Badges for Baseball

What is Badges for Baseball?

Our signature program, Badges for Baseball, was created in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice as a juvenile crime prevention initiative. It's a simple concept: pair cops and kids together to play and learn. We work to enhance the relationship between law enforcement and kids in underserved communities across the country using baseball as the hook. The work is not easy, but the results are remarkable. Law enforcement officers become the coaches, teaching important lessons about teamwork, communication, respect, and leadership that can be used both on and off the field.

What is the target population?

While beneficial for youth from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, the Badges for Baseball program primarily targets areas with high rates of juvenile crime and related issues. Unfortunately, high crime rates often correlate with strained relationships between law enforcement officers and young people. Badges for Baseball provides an opportunity to reach kids at an impressionable age and gives them opportunities to see law enforcement officers as mentors, friends, and coaches rather than an enemy.

A Virginia State Trooper catches a game with kids from his local Badges for Baseball program

How does it work?

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation partners with America's most successful youth serving organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Recreation Departments, afterschool programs, and Police Activity Leagues to bring programs to deserving young people across the country. Each program site receives program materials including Healthy Choices, Healthy Children, baseball, softball, and Quickball equipment, training, and ongoing support from Foundation staff and local law enforcement agencies. Most of our partners receive funding from the Foundation to support their staff needs and other costs associated with running Badges for Baseball.

What are the benefits?

Kids learn the value of a healthy lifestyle, the importance of setting goals, and how to achieve these goals such as by staying in school, not joining gangs, and staying away from drugs. In addition, children and their families begin to see their local law enforcement as an agent for positive change and safety. Most importantly, law enforcement officers and young people begin to have fun together and develop a mutual respect for each other and their community.

Learn more about our statewide Badges for Baseball initiatives:
Maryland, Massachusetts, Misssissippi, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin