The JOURNEY is a winding road. It’s filled with many ups-and-downs, left-right turns, and occasional moments of clear sailing. It has a lot of great ideas, bad ideas, inspiration, anxiety, and triumphs.
We launched the Rawlings Tigers in 2011 as a developmental-based program. Our mission has been to help our club members develop both athletically and build upon their character. We strive to give each player the foundation that will help guide them through tough decisions.
When the Tigers first started, our teams were not the best. We only won one game in 2011, and it was an ugly win too. BUT! We focused on what mattered the most. We channeled our energy towards developing the player. We grew the club-coach-parent-player relationship. We found it very hard to compete with the established teams in the area. Both players and the program, certainly faced adversity as we were both working towards establishing ourselves in the baseball community. Through this adversity, we grew a stronger bond with our players because they could see they were evolving.
In many instances, people think an advanced skill is complete natural ability handed down from the heavens. If you look through time from famous Roman emperors too now-famous business moguls, they all had a starting point. There was an initial beginning where they were “throw-up bad.” Over time, however, they grew in becoming who they became. It was persistent dedication with a touch of aggressiveness and a dash of patience.
Through the years, we got better and better on the field. Our mindset and vision as a club never wavered. We continued to offer more and more value to our parents, players, and coaches. In turn, not only were we able to retain every player from year one, but we also attracted interest from players and teams outside of our area.
We have always had a growth mindset when it comes to the value we offer our club members. No matter if we are talking to an 8U player in St. Louis or a National Director, we aspire to provide value and offer as much assistance as possible. We want them to believe in themselves, even if they were as “throw-up bad” as us in the early years.
To the players of 2011, we know you’re doing big things in life. You’re building a career, or even starting your own family. You guys are the real O.G.’s because you did something that the majority of the population wouldn’t do. You continued.
From 2011–2019, we have had incredible success in developing players, coaches, teams, and programs. We even have our former players come back and teach our way and our culture to future players. This leads us to find the next person who believes in what we believe, who shares in the same passion for building people. What was once a single club in St. Louis, MO, the Tigers have expanded and are now being represented in 24 states with over 140 teams nationwide. A future era of tough-minded resilient players who are not afraid of being “awkward” or being “not good,” because they know the first stages of a build will be rough waters.
We are incredibly excited about the passionate individuals who have joined and share in the vision that we present daily. I challenge you today to think about what you want to create. The thing you want to bring out for people to share or enjoy. Ten years seems like a long time, but it also is a flash in the pan when you’re looking in the rearview mirror.
We’re ready for the next decade, are you?
David Birkby
Twitter: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby?s=2
National Director
dbirkby@rawlingstigers.com
www.rawlingstigers.com