The 16th annual RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) World Series was held recently, and for the third consecutive season the team from Detroit won the boys championship in the Junior Division (ages 13-15).
The RBI program gives kids in inner cities the chance to participate in baseball and also helps them with important life skills. This year's tournament was held at several venues throughout the Los Angeles area, including Angel Stadium. I remember as a kid having tournaments and getting a chance to play all over the country, but I never had the opportunity to play in a major league stadium. Most kids who are lucky enough to play baseball don't get a chance to travel outside of their own cities or towns, let alone across the country. The RBI program has afforded nearly 100,000 kids annually a chance to not only experience this great game of baseball, but also to travel while doing it.
The RBI program also helps young girls out as well. RBI has a 19-and-under softball league that also competes throughout the United States and gives girls the same experiences as the boys. The softball World Series is coming up later this week.
Programs like these are a must. They help expose kids to teamwork and teach them about leadership, and also help kids to stay out of trouble while being faced with some of the challenges of being a kid.
The Rays'
Carl Crawford began playing in the RBI program and has mentioned that the program helped pave the way for him to get to where he is today. All the kids that play RBI baseball or softball won't grow up to be the next Carl Crawford. But not even having the option to play baseball is tough for kids, and the RBI program helps kids throughout the U.S. get that chance.
Once again, congratulations to the RBI junior team from Detroit for their third consecutive championship, and I want to wish all the competitors continued success.
Curtis Granderson
