Youth initiatives, historical awareness key efforts during Black History Month

Key youth-related initiatives will be a central focus for Major League Baseball during Black History Month, with efforts, including those by MLB Clubs, touching down in multiple cities throughout the country. Activities launch with two Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life visits by Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson, and continue with a collegiate baseball tournament designed to promote Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along with several initiatives that celebrate the contributions of African-Americans to baseball and build toward a positive future, on and off the field.  
"PLAY BALL" Event in Nashville, TN in Support of Local RBI Program
February 10th in Nashville, TN - MLB's Youth Programs group will host its first official "PLAY BALL" event of 2018 in Nashville. The event, which will raise awareness and encourage participation in the RBI Nashville program, is being organized in conjunction with Metro Nashville Public Schools. PLAY BALL events are Major League Baseball's signature youth engagement activity during the professional and amateur baseball and softball calendar, including on key dates throughout the MLB's Championship Season, Postseason and World Series.  
Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life Visits by Sharon Robinson
February 14th in Dallas, TX - Sharon Robinson - daughter of Jackie Robinson, MLB Educational Programming Consultant and author - will visit young people at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy as part of an annual "promotional tour" to encourage participation in the Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life essay contest. The visit, which will take place at Mercy Street Sports Complex, will include Sharon speaking to the kids about her father, explaining why she created the Breaking Barriers program, and helping the students as they write their essays. 
February 16th in Houston, TX - Sharon also will visit the Houston Astros Youth Academy. Similar to her experience in Dallas, Sharon will meet with 4th graders from a local school, encouraging participation in the Breaking Barriers essay contest and helping the students as they write their essays. Additionally, Sharon will also join the Astros as they make a very special announcement involving the Youth Academy and one of their former All-Star players.
Sharon has already visited MLB Youth Academies in Compton (CA), Cincinnati (OH), New Orleans (LA), Philadelphia (PA) and Washington, D.C. After these visits she will have visited all of the operational Academies as part of the effort to get kids involved with Breaking Barriers. 
'Andre Dawson Classic' (HBCU Invitational Baseball Tournament)
February 16th-18th in New Orleans, LA - MLB will host its 11th annual Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Invitational Baseball Tournament, which will be held primarily at the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy (MLBYA) and the University of New Orleans. The event has been renamed the "Andre Dawson Classic," after the Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos legend who is one of only two HBCU alumni enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The event, formerly known as the "Urban Invitational," will feature six HBCU baseball teams, the most in the event's 11-year history, as well as the University of New Orleans and University of Illinois at Chicago. Launched by Major League Baseball in 2008, the round-robin collegiate baseball tournament is designed to place a spotlight on HBCUs and their baseball programs. 
Alabama State University (Montgomery, Ala.; 2nd appearance), Alcorn State University (Alcorn, Miss.; 4th appearance), Grambling State University (Grambling, La.; 7th appearance), Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas; 4th appearance), Southern University (Baton Rouge, La.; 11th appearance) and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, Ark.; 1st appearance) will represent the HBCU programs at the round-robin tournament. Two of the games played at the MLBYA on Saturday, February 17th will air LIVE on MLB Network and MLB.com, with play-by-play from Scott Braun and analysis from former All-Star outfielder Cliff Floyd. 
MLB Network & MLB Advanced Media
Every day throughout the month of February, MLB Network is celebrating Black History Month by rolling out vignettes across its studio programming that honor African-American Hall of Famers - including Lou Brock, Roy Campanella, Andre Dawson, Barry Larkin, Eddie Murray, Kirby Puckett, Jim Rice, Ozzie Smith, Billy Williams and Dave Winfield - plus All-Stars, MVP Award winners, Cy Young Award winners and under-the-radar players. Among the vignettes, MLB Network will showcase Elston Howard, the first-ever African-American to play for the Yankees and win the AL MVP Award, on Tuesday, February 13, and Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden will be profiled together on Monday, February 19. To complement pieces released in 2017 on Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds, MLB Network will highlight their fathers, Ken Griffey Sr. and Bobby Bonds on Thursday, February 22 and Friday, February 23 respectively. Video content of all current and previous Black History Month presentations by MLB Network can be viewed HERE.
MLB Advanced Media will support Black History Month across MLB.com, the MLB.com At Bat app, Cut4.com, and through official MLB and Club accounts on social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. Each week, these social media channels will highlight some of the greatest and noteworthy African-American players in baseball history, including those who played exclusively in the Negro Leagues, as well as showcasing today's African-American stars of the game. Among the coverage initiatives on MLB.com, including topics that range from the influential African-Americans in MLB and the Negro Leagues, reflections on the impact of African-Americans for each of the 30 MLB Clubs, and a look at the next generation of African-American players and executives, this effort will be supported with photographs, video highlights, interviews and stories from Club beat and national reporters and columnists.
Club Activities
Clubs throughout Major League Baseball proudly support Black History Month. Following are just a few examples of activities by MLB Clubs in February:
Atlanta Braves
The Braves will host various events throughout February to honor and celebrate the past and present influences African-Americans have brought to baseball and society. One particular initiative will be "Braves Untold" that will unveil four unique stories (one per week) of individuals connected to the Braves organization, told through Braves.com and official Braves social media channels. Additional initiatives will include an apprenticeship program connected to Bill Lucas, the first African-American General Manager in baseball history, a career panel interactive at Clark Atlanta University on February 12th, a youth clinic sponsored the Atlanta Braves RBI program in Montgomery, Alabama on February 24th, and a field refurbishment announcement through the Atlanta Braves Foundation.
