The Junior Braves Baseball League continues to positively affect thousands of youth in the inner city of Atlanta

The Braves have launched and developed an incredible program over the past five years – the Junior Braves Baseball League – that not only gives youth the opportunity to play baseball (youth who otherwise would not have the chance), but gives back in so many more ways as well.

In addition, the Atlanta Braves Foundation contributed half a million dollars to build the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy, a beautiful facility in the heart of the Carver neighborhood (just a mile from Turner Field), giving the youth in this area their first “Home Field” to play on.  Along with the half a million dollars from the Atlanta Braves Foundation, $300,000 from four Braves players and $150,000 from MLB’s Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy was born. Before the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy, baseball teams in this area had to play all of their games “on the road” as the away team… not to mention they lacked sufficient funding for uniforms, equipment, transportation, etc.

The Atlanta Braves “Junior Braves League” and Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy have transformed the baseball programs for inner city youth in the last five years. The Junior Braves League has gone from 500 youth in 2005, to more than 3000 youth this year and the youth now not only have a beautiful home fields to play on at the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy, but new uniforms and equipment every year, organized leagues to play in, and benefit of one-on-one clinics with Atlanta Braves players and coaches (including Terry Pendleton who is very active with the Jr. Braves), All Star Games at Turner Field, and after-school programs to help enrich their lives “off the field” as well. The following is more information on the Junior Braves League, so please read on:

Junior Braves Baseball League

The Junior Braves Youth Baseball League launched in 2005 with 500 youth, and in 2008 more than 3200 youth benefited from this partnership with the Braves organization. Junior Braves is an outreach program designed to increase minority youth participation and interest in baseball, encourage academic participation and achievement, develop self-esteem and teach the value of teamwork.

The youth in the Junior Braves League benefit from experiences ranging from Braves player and coach-led clinics at the Braves Baseball Academy to playing in their All Star Games at Turner Field. Without the Junior Braves League and the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy, many of these youth may never have the opportunity to play baseball and without the Braves Baseball Academy, most of the youth in the Carver community who do play baseball would not have a “home” field to play at.

Growth and expansion of the Junior Braves League

2005 – 500 youth from Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta

2006 – 750 youth from Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta

2007 – 900 youth from Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta

2008 – 2000 total youth

• Expanded league to include 500 youth from the Carver YMCA and 1500 youth from Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.

2009 – 3200 total youth

• Expanded league to include 1000 youth from City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation Department
• Braves are a pilot site for the new Jr. RBI league which is being rolled out by MLB. This league will reintroduce, revive and rebuild interest and participation in baseball and softball among underserved youth ages 6-12 by driving home the values of life. [RBI currently serves kids ages 13-18]