Teams 
Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run (PHR) is an exciting baseball/softball skills competition that provides boys and girls, ages 7 to 14, the opportunity to showcase their pitching, hitting and running abilities.
Beginning this year there is a new nationwide girls softball division! Boys and girls in all 50 states and beyond will now have the opportunity to compete. Competitions can host boys and girls on the same date and time, but boy and girl winners in each age group will be awarded separately.
PHR participants can advance through four levels of competition, including Local and Sectional competitions, Team Championship events at all 30 Major League ballparks, and the National Finals at the MLB All-Star Game.
There are four levels of competition - Local, Sectional, Team Championship and National Finals
The official skills competition of Major League Baseball, PHR is intended to encourage youth participation and emphasize the fun element of baseball and softball. All participants must begin by competing in a Local competition, which can be hosted by any organization, league, civic group or set of volunteers in the community. PHR is free of charge to both the participants and the local hosting organization.
PHR is a 1-day event that is easy to administrate and can often be completed in only a few hours. The competition can be hosted on a baseball/softball diamond or any open field. Registered hosts will receive an administrative kit with a handbook, promotional posters, registration forms, strike zone banner, award ribbons, participation baseball cards for all participants and more information required to host the event.
For general information, send your name, address, organization and questions to: pitchhitrun@website.mlb.com.
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The mission of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund is to promote and enhance the growth of baseball in the United States, Canada and throughout the world by funding programs, fields and equipment purchases to encourage and maintain youth participation in the game.
Grants from BTF are designed to be sufficiently flexible to enable applicants to address needs unique to their communities. The funds may be used to finance a new program, expand or improve an existing program, undertake a new collaborative effort, or obtain facilities or equipment necessary for youth baseball or softball programs. Applications are provided by BTF and available through the Pirates Community Relations Department.
During the 2010 season, in addition to donated equipment, the Pittsburgh RBI program was selected to receive a grant of $5,000 and was presented check during a Pirates on-field pregame ceremony by pitcher Paul Maholm.
BTF also facilitates equipment donation drives to collect new and used baseball and softball equipment for youth organizations in need of these items. The Pirates collection day was held August 5, 2010 outside of PNC Park. Thank you to everyone who chose to donate to this wonderful cause!
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is intended to provide funding for incremental programming and facilities for youth baseball and not as a substitute for existing funding or fundraising activities or to provide routine or recurring operating costs or funding for construction or maintenance of buildings.
BTF supports equal opportunity in its grant making. The opportunities that prospective grantee organizations provide for minorities and women will be considered in evaluating proposals.
Pirates Charities partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and the Roberto Clemente Foundation to reenergize the Shadyside Boys & Girls Club's community facility and build an indoor baseball/softball complex called the Pirates Community Baseball Center.
This facility features enclosed batting cages, automatic pitching machines, two multi-media training rooms, storage facilities, and baseball and softball equipment. The Pirates Community Baseball Center is designed to offer a widespread positive impact on youth throughout the region by giving all youth a place to focus on productive activities and positive interaction with their peers and coaches.
The Pirates Community Baseball Center is open year-round and there are no age requirements.Check out the Pirates Community Baseball Center by contacting the Shadyside Boys & Girls Clubs at 412-681-8575.
Pittsburgh RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) is part of the international MLB RBI program. Pittsburgh RBI began in 1994 as part of the Roberto Clemente Foundation. Because of the program's growth and its need for additional resources, in 2003, Pittsburgh RBI became part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. The Boys & Girls Club provides Pittsburgh RBI with the infrastructure and administrative services that are necessary for its success.
In addition to use of the Pirates Community Baseball Center, all Pittsburgh RBI participants receive complimentary coaching and training, as well as baseball or softball equipment and uniforms when needed.
The Junior Pirates Program, formally known as Rookie Ball, started 22 years ago as a cooperative effort between Citiparks and the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is a fun through fundaments starter program, to introduce the basics of baseball to youth ages 4 - 8, through a series of 5 stations. With over 2500 participants, at 20 sites throughout the city, it is one of the most successful and prized programs now operated and organized through the BIG League program. All Junior Pirate participants are honored at PNC Park, on Junior Pirate Day, and given tickets to that days Pirate home game, all courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
For more information on the Junior Pirates program, or to find the nearest Junior Pirates site, please contact CitiParks at 412-488-8585. If you are a Junior Pirates team member and would like to attend Junior Pirates Day at PNC Park, contact the Pirates at 1-800-BUY-BUCS.
The Pirates provide fundraising opportunities to area youth baseball and softball players who participate in the "Taking It to the Fields" program. To participate, area youth athletes sell Pirates tickets. By selling tickets, they earn incentives such as the opportunity to participate in a Skills Workshop at PNC Park with Pirates players and coaches while a portion of the ticket sale price is donated back to their team and/or league. In addition, each youth athlete receives a "Taking It to the Fields" kit that includes baseball cards, Gatorade, promotional items and more.
Skills Workshop participants go through seven different workstations receiving instruction on hitting, fielding, throwing, base running, pitching, and catching from Pirates players, coaches and alumni.
For more information, please contact the Pirates Marketing Department at 1-800-BUY-BUCS.
High school baseball teams throughout the Pittsburgh region can take part in the Pirates Amateur Baseball fundraising program. Each team is required to sell a minimum of 800 Pirates tickets. If a team meets that requirement, they earn the opportunity to play an exhibition game at PNC Park as well as raise $2,400+ for their program.
Participating Schools have included Avonworth, Baldwin, Beaver Area, Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Cornell, Ford City, Freedom, Kittanning, Laurel Valley, Marion Center, Monaca, Neshannock, North Allegheny, Norwin, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Purchase Line, Redbank Valley, Rochester, Schenley, Springdale and West Shamokin.
For more information about the Pirates Amateur Baseball program, please contact the Pirates Marketing Department at 1-800-BUY-BUCS.
The Pirates are proud to be an integral part of our community. We thank you for your support and for considering us to be a part of your fundraising event.
The Pirates are happy to donate tickets and/or autographed items to area youth baseball teams to use as raffle/auction items for fundraising purposes.