Cincinnati Reds
Reds Hall of Famer Dave Parker will be speaking to a group of elementary school students at a Black History Month event on February 13th at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy. For the second consecutive year, the Reds purchased Jackie Robinson-themed books to donate to local churches, libraries and other community organizations alongside newly-created bookmarks that honor the legend. The Reds Hall of Fame & Museum is offering self-guided tours in February featuring artifacts from African-American Reds players, past and present, and fans can meet Negro Leagues player Paul Jones on February 24th.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies will celebrate Black History Month by launching its 12th annual "Breaking Barriers" artistic contest that focuses on Jackie Robinson and other influential cultural figures of the past and present. The contest is open to students from elementary through high school, as well as Boys & Girls Clubs members. Students are invited to submit any type of artwork in the "Breaking Barriers" theme, from poetry to paintings and dance performances. Each year, the packets are sent in mid-February, and the winners will celebrated at a home game as close as possible to Jackie Robinson Day (April 15th). Each year, approximately 25-35 Denver area schools and local Boys & Girls Clubs participate in the contest, amounting to 2,700-3,400 total participants. Each student participant receives four tickets to an April home game, while the winners are honored on the field with a pregame ceremony, given Rockies merchandise and VIP tickets for their families.
Kansas City Royals
Royals Hall of Fame member John Mayberry and KayCee "The W Guy" will visit several local elementary schools to read to students and share the legacy of Jackie Robinson. Royals General Manager Dayton Moore and his wife, Marianne, are again supporting the Storling Dance Theater's production of UNDERGROUND, a dance piece based on the history of the Underground Railroad, playing at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.
Oakland A's
The Oakland A's will participate in several events throughout February to honor and celebrate Black History Month. A's staff members will visit a local elementary school to read to students in celebration of African-American literature week. The A's will also host a panel discussion with local activists, followed by a private screening of the Black Panther film for Oakland youth. On Feb. 25th, the organization will serve as a proud sponsor of the Inaugural Black Joy Parade in Oakland. The parade exists to provide the black community and allies a live experience that celebrates influences on cultures past, present, and future.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies will celebrate the legacy of Jackie Robinson as well as the Philadelphia Stars Negro Leagues Baseball Team. In late February, the team will host a special visit to William Rowen Elementary School in Philadelphia, where they will be joined by Mahlene Duckett Lee, the daughter of the late Mahlon Duckett, who played ball for the Philadelphia Stars from 1940-49 and was also the Negro National League Rookie of the Year in 1940. Mahlene will share stories about her father's Negro Leagues experience and its place in American history. Phillies RBI players will also receive a special visit from Mahlene and the Phillies, where they too will learn how Mahlon and his fellow ballplayers continued to play the game they loved despite the challenges of the time.
MLB Draft Diversity & Diversity-Focused Youth Initiatives - At a Glance
Following is background on recent diversity results in the MLB Draft and diversity-focused MLB Youth initiatives:
MLB Draft results - Over the last six years (2012-17), the first round has featured 41 African-American players out of 204 total selections (20%). In 2017, eight of the top 26 selections in the Draft (30.8%) were African-American or Latino. 2017 marked just the fourth time ever in the history of the MLB Draft that the first two picks were African-American players (1-Royce Lewis, 2-Hunter Greene). It also marked the third consecutive year that an alumnus of the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program was selected within the top five picks (2017, Greene - #2; 2016, Corey Ray - #5; 2015; Dillon Tate - #4). In 2016, 10 of the top 41 selections (24.4%) and 17 of the first night's 77 selections (22.1%) were African-American or Latino. The first round of the 2015 MLB Draft featured the selection of nine African-American players (25%, 9-of-36). On a percentage basis, this represented the most African-American players in the first round since 1992, eclipsing the recent high of 22.6% (7-of-31) in 2012. Twenty African-American players were selected in the first rounds of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 First-Year Player Drafts.
Amateur Development Camps - MLB has continued the expansion of its diversity-focused Amateur Development Camp effort, which is primarily designed to serve diverse, high school-aged baseball and softball players throughout the country. The camps, which are free for all participants, are hosted by Major League Baseball and various partners, including USA Baseball, USA Softball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). These include:
MLB Youth Academies - The expansion of the MLB Youth Academy network continues with facilities available all throughout the United States and more to come in the near future. MLB Youth Academies are designed to provide free, or low-cost, opportunities for young people to develop baseball and softball skills as well as take advantage of educational and vocational programs offered at each facility. Operational MLB Youth Academies include Compton, CA (opened in 2006), Houston, TX (opened in 2010), New Orleans, LA (opened in 2012), Cincinnati, OH (opened in 2014), Philadelphia, PA (opened in 2015), Washington, D.C. (opened in 2015), Dallas, TX (opened in 2017) and Kansas City, MO (official opening in 2018). MLB Youth Academies in development include those in the Bronx, NY and San Francisco, CA. MLB also contributed $1.5 million toward programming of Curtis Granderson Stadium at the University of Illinois - Chicago campus. More than 160 Academy alumni have been selected in the Draft, including more than 50 in the last six drafts.
PLAY BALL SUMMER - On January 24th, Major League Baseball and the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) announced a renewal, through 2020, of the joint "PLAY BALL SUMMER" effort. Since 2015, hundreds of Mayors across the United States and Puerto Rico have hosted more than 60,000 kids at celebratory, youth baseball-themed events in their communities. In 2017, a record number of Mayors (250+) hosted a record number of children (35,000+), many of whom are from underserved backgrounds, at PLAY BALL SUMMER events in nearly all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball, will support MLB's renewed efforts with Mayors. Boys and Girls Clubs' nearly 1400 organizations, representing 4,300 local Clubs and more than 4 million youth, will participate in PLAY BALL SUMMER, and in some cases collaborate or co-host events with local mayors.