Major League Baseball and Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) national sponsor KPMG have announced that Mississippi RBI is now one of 12 RBI programs out of 200+ around the country (and a few internationally) to be recognized as a “Phase III” program.
The 11 cities that experienced tremendous growth similar to Jackson, Mississippi over the first year and also receiving the “Phase III” title are Anaheim, Sacramento, San Diego and Venice/Los Angeles, California; Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee; Seattle, Washington; Jersey City, New Jersey; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; and Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A first-year program, Mississippi RBI registered 238 summer league participants and many more joined in the weeks after registration day. Over 500 area kids ages 6-18 attended the fundamental baseball and softball clinics held around the city in the fall of 2008 and spring and summer of 2009 at Jackson State University and Tougaloo College.
“Mississippi RBI joins the elite 11 other cities to receive this outstanding rating by MLB and KPMG. It was awarded based on the influence and impact on the community and the overall efforts of all involved to offer a great product to the City of Jackson,” said Mississippi RBI Executive Director Brian Emory.
