2 Worlds: All White PawSox Owners & Staff, Asking Pawtucket - 40% Minority & Poor - for Millions

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Thursday, July 06, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team and Kate Nagle

It is two different worlds. One world is the ownership of the PawSox that has been well-reported by GoLocalProv to have a net worth of an estimated $8 to $10 billion, and their 32 full-time staff members — both the ownership and the staff -- who are all white. The two part-time radio announcers are white too.

The other world is the City of Pawtucket. It is one of the state's most economically distressed cities with a growing minority population — now roughly 40 percent.

Poor City, Rich Owners

Pawtucket is poor compared to the rest of the state. Median family income in Pawtucket is almost 40% lower than the state average — in Pawtucket it is $41,281 versus the Rhode Island average of $67,606.

According to Kids Count, the percentage of children in poverty under the age of 6 in Pawtucket is 50 percent higher that the Rhode Island average — 35.5% in Pawtucket v. 24.3% in the state.

A PawSox spokesperson told GoLocal on Wednesday, "The full time staff is relatively small, and the part time road offers future opportunity.  That's where we've made the changes and we will continue to do so going forward.”

Major League Baseball Pushing for Minority Employees 

Last week marked the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s breaking into the majors and according to the LA Times, the MLB effort to increase minority hiring especially in leadership front office and managerial positions has failed. 

“In 1999, then-Commissioner Bud Selig directed teams to consider minorities when filling vacancies for manager, general manager, assistant general manager, scouting director and minor league director…Today, 18 years after the introduction of the Selig Rule, the number of minority managers is the same as when Selig imposed the rule.”

The 2017 Major League Baseball Racial and Gender Report Card (RGRC) was released by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport and its report showed decreases in both racial and gender hiring practices. “Major League Baseball had a B on the issue of racial hiring practices, a C for gender hiring practices, and an overall grade of C+ in the 2017 MLB Racial and Gender Report Card (MLB RGRC). The report was released in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking MLB’s color barrier. “

Under Pat O'Conner, President & Chief Executive Officer, "Minor League Baseball implemented a first-ever diversity initiative in 2009, whereby it executes programs aimed at diversifying the ownership, executive and staff personnel, fan base and business-to-business relationships within the industry." It is unclear if the PawSox participated in the program, but if they did it clearly had no impact.

PawSox Play

For the PawSox there are no minorities in the management of the team  — and only a handful of women on the staff of 32.

The PawSox have ten owners — none are minorities nor women. “We have actively added minorities (to part-time staff), and now have staff who speak several languages.  We have also infused our intern program and game day staff with minorities, now providing the opportunity to become full time when openings arise,” said the PawSox.

The PawSox had a recent opportunity to add diversity to their team when they hired an entirely new management team late in 2015 after the death of Jim Skeffington.

The new management team led by Larry Lucchino, includes President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, Senior Vice President/General Manager Dan Rea, Treasurer Jeff White, and longtime PawSox executive Mike Tamburro as Vice Chairman. 

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