanics either entering the workforce for the first time or moving up on their career ladders,” they suggest that their buying power will continue to increase in the years to come.

I understand that what is needed is comprehensive immigration reform, but Arizona’s new racial profiling law does not bring us any closer to that end. The only thing that this brings Arizona closer to is economic ruin.

With one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation, Arizona should be positioned to reap huge economic benefits; however, instead they have chosen to alienate Hispanics. Not only is this new law immoral, but it is also bad for business.

I hear they are going to announce a new state slogan: “The Passport State, Don’t Leave Home Without It.” Seriously, what’s next?!

Arizona is no stranger to controversy, regarding racial minorities. As David Goldstein pointed out:

When then-Gov. Evan Mecham revoked the state’s recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1987, and Arizona voters failed to approve it at the polls in 1990, the National Football League struck back on behalf of its diverse roster by moving the 1993 Super Bowl from Phoenix to Pasadena. MLB’s 2011 All Star Game is currently scheduled for Phoenix, and there is already pressure building for the league to make a similar gesture.

I honestly can’t see how MLB could allow the All Star Game to take place in Phoenix, Arizona. I totally agree with Goldstein’s conclusion.

So why should MLB and its team continue to shower such immense economic largesse on a state that just passed laws intended to harass nearly a third of its players and the fastest growing segment of its fan base?

Clearly MLB needs to follow in the NFLs footsteps and send a clear message that they do not support Arizona’s racial profiling law.  Heck, while they are at it they should move the Cactus League too (spring training).