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• Rookie League is an instructional baseball program encouraging involvement by children 12 years of age and younger.

• Rookie League uses a pitching machine to simulate and replace the human pitcher. This concept eliminates walks and much of the fear of being hit by a stray pitched ball. As a result, boys and girls have more confidence at the plate and develop more rapidly.

• Major League Baseball involvement in machine pitch started in 1985. It was during this time that former American League President Dr. Bobby Brown started funding programs that wanted to play machine pitch.

• In 2007, Major League Baseball, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, will support the Rookie League program and give startup equipment grants for 40 Rookie League Programs worldwide.

• The Rookie League concept has been endorsed by Major League Baseball, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (Minor Leagues) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

• In 2007, Major League Baseball will designate more than $100,000 worth of resources to the Rookie League program.

• Rawlings, ATEC, Wilson, Outdoor Cap and Nike are official suppliers of the 2007 Rookie League Program.

• Rookie League Coaching Seminars instruct coaches and league organizers on topics ranging from life skills, baseball skills, conflict resolution, media training and marketing and fundraising.

• All 28 Major League cities have supported Rookie League programs

• Since re-establishing the Rookie League program in 2002, Major League Baseball and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have funded over 250 Rookie League Programs

• Major League Baseball's objectives for Rookie League:
 1) Increase participation and interest in baseball
 2) Increase the number of grassroots level baseball programs
 3) Teach basic fundamentals of baseball
 4) Reduce injuries to arms of young pitchers and to batters sometimes hit by stray pitches
 5) Provide a fun baseball experience for beginning players