Fifty-six years since Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier, African-Americans are disappearing from major league rosters.

Frank Robinson, Hall of Famer and manager of the Expos, has noticed the dwindling numbers “for years.”

So has Dusty Baker, manager of the Cubs.

“I see it,” Baker told The Post. “And anybody who says they don’t see it is blind or they don’t want to see it.”

Executives at Major League Baseball have noticed, too.

“All you have to do is count,” said Jimmie Lee Solomon, vice president of baseball operations. “We’re cognizant of it and we want to reverse that trend.”

The 2003 Racial and Gender Report Card released last week by Richard E. Lapchick and the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport put the participation of African-Americans in the major leagues at 10 percent during the 2002 season, the lowest level since 1968. It continues a decline that has gained speed since 1995 when 19 percent of the players in the majors were African-American.

There has been no improvement so far in 2003. A Post survey of the 25-man rosters for each of the 30 major-league teams revealed 79 players (10.5 percent) as of late April were African-American.

“People probably don’t notice because of the darker Dominicans, and people sometimes don’t know if a person is Do- minican or black until you hear his name,” said Willie Randolph, the Yankees third base coach and one of the organization’s all-time African-American stars. “But I’ve noticed. It’s almost like a dying breed.”

When the World Series champion Angels began defense of their title on March 31, one African-American player was listed on their Opening Day roster, outfielder Garret Anderson.

The Yankees have one African-American player, shortstop Derek Jeter.

Overall, there are seven teams – nearly one-fourth of the majors – with one African-American on each roster; 14 teams have two or less players.

Meanwhile, the participation of white players improved to 60 percent in 2002, close to the level maintained during much of the 1990s. The participation of Latin American players was at an all-time high of 28 percent, a more than 50 percent gain over the previous 10 years.

A five-week investigation by The Post revealed several factors for the dwindling number of African-Americans in the majors. They include:

* The influx of Latin American and other foreign players into the majors.

* A lack of facilities and youth baseball programs in urban areas to promote interest in the game.

* The appeal of other sports, particularly basketball and football.

The dramatic rise of Latin American players has as much to do with economics as it does talent. Players from the United States and Canada are subject to the amateur draft. The higher a prospect is drafted, the more money a club must spend to sign him.

In Latin America, the minimum signing age is 16, and all players are free agents. Scouts can sign a Latin American prospect for as little as $500, according to “Stealing Lives,” a book that exposes the dark side of major league baseball’s recruitment practices in Latin America.

“The system is designed to get a lot of players for very little money,” said Arturo J. Marcano Guevara, the book’s co-author. “That’s the basis of the system.”

When signed, Latin American players are assigned to the respective club’s baseball academy, where they are housed and developed, often practicing daily from early morning to mid-afternoon.

All the players sign with passionate dreams of fame and fortune; only three out of every 100 ever reach the major leagues.

Many prominent African-American players and coaches, including Frank Robinson and Randolph, said they feel baseball’s pursuit of international talent is coming at the expense of American-born prospects, especially those in inner cities, where much of the past African-American stars were discovered.

“I think across the board there should be more of an effort made to tap into the rich talent base in the inner cities,” Randolph said. “There are still a lot of talented kids out there. But I think they’re passed over. Some scouts, they’re a little uncomfortable about going to the inner cities and checking out these kids because they feel like they have to look over their shoulder or fear something might happen. There are a lot of players out there that are not being seen.”

Said Robinson, “You have to go back to the inner cities. If you can establish academies outside this country, then why can’t you establish academies inside this country?”

That’s what Major League Baseball is attempting to do. Solomon is part of an initiative to build a baseball academy that will serve inner-city Los Angeles.

“It’s my ultimate goal to have them sprinkled all over the country, or at least in every city that has a major league team,” Solomon said.

Next: The goals behind a team’s baseball academy and its benefits.

COLOR BARRIER

A Post survey of this year’s Opening Day rosters showed there were 79 African-American major league players (10.5 percent). It represents the second-lowest percentage since 1968, behind only 2002.

Here’s a look at this year’s players, by team.

African-Americans on 2003 Opening Day Rosters

A’s (4)….Jermaine Dye, Ron Gant, Terrence Long, Chris Singleton

Cubs (4)….Tom Goodwin, Lenny Harris, Troy O’Leary, Corey Patterson

Devil Rays (4)….Marlon Anderson, Carl Crawford, Damion Easley, Al Martin

Diamondbacks (4)….Quinton McCracken, Stephen Randolph, Junior Spivey, Tony Womack

Dodgers (4)….Brian Jordan, Fred McGriff, Dave Roberts, Daryle Ward

Indians (4)….Ellis Burks, Matt Lawton Brandon Phillips

Mariners (4)….Mike Cameron, Mark McLemore, Arthur Rhodes, Randy Winn

Pirates (4)….Kenny Lofton, Pokey Reese, Reggie Sanders, Kevin Young

Rockies (4)….Charles Johnson, Darren Oliver, Jay Payton, Preston Wilson

Royals (4)….Dee Brown, Ken Harvey, Desi Relaford, Michael Tucker

Blue Jays (3)….Orlando Hudson, Shannon Stewart, Vernon Wells

Giants (3)….Barry Bonds, Ray Durham, Marqui Grissom

Marlins (3)….Derrek Lee, Juan Pierre, Gerald Williams

Mets (3)….Tony Clark, Cliff Floyd, Mo Vaughn

Reds (3)….Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin, Reggie Taylor

Twins (3)….LaTroy Hawkins, Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones

Braves (2)….Ray King, Gary Sheffield

Brewers (2)….Royce Clayton, Eric Young

Orioles (2)….Jerry Hairston, Gary Mathews Jr.

Padres (2)….Luther Hackman, Rondell White

Phillies (2)….Marlon Byrd, Jimmy Rollins

Tigers (2)….Craig Monroe, Dmitri Young

White Sox (2)….Tom Gordon, Frank Thomas

Angels (1)….Garret Anderson

Astros (1)….Brian Hunter

Expos (1)….Ron Calloway

Red Sox (1)….Damian Jackson

Yankees (1)….Derek Jeter

Cardinals (1)….Kerry Robinson

Rangers (1)….Carl Everett

CHART: NUMBERS GAME

The University of Central Florida released a study last week that explored the decline of blacks in MLB. A look at the numbers.