'PLAY BALL WEEKEND,' which features a unique variety of youth-focused activities by nearly 200 Major and Minor League Clubs, will return for a third consecutive year, Major League Baseball today announced. The complementary program of the 'PLAY BALL' initiative was created to provide professional baseball Clubs with a platform to engage youth and celebrate baseball & softball participation in communities throughout the country and in Canada. 

MLB and MiLB Clubs have selected dates this season to activate their efforts in their respective ballparks and communities, with 15 of 30 MLB Clubs activating during the month of June. Fans can follow along on PLAY BALL WEEKEND activities through MLB's social media channels, including @PlayBall on Twitter, Facebook.com/play.ball.mlb, PlayBall on Instagram, and MLBPlayBall on Snapchat. 

In support of PLAY BALL WEEKEND, MLB Clubs will host customized and unique activities to engage young people, highlight the fun of youth baseball and softball, and bring the professional levels of the game closer to kids. Clubs also will have special ballpark giveaways, including bat & ball sets, sunglasses, eye black, pitch grip baseballs, wristbands, drawstring bags, caps & more. Many home ballparks may also feature PLAY BALL field stencils and run in-ballpark public service announcements in support of the PLAY BALL initiative and other youth outreach programs by Clubs. 

A new component of this year's PLAY BALL WEEKEND effort is that Major League players, coaches and managers will wear batting practice t-shirts inspired by the classic baseball movie The Sandlot during their designated PLAY BALL WEEKEND. Major League Baseball and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of The Sandlot through a unique partnership that includes festivities at MLB ballparks and supported events all season long. 
Below is a schedule of Clubs' selected PLAY BALL WEEKEND (in chronological order):
•   Arizona Diamondbacks, 4/22
•   Baltimore Orioles, 4/27 - 4/29
•   Tampa Bay Rays, 5/5 - 5/6
•   Cincinnati Reds, 5/18 - 5/20
•   Pittsburgh Pirates, 5/20
•   St. Louis Cardinals, 5/20
•   Philadelphia Phillies, 5/25 - 5/27
•   New York Yankees, 5/27
•   Chicago Cubs, 5/28
•   Kansas City Royals, 5/31 - 6/3
•   Atlanta Braves, 6/1 - 6/3
•   Detroit Tigers, 6/1 - 6/3
•   Houston Astros, 6/1 - 6/3
•   San Diego Padres, 6/2 - 6/3
•   Boston Red Sox, 6/5 - 6/10
•   Colorado Rockies, 6/9