Tyson Ross - Race, Ethnicity and Nation
After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, Tyson Ross began his professional career in baseball operations with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he serves as a Special Assistant to Player Development and Performance. In this role, he collaborates with players and coaches throughout the organization, drawing on his decade-long Major League Baseball experience to help cultivate and prepare the next generation of big leaguers.
Beyond his work in professional baseball, Tyson is the founder and executive director of Loyal To My Soil, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free baseball and softball camps for youth in underserved communities. The program eliminates financial barriers to participation while fostering access, development, and a love for the game.
Tyson resides in the East Bay with his wife, Ashley, and their two sons, Jordan and Jaxon.
Area of Concentration Courses
German 130AC - Cultures of Migration
History C139C - Civil Rights and Social Movements in U.S. History
Sociology 117 - Sport As a Social Institution
Sociology 121 - Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Social and Cultural Context
Sociology 130AC - Social Inequalities: American Cultures
Thesis
Baseball's Black Decline
This thesis examines the decline of African American participation in baseball at both the youth and professional levels, situating the issue within broader cultural and economic contexts. While Black players once made up 28% of Major League Baseball rosters in 1975, that figure has fallen to historic lows, with significant consequences for representation and community engagement. Using Oakland Babe Ruth, a historically Black youth league, as a case study, this work explores how MLB’s shift toward inexpensive Latin American talent and the rise of the privatized, pay-to-play youth sports model have undermined access for inner-city Black athletes. Surveys of alumni and parents, alongside historical research, reveal how this decline erodes not only participation but also the developmental benefits baseball uniquely provides, including resilience, strategic thinking, and community identity. The study argues that grassroots solutions—such as the Loyal To My Soil program—are critical for restoring equitable access and preserving baseball’s role in Black communities.
