Visualization Migratory Trends in Major League Baseball Since 1900

Keywords: sports geography, migration, Latin America, ArcGIS dashboard
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

The following poster will comprise provide visualizations and brief analysis of the influx of Major League Baseball athletes from foreign countries since 1900. The poster will have QR code access to a web-based ArcGIS Dashboard displaying trends and patterns of migration over time. The growing diversity of "America's pastime" has been a growing topic in the sport, and the rise of Latin Americans, Japanese, and Korean athletes in the MLB speaks to the global nature of the game. By providing a QR code to the interactive dashboard, my audience will be able to visualize the change in migratory patterns and the growth of international athletes over time via personalized interest. This unique geography will include a broader breakdown of how these migratory trends have been influenced by sociocultural, political, and economic forces, and detail categorized eras of athlete inflows based on these changing variables. Special attention will be given to regions with heightened numbers of internationally-born athletes, such as the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific region.