Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI)

Facts

About Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI)

MISSION:

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) is a Major League Baseball youth outreach program designed to:

  • Increase participation and interest in baseball and softball among underserved youth
  • Encourage academic participation and achievement
  • Increase number of talented athletes prepared to play in college and minor leagues
  • Promote greater inclusion of minorities into the mainstream of the game
  • Teach the value of teamwork
PARTNERS

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, New Balance, Pitch in for Baseball, Majestic, Outdoor Cap, Wilson, Louisville Slugger, and Rawlings are supporters of the RBI program.

BY THE NUMBERS

RBI programs have been started in more than 200 cities worldwide, and annually provide more than 200,000 boys and girls the opportunity to play baseball and softball. The Jr. RBI playing divisions for baseball and softball players ages 5-12, has more than 90,000 younger boys & girls participating in the RBI program.

RBI SEASON

Typical RBI leagues operate from May to August and provide five divisions of local league play for older participants: Freshman Boys (13-14 year olds), Junior Boys (15 - 16 year olds), Senior Boys (17 - 18 year olds) and Softball (14-and-under and 18-and-under). Tournament play for these divisions typically begins in late July with Regional qualifying tournaments for advancement to the RBI World Series in early August.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL & ALL 30 CLUBS SUPPORT RBI

MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $30 million worth of resources to the RBI program and all 30 Major League Baseball Clubs have supported RBI programs.

RBI AND THE MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT

Since the inception of the RBI program in 1989, MLB Clubs have drafted more than 170 RBI participants, including 5 players selected overall in 2011.

ALUMNI IN THE MAJORS

RBI alumni on MLB rosters during the 2011 season included, Carl Crawford (Red Sox), Covelli "Coco" Crisp (Athletics), James Loney (Dodgers), Jimmy Rollins (Phillies), CC Sabathia (Yankees), Yovani Gallardo (Brewers), Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), and James McDonald (Pirates).

RBI EDUCATIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS SUPPORT

The RBI program features educational and life skills components. Local RBI programs have the opportunity to conduct a variety of courses, including:

  • Breaking Barriers: In Sports, in Life, a multicultural character education program developed by Major League Baseball
  • BGCA's SportSMART! program, a condensed version of BGCA's award-winning SMART Moves program designed to assist young people in learning how to resist alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and premature sexual activity
  • Partnership for a Drug-Free America programming such as Time to Talk, Play Healthy, and Not in my House, character education programs aimed at preventing and handling drug and alcohol abuse
  • Taylor Hooton Foundation, Hoot's Chalk Talk raises awareness and provides education on the subject of the use of APEDs