Central Valley RBI
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About Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) is a youth outreach program designed to:
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Nike, Majestic, Outdoor Cap, and Rawlings are supporters of the RBI program. |
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 Girls 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.
RBI programs have been started in more than 200 cities worldwide, and with the launch of the Jr. RBI playing divisions for baseball and softball player’s ages 5-12, 2010 projections are for nearly 300 leagues and 175,000 participants.
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.
Since the inception of the RBI program in 1989, MLB Clubs have drafted more than 170 RBI participants, including 7 players selected overall in 2009.
RBI alumni on MLB rosters during the 2009 season included Carl Crawford (Rays), Covelli “Coco” Crisp (Athletics), James Loney (Dodgers), Jimmy Rollins (Phillies), CC Sabathia (Yankees), Yovani Gallardo (Brewers), Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), and James McDonald (Dodgers).
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
Fair Ball, an interactive ethics and integrity course
Skills that Pay the Bills, a basic business principles course
Keeping the Books, a personal finance skills course
Career Course, an online system helping RBI participants determine their strengths and desired college majors and potential career paths



