Exit Discrimination in Major League Baseball: 1990–2004

Using a panel study of annual Major League Baseball (MLB) data (1990‐2004), we do not find evidence that race affects the career duration of black hitters. Our findings are inconsistent with results from a study by Jiobu (1988) who used 1971‐1985 data that found that race decreased career length, ceteris paribus , for black hitters but not Hispanics. The difference in results could be due to our use of seasonal‐variant data; Jiobu used only career statistics in his research. Another interpretation of the differing results is that market competition overcame discrimination. This could be interpreted as an affirmation of Becker's theoretical work on discrimination. Our results for pitchers also do not indicate any exit discrimination against the minority groups.