# Cardinals Encourage Kids To Play Ball

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/cardinals-encourage-kids-to-play-ball-2/
- Published: 2025-06-12T10:30:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **_CARDINALS ENCOURAGE KIDS TO PLAY BALL_**

#### **_Over 1,000 Area Youth to Take Part in Community Baseball and Softball Activities_**

[⌊Cardinals News Header⌉⌊Cardinals News Header⌉[

**ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 12, 2025 – **The St. Louis Cardinals and Cardinals Care, 
the team’s charitable foundation, are excited to join Major League Baseball in celebrating**
PLAY BALL Weekend** June 13-15, 2025.  The team will host several engaging and inclusive
events designed to inspire the next generation of players and fans to engage with
the games of baseball and softball as part of MLB’s PLAY BALL initiative.

[⌊MLB Play Ball Weekend 2025⌉⌊MLB Play Ball Weekend 2025⌉[

On Friday, June 6, the team planned to host two on-field clinics presented by Nike
at Busch Stadium for over 500 children ages 7–13, led by Cards alumni. Due to inclement
weather, the team quickly pivoted to a special packet pick-up experience, ensuring
families who registered still received their PLAY BALL gear—including a T-shirt,
bat and ball set, and tickets to an upcoming game.

The celebration will continue this weekend with the **Cardinals Nike RBI PLAY BALL
Invitational**, taking place Friday through Sunday at Forest Park Aviation Fields.
This tournament showcases the Cards Nike RBI baseball and softball teams and reinforces
the Cardinals’ commitment to growing the game at the grassroots level.  Fans can
find more information about the Cardinals Nike RBI Program at [cardinals.com/rbi](http://www.cardinals.com/rbi).

On Saturday, Cards Care will host Youth Development Clinics sponsored by QuikTrip
for over 500 Redbird Rookies participants at Harris-Stowe State University. Redbird
Rookies is a free co-ed baseball/softball league for kids aged 5-13 who otherwise
might not have the opportunity to play. Alumni [Scott Terry](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/terrysc01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2025-06-12_br),
[Bernard Gilkey](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gilkebe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2025-06-12_br),
[Lonnie Maclin](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maclilo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2025-06-12_br),
[Cliff Politte](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/politcl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2025-06-12_br),
[Scott Cooper](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopesc01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2025-06-12_br)
and [Neil Fiala](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fialane01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2025-06-12_br)
will provide instruction to young athletes throughout the day, furthering the club’s
mission to make baseball and softball accessible and enjoyable for all.  Fans can
learn more about the Redbird Rookies Program at [redbirdrookies.org](http://www.redbirdrookies.org/).

**— STL —**

**About Cardinals Care**

Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way to team up with players and the
organization to help children in our community—both on and off the baseball field.
Established in 1997, Cards Care has invested over $31 million to support St. Louis
area children, built or renovated 25 youth ball fields in local under-resourced 
neighborhoods, and distributed over $17 million in grants to nonprofit organizations.

Since 2004, Cardinals Care has orchestrated the innovative Redbird Rookies program,
a free co-ed baseball/softball league for kids who otherwise might not have the 
opportunity to play.  In addition to providing all the uniforms and equipment needed
for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the 
areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly
2,500 kids who participate in the program each year. 

In 2023, Cardinals Care launched the Cardinals Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities(
RBI) program in cooperation with Major League Baseball to provide greater baseball
and softball opportunities for youth ages 14-18 in our community. To learn more 
about all of Cardinals Care’s programs visit [cardinals.com/community](http://cardinals.com/community)
and follow @CardinalsCare on X, Facebook and Instagram.

**About PLAY BALL**

The PLAY BALL initiative is baseball’s collective effort to encourage young people
and communities to engage in baseball or softball related activities, including 
formal leagues, special events and casual forms of play. PLAY BALL events have become
MLB’s signature youth engagement activity during the professional and amateur baseball
and softball calendar, especially on key dates throughout MLB’s Championship Season
and through the Postseason & World Series.

PLAYBALL events demonstrate the positive way the game can serve as an outlet for
physical activity, fun with friends and learning how to play the sport at its most
basic levels. To learn more about PLAY BALL visit **[mlb.com/playball](https://www.mlb.com/play-ball)**.

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