Sakata says old prejudices still exist regarding smaller ball players. The teams seem to forget that the baseball Hall of Fame is full of small players such as Phil Rizzuto, Pee Wee Reese, Joe Morgan and Wee Willie Keeler. Because I was small, people thought I was weak. Baseball also has a reputation of harboring its share of intolerant rednecks. There are always going to be mean bastards out there.
Baseball provides a great learning experience in human relations.
In addition, few Asian Americans have occupied front office or coaching positions in baseball. Wendell Kim of the Boston Red Sox is the lone Asian American with an assistant coaching position in the big leagues. Meanwhile, Oakland's Kubota and Kim Ng, assistant general manager with the New York Yankees, are two of the first Asian Americans to work in baseball operations at the big league level. She grew up in New York City playing softball. Ng broke into professional baseball as an intern in the Chicago White Sox's front office.