Texas Rangers to host the 2014 and 2015 RBI World Series

The Texas Rangers will host the 2014 and 2015 Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) World Series, an international championship tournament. The RBI program is the Major League Baseball youth initiative designed to provide young people from underserved communities with the opportunity to play baseball, while also encouraging academic achievement and the value of teamwork.

“We are very pleased that the Texas Rangers, who have demonstrated enormous enthusiasm for the RBI World Series, will host our festivities for the next two years,” said Commissioner Bud Selig. “This extraordinary opportunity includes the chance to play in a big-league ballpark, but more importantly it has the potential to open the minds of our participants to life’s possibilities beyond baseball. I thank the Rangers for sharing our commitment to the kids of the RBI Program.”

This is the first time the Rangers have hosted the RBI World Series.

“The Texas Rangers are proud to be the hosts of the RBI World Series for the next two years,” commented Rangers Baseball Foundation President and team Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg. “The Rangers have made it a priority to improve the lives of youngsters in our community by supporting the great work of RBI and giving kids an opportunity to play baseball.”

“As a father of two boys, I think it is awesome what RBI does in creating opportunities for kids to play the game,” said Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder. “The more chances, the better baseball has to grow young players.”

In order to qualify for the RBI World Series, RBI leagues from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and South America will compete in eight RBI Regional qualifying tournaments, which will begin in June 2014. Regional winners earn berths in the RBI World Series.