Blue Jays Baseball Academy Rookie League Celebrates 25 Years

The Blue Jays are known for wearing blue, but the franchise was celebrating silver this past week as its Baseball Academy Rookie League celebrated 25 years. To launch the 25th year, Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia joined 1,000 children from 50 different Toronto communities for Opening Day.

“[Baseball players] become superheroes just because we are on TV," Arencibia said. "But I had to explain it to them that I too was once in the same position that they are now in."

Rookie League introduces children and youth living in under-privileged communities to baseball. The program provides children with the chance to not only play, but to receive free gear – bats, gloves, uniforms - and top-notch baseball instruction at no cost at all.

“It’s better than Christmas,” said one young participant.

Here's to many more successful years!