Community
Redbird Rookies is a baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. This special league, sponsored by Cardinals Care, provides kids with uniforms, gloves, bats, balls, and other equipment, as well as extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring, and cultural arts. Currently Redbird Rookies has 20 leagues, serving nearly 4,000 kids in the St. Louis/Metro area, and parts of rural Missouri and Illinois.
Children of our community have benefited from Cardinals Care with the consistent commitment from the St. Louis Cardinals Ownership Group, Cardinals players, Cardinals sponsors, and thousands of Cardinals fans. Cardinals Care is the team's community foundation that cares for kids. Since 1997, Cardinals Care has cared for kids by building youth baseball fields, supporting youth baseball, and funding children's organizations and youth agencies. Over $12.3 million have been distributed to help kids, primarily in the areas of health, education, mentoring, recreation, and cultural arts.
In 2004, Redbird Rookies was formed to allow kids to play baseball free of charge. Rawlings, a major contributor and supporter of Cardinals Care, donates and discounts most of the equipment and uniforms for any child who wants to play in Redbird Rookies. In addition, Cardinals Care provides training so that coaches and organizers can learn innovative coaching/character building techniques that are essential to the program. Parents also take part in workshops that teach the philosophy of the league so that there is support on every level.
Central to Redbird Rookies is instructional play. Keeping score and winning are secondary to the life lessons that can be learned as part of a team on the ball field. Redbird Rookies works to instill the values of teamwork, integrity, self-esteem, and leadership in the "classroom" of a baseball setting.
It's more than just baseball! In an effort to support kids off the field,
Cardinals Care works to build partnerships between the baseball organizations and non-profit organizations that support kids in the areas of health, education, mentoring, and cultural arts. In 2005, Cardinals Care established the Redbird Rookies Saigh Scholarship. This college scholarship will be held for the recipients until after they graduate from high school, and then the recipient will use the scholarship to aid them in attending the school of their choice. The Redbird Rookies Readers Program, partners with area public libraries to encourage kids to read during the summer. Depending on how many books each team reads there is the chance for kids to earn the chance to play a game on the field at Busch Stadium, an experience that a child will never forget.
Cardinals Care also gives cash grants that are combined with complimentary Cardinals tickets, player ticket programs, Cardinals player involvement and other Cardinals resources to serve as rewards or incentives for supporting kids off the field.
Because Cardinals Care cares so much for kids, a very ambitious approach was taken to assure that every resource at our disposal is utilized to benefit kids.
Redbird Rookies players are encouraged to read over the summer. Depending upon how much they read, they have the opportunity to win prizes such as a backpack and school supplies. Also, if an entire team reaches a certain level of reading, they are entered into a drawing for a chance to play a game at Busch Stadium or to have a practice with a current Cardinals player. Players such as Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, and Aaron Miles have been featured players for the Readers Program.
The Redbird Rookies Fairs focus on exposing kids to various activities in the areas of health and education. All children that attend the Fairs have the opportunity to receive hearing, vision, asthma, and dental screenings. They receive health and nutrition information from various partners, and also have the opportunity to receive a free bike helmet and fitting. The Fairs are a great opportunity for children and parents to expose themselves to new and valuable information.
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Each year Redbird Rookies partners with The Sheldon Concert Hall for an exclusive jazz performance for Redbird Rookies families. This interactive concert exposes the children to an area of music that they might not be familiar with. Tying baseball in to the performance, playing in a jazz ensemble also requires practice, improvisation, and teamwork!
Redbird Rookies offers a scholarship to students who have completed the 7th grade and have just participated in the Redbird Rookies youth baseball league. This scholarship supports the Redbird Rookies Scholar's post secondary education.
The $5,000 scholarship will be distributed after high school in equal parts for up to four years to support the Redbird Rookies Scholar at the accredited college or post secondary training program of his or her choice. Up to ten new Redbird Rookies Saigh Scholarships are awarded each year.
The scholarship is named after Fred Saigh, owner of the Cardinals from 1947-1953, in recognition of the Saigh Foundation's generous support to Cardinals Care.
Redbird Rookies is a volunteer supported program. If you are interested in being a general volunteer or a coach at one of the area leagues please call the contact person for the specific league that is closest to you. A list of the leagues can be found in "Redbird Rookies Leagues".
Redbird Rookies is offered to kids ages 5-13. If you have a child who would be interested in joining one of the leagues, please call the league closest to your area.
If you are interested in hosting a Redbird Rookies League in your neighborhood in 2010, please click below to download an application and send to the Cardinals no later than October 31, 2009.
Download application »
| League (By zip code) | Contact | Phone | |
| Berkeley, City of (63134) | Jeff Powell | 314-264-2060 | powell@ci.berkeley.mo.us |
| Hollister, MO (65616) | Joe Lane | 417-332-1909 | jlane@ozarkmtnymca.org |
| City Recreation, STL (63104) | Charles Tyson | 314-589-6120 | ctyson102006@aol.com |
| Decatur Park District (62522) | Justin Neufeld | 217-429-3472 | jneufeld@decparks.com |
| Dream Center, STL (63115) | Tony Gilmore | 314-381-0700 | tgilmore@stldreamcenter.org |
| East St. Louis, IL (62202) | Leonard Nelson | 618-274-5437 | lnelson@jackiejoyner-kerseefoundation.org |
| Herbert Hoover (63110) | Dan Futrell | 314-633-7900 | dan@hhbgc.org |
| Jennings, City of (63136) | Cindy Tharp | 314-388-3040 | |
| Kingdom House (63104) | Sonchez Johnson | 314-421-0400 | sonchezpcs@yahoo.com |
| Madison, IL (62060) | James Gardner, Jr. | 618-407-0165 | ghostg5@yahoo.com |
| Matthews-Dickey (63115) | Joyce Jones | 314-382-5952 | jjones@mathews-dickey.com |
| COVAM-Murphy Park (63106) | Reggie Henderson | 314-327-0672 | reginald.henderson@urbanstrategiesinc.org |
| Normandy (63121) | Tony Evans | 314-385-3300 x.3109 | |
| Northwoods (63121) | O'Nita Williams | 314-923-8613 | o'nita.williams@healthlink.com |
| Beyond Housing-Pagedale (63133) | Roxanne Tyler | 314-862-0639 | rtyler@beyondhousing.org |
| Sesser (IL) (62883) | Dana Zimbro | 618-625-5437 | dana@blackdiamondhd.com |
| Springfield (MO) (65802) | Jay Gallivan | 417-865-2821 | jgallivan@bgclubspringfield.org |
| University City (63130) | Kattrina Parnell | 314-497-7720 | mcgeeparnell@sbcglobal.net |
| St. Louis CAN (63120) | Kyria Virshelle | 314-335-9029 | kvirshelle@hotmail.com |
| Wellston (63133) | Tim Bright | 314-532-3952 |
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Questions, Comments? Contact Us!
Redbird Rookies Hotline: 314-345-9883. Redbird Rookies email: redbirdrookies@stlcardinals.com
