 
|
08/01/2011 3:23 PM ET
24 youth baseball and softball teams from the United States, Venezuela and Dominican Republic qualify for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities World Series
Championship Tournament of the RBI Program Hosted by Major League Baseball and the Minnesota Twins; Baseball Championship Games will be Played at Target Field; MLB Network to Air Senior Baseball and Softball Championship Games
|
|
| MLB Headlines |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
August 3rd marks the beginning of the 19th annual Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) World Series, the championship round of the RBI program, which is the MLB youth initiative designed to give young people from underserved areas the opportunity to play baseball and softball. The program is in its 23rd year of operation. 24 teams across the United States, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic have qualified for the RBI World Series, which is being held in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota for the first time. Major League Baseball and the Minnesota Twins will be hosting the tournament, with the championship games being played in Jane Sage Cowles Stadium at the University of Minnesota (Softball) and Target Field (Junior and Senior Baseball Divisions), the home of the Twins.
"Major League Baseball is very pleased to welcome all the participants in the 2011 RBI World Series, particularly those from Venezuela RBI, whose chapter is representing the first South American team in the tournament's 19-year history," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "This annual championship tournament is one of our most special events, allowing us to provide these young men and women the opportunity to travel outside their communities and participate in an enriching experience that will create lifetime memories."
The Senior Baseball Championship will air live on MLB Network and MLB.com on August 14th at 2:00 p.m. ET, and the Softball Championship will be taped to broadcast on August 21st at 12:00 p.m. ET, also on MLB Network (check MLB.com/network for your local channel) and MLB.com.
The 24 teams playing in the RBI World Series are divided into three divisions: Junior Baseball (13-15 year olds); Senior Baseball (16-18 years olds) and Softball (18 and under). The softball portion of the tournament will be played August 3-7, and the baseball portion will be played August 10-14 at various fields throughout the Twin Cities (Baseball: Parade Stadium and Neiman Athletic Complex in Minneapolis, and Toni Stone Stadium and Midway Stadium in St. Paul; Softball: The Leonard H. Neiman Sports Complex and Dunning Softball Fields in St. Paul).
The following is a complete list of communities/leagues participating in this year's RBI World Series:
Junior Baseball Teams
- Atlanta (RBI Atlanta)
- Chicago (Chicago White Sox RBI)
- Detroit (Think Detroit/Orchards Children's Services RBI)
- Dominican Republic (RBI Dominicana)
- Houston (Houston RBI)
- Jersey City, NJ (Jersey City RBI)
- Los Angeles (LA RBI)
- Philadelphia (Philadelphia Phillies RBI)
Senior Baseball Teams
- Chicago (Union League Boys & Girls Club/Chicago Cubs RBI)
- Cleveland (Cleveland Baseball Federation RBI)
- Compton (Venice Boys & Girls Club RBI)
- Greater New York (Greater NY Sandlot Athletic Alliance)
- Harrisburg, PA (Harrisburg RBI)
- Houston (Houston RBI)
- Tampa (Tampa Boys & Girls Club RBI)
- Venezuela (Venezuela RBI)
Softball Teams
- Atlanta (RBI Atlanta)
- Cleveland (Cleveland Baseball Federation RBI)
- Dominican Republic (RBI Santo Domingo)
- Harrisburg, PA (Harrisburg RBI)
- Hoboken, NJ (Hudson County Boys & Girls Club)
- Houston (Houston RBI)
- Los Angeles (Los Angeles RBI)
- St. Louis (Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club)
The RBI program has provided the opening for many players to enter the college and professional game. More than 190 RBI participants have been drafted by MLB Clubs throughout the program's 23-year history and many others were given the opportunity for higher education through baseball and softball scholarships. RBI alumni currently playing in the big leagues include: Carl Crawford (Boston Red Sox), James Loney (Los Angeles Dodgers), CC Sabathia (New York Yankees) and Justin Upton (Arizona Diamondbacks).
Crawford (Houston RBI - '97) and Loney (Houston RBI - '99) each played in an RBI World Series. Five current and former RBI participants were selected in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, including first round compensation (A-#60, Tampa Bay Rays) draft selection James Harris from Oakland RBI and Oakland CA Technical High School.
"I want to wish good luck to all the kids. I hope they grow and enjoy the experience," said Four-time All-Star Outfielder Carl Crawford of the Boston Red Sox. "The RBI program and playing in the RBI World Series gave me the chance to travel and meet new people, and provided me the opportunity to grow as a player and be seen by scouts."
"I played in the RBI World Series as a kid and had a great time," said Los Angeles Dodgers First Baseman James Loney. "I'll never forget playing at Disney World and all that RBI has done for me both as a player and a person."
In addition to RBI World Series tournament games, players and coaches from each portion of the tournament will attend a game at Target Field, and will have a chance to meet members of the Baseball Family including Baseball Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Paul Molitor; Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson and MLB Educational Programming Consultant; Tim Brosnan, MLB Executive Vice President of Business; Jacqueline Parkes, MLB Chief Marketing Officer; and Dave St. Peter, President, Minnesota Twins.
"The Twins are honored to host the 2011 and 2012 RBI World Series. We look forward to welcoming kids from across the world to the Twin Cities to showcase their baseball and softball talents," said Twins President Dave St. Peter. "This is a very important event for the Twins and for our community."
In 2008, Major League Baseball Properties established the "RBI for RBI" Scholarship Fund, a program created to provide financial support in the form of scholarships to selected recipients who participate in an RBI Program league. This year, twelve $5,000 "RBI for RBI" scholarships were awarded to deserving high school seniors, and these scholars will be recognized at the August 6th and August 9th RBI World Series banquets.
The RBI program and RBI World Series are also supported by the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, which holds a variety of clinics for players throughout the year.
The RBI program provides young people from underserved communities the opportunity to play baseball and softball, encourages academic success and teaches the value of teamwork. In 2011, the RBI program served more than 200,000 boys and girls in more than 300 programs established in more than 200 cities worldwide. For more information, please visit MLB.com/rbi.
| 
Official Info
print this page
Sphere Related Articles & Blogs