The Cincinnati Reds teamed up with Reds Hall of Famer and 1990 World Series champion Eric Davis to launch a new youth baseball and softball campaign in Greater Cincinnati.
The goal is to encourage participation in recreational youth baseball and softball leagues that will provide children with a fun, safe activity for the spring and summer seasons. The Reds have identified organizations across the Cincinnati Tri-State through which parents can sign up their kids for leagues close to their neighborhood.
Nike, a proud partner of the Cincinnati Reds and Reds Community Fund’s efforts to encourage more participation in youth baseball and softball, is also supporting the initiative.
“The Reds are committed to providing opportunities for children in all communities to connect with baseball and softball,” said Charley Frank, executive director of the Reds Community Fund. “We work with over 60 youth baseball and softball organizations across the region and want to make it easy for parents to find a team for their kids.”
Parents can register their children at reds.com/signup, and the Reds Community Fund will provide recommendations for leagues in their area.
As for Davis’ involvement, he has long had a passion for getting more kids interested in the game. When he received word of what the Reds were working on, he was eager to help. And he was a perfect fit.
As a member of the Reds, Davis was a three-time Gold Glove outfielder, two-time Silver Slugger and two-time All-Star. Today, Davis is a Cincinnati legend and remains an active and important part of the Reds organization, serving as a special assistant, player performance for Reds player development.
But even before all the accolades, Davis was just a kid who loved sports, especially baseball.
“I love the wholesomeness of playing baseball,” he said. “Growing up, I just loved to compete. Not everyone can win, and that’s fine. It’s not just about winning. But everyone can compete, and everyone can get better.”
Even if baseball doesn’t end up being your child’s sport of choice in later years, he or she can still learn something valuable by playing the game at a young age.
“Every sport you can allow your kid to play is going to give you something training-wise that the other sports couldn’t give you,” Davis said. “A lot of my athletic ability on the baseball field, it came from me playing football and basketball. The other sports enhanced what I ultimately chose to be a career.”
Davis was a standout at all stages of that career. He was the epitome of a five-tool player -- he could hit for average and power, he could run, throw and field -- but he was also a great teammate. What is special about baseball is how the sport blends the importance of self and team. The game allowed Davis to showcase his individual abilities while also developing his skills as a team player.
“Baseball highlights your talents as an individual; it’s all you,” Davis said. “But there is also an important team element. Where teamwork comes with baseball is rooting for your teammates. Being there for your teammates, pumping them up, making sure that they don’t get down, picking each other up. What you do on the field isn’t just with your teammates, it’s for your teammates.”
Not every child will grow up to be Eric Davis on the field, and that’s OK. In baseball and softball, being the strongest or the fastest on the diamond isn’t necessary to excel or have fun. No experience is needed, and participation from kids of all skill levels is encouraged. It’s the perfect way for a beginner to learn the game or for a baseball or softball fanatic to hone his or her skills and become a better player.
“The fun of the game is the game,” Davis said. “You learn from doing. Being able to hit the ball, that’s a rush. Throwing guys out. Making defensive plays. There’s so much you can hang your hat on when playing. All those things drive this wonderful game that we have. And it is a great game. Man, it’s a great game.”