• The baseball festival is Major League Baseball’s traveling road show that brings the game to fans around the world
• A major league salute to baseball festival is required for bringing a game we all may take for granted to the developing world
• The events showcase baseball with a video pavilion, historic moments, interactive kiosks, and a festival baseball tournament
• What may be the most important baseball festival 2008 is MLB inner city program to encourage our youth to take up the game

MLB Baseball Festival to the World

The International Baseball Festival has toured the world since 1995 offering a showcase event of America’s Pastime. The carnival-like atmosphere is enjoyed by children and parents alike. The children can test their hitting, throwing, pitching, base running, and fielding skills on the festival’s baseball diamond. Video kiosks allow kids to face down their favorite pitcher and knock one out of the park. Player signings, clinics, prizes, skill competitions, and a festival baseball tournament add to the experience.

So let’s all give a “salute to baseball festival” for bringing this to over a million fans around the world including:

• Dominican Republic
• Japan
• Germany
• Mexico
• Puerto Rico
• Taiwan
• Venezuela

A smaller version of the Baseball Festival travels to shopping malls, schools, and sporting events to introduce the game to children in developing baseball countries. It exposes kids to baseball fundamentals by including a pitching tunnel and batting cage. The Discovery Zone teaches the rules of the game, biographies of their favorite teams, and introduces MLB stars. The Major League Baseball Road Show has been operating since 1994 and has visited countries such as:

• Australia
• United Kingdom
• Czech Republic
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Italy
• Netherlands

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities

This program, known as RBI, completed its 20th season in 2008. Started by former Major Leaguer John Young in South Central L.A. in 1989 it has expanded to over 200 cities and involves 120,000 players. The concept was initially supported by MLB with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the City of Los Angeles getting behind the program. As the program grew and with the resulting success, all 30 major league teams have lent their support.

This baseball festival 2008 is known as the RBI World Series and was held in various venues throughout the Los Angeles area. The series consists of 24 teams vying for the title in three divisions:

• Junior Boys 13-15 years of age
• Girls Softball 19 and under
• Senior Boys 16-18 years old

The championship games were held at Angel Stadium on Aug. 11, 2008. This is not only a baseball event as six $5,000 RBI scholarships were awarded to high school seniors to continue their education and ideally their baseball goals.

The results speak for themselves as over 180 RBI players have been drafted by Major League Clubs, the most notable being:

• CC Sabathia of Milwaukee
• Carl Crawford of Tampa Bay
• Coco Crisp of Boston
• Jim Rollins of Philadelphia
• James Loney of Los Angeles

As a scoreboards manufacturer Electro-Mech aims at giving it’s followers news about the widest range of sports activities. No matter which sport you are in Electro-Mech has got it all.