Monday, May 29, 2017

Top 5 Kids Clubs in Major League Baseball


Major League Baseball is back in the full swing of things for another season so that means it is time for A Geek Daddy's annual look at the best "Kids Clubs" that teams have to offer this year.  Of the 30 MLB teams, 25 have programs to encourage children to become fans of the team and develop an interest in the sport of baseball.  The programs vary from team to team in both the price charged to participate (ranging from FREE to $50+) and the benefits provided.  They can include perks such as team apparel and branded merchandise, special experiences at the ballpark, and a kids focused team newsletter among other things.  Some of the Kids Clubs are really nice and are legitimately aimed to enhance the fan experience and a child's enjoyment of the game.  Other programs aren't much of a value and seem to be run as just another way to try to get a few more bucks out of a fans' wallets.


I personally like the Kids Club concept as a way for fan dads and moms to share a passion for their favorite MLB team with sons and daughters in a fun way.  Also as every parent knows, children are often more interested in exploring a stadium, snacking on junk food, and getting a souvenir compared to watching a game during a family outing to the ballpark.  A Kids Club membership can provide a great memento from attending a game that won't bust your bank account.  In some cases these programs even make a visit to see a team play live at their stadium affordable when it might not otherwise have been for a family.

A Geek Daddy has taken a look at each of the current programs offered by MLB teams and ranked the Top 5 KID CLUBS for 2017 in my opinion based upon these factors -  price/value, coolness/wow factor, originality, quality of materials/swag, special events, and branding for the program.  So going from fifth place to the best we have:

5.  Houston Astros  -- Buddies Kids Club $25

The Astros are one of the hottest teams in baseball staring off the 2017 season and they also have one of the more impressive Kids Clubs in the American League.  As you'll notice the National League dominates the rest of our list.  Sponsored by Coca Cola, Houston's program has a combination of perks that will help get kids to the ballpark to watch a game, exclusive benefits when they get there and some cool swag to take home with them all for a family budget friendly price tag.

Each Astro Buddy receives four complimentary game tickets.  Plus once they are at Minute Maid Park they can participate in exclusive opportunities such as player autograph signings, batting practice viewings, pregame parades, baseball clinics, and get first access on the field to kids run the bases.  They're also invited to a special behind-the-scenes day event.  Membership in the Astros Buddies Kids Club includes a branded backpack, baseball cap, membership card, lanyard, and socks.



4. New York Met -- Mr. Met's Kids Club $33

With the inflated prices of living in the Big Apple, Mets fans can get a good deal with this Kids Club for youth under the age of 14.  The package includes four promenade outfield outfield seats redeemable for select games throughout the season plus four complimentary tickets to see the Met's minor league affiliate the Brooklyn Cyclones play at their stadium located next to the Coney Island board walk.  Plus every time a Kids Club member attends a game at Citi Field and checks in at the Mr. Met Kiosk they can earn prizes throughout the season including an autographed player card and a Mr. Met's Kids Club baseball cap.



A really nice aspect of the program, is every member is provided an opportunity to submit a score board message that can be displayed on the Citi Field scoreboard while they are attending a Met's game for FREE as part of their membership.  Plus they get fast access to the Mr. Met Dash that takes place on the field after Sunday games by showing their membership card.  To help members cheer on the team while the Met's are playing, the Kids Club also has a membership kit designed to bring along to the game with them.  It includes a draw string backpack, inflatable thunder sticks, a silicon wrist band, a book mark, a squishy miniature baseball, and a membership card on a Mets branded lanyard.

3.  St. Louis Cardinals -- Cardinals Kids Club  $30

The St. Louis Cardinals always do an outstanding job with their Kids Club program and this year is no different.  In addition to a pair of tickets to attend a Cardinal's home game it offers many of the same things as the other programs we've referenced including first-in-line access for Kids Run the Bases and a free Pitch Speed session at Busch Stadium's Family Pavilion.  Where the team really stands out though is the incredible Members-Only Autograph Party they throw at the stadium.  Plus once again the Cardinal's are providing some of the nicest branded merchandise in Major League Baseball in their membership packs.  Members receive a Fredbird mascot action figure toy, a duffel bag, baseball cap, lapel pin, and membership card with lanyard.



2. Cincinnati Reds -- Reds Heads  $30

The Reds have one of the best Kids Club programs in Major League baseball and have fallen somewhere on our list every year because of the originality of their efforts, the uniqueness and quality of their branding and the really great swag they include in their membership packs.  This year is they continue to provide great deals for their members. In addition to providing 2 free tickets to attend a Reds game they also encourage members to go to attractions such as Newport Aquarium, the city's Museum Center and the Cincinnati Zoo with special Kids Club offers.  While at the ballpark, members also have special access to ballpark experiences like player autograph sessions and chance to take the field.  Plus they get priority placement in line for the postgame Run the Bases.

The Reds always make an effort to provide their members with top-notch swag and that tradition continues with this year's assortment of items inside their membership pack.  Reds Heads receive a really nice jersey, a quality backpack, an exclusive bobblehead of the club mascot, an authentic Kids Club branded baseball, an activity book and a membership card along with a lanyard to display it.



This year the Reds have also introduced a new program for parents to share their love of the team with newborns called the Rookie Club.  Red's Rookies receive a hooded towel, gapper plus cuddle-up, a baby fan club branded picture frame and a diaper bag tag.  Plus parents can take baby to his or her first Reds game with the included 2 tickets for mom and dad (of course babies always have free admission) to attend one of the select home games which also include the family joining in on the field for a Reds Rookies parade.  The program also includes access to a parent/baby photo session with a Reds player and mascot.  Joining the Reds Rookie Club is just $20 dollars.



1. Arizona Diamondbacks -- D-backs Kids Club  FREE

The Diamondbacks have gotten off to one of the hottest starts this baseball season and really want fans to come out to cheer on the team as they compete for a playoff berth.  Children who are registered with Arizona's Kids Club can show their membership card each time they attend a game at Chase Field to receive prizes that range from a D-backs hat to a spot in their baseball academy camp.

Thinking this isn't that great of deal because you still need to buy tickets to go to the game?  Guess what! Kids Club members get FREE tickets for every Sunday home game!  So by signing up for a FREE program your child gets complimentary tickets and gifts from the Arizona Diamondback throughout the season. Plus members get VIP front of the line access to Kids Run the Bases after games as well.


Another plus for this program is that the Diamondbacks have teamed up with Delta Dental of Arizona to utilize the Kids Club to bring awareness to young fans about the dangers of spit tobacco.  So in addition to promoting the team and the game of baseball, the D-Backs Kids Club is also encouraging healthy living.  D-backs players and the team's bobcat mascot, D. Baxter, provide informative presentations and materials to Kids Club members to get this message across in a campaign called the NO CHEW CREW.  Plus there are rewards for the members who make a NO CHEW PLEDGE.



A tip of the cap to the D-back for a job well done with your Kids Club this year.  Good luck on your efforts to win a World Series title in 2017 to go along with your Kids Club top ranking from A Geek Daddy!

Cheering on your favorite sporting team can be a great bonding experience for parents and kids plus a fun way to spend time together as a family.  MLB Kids Clubs can be a nice way to introduce your children to the team you cheer for and encourage them to join you as a fan.  What team are you rooting for this year?

Of course we've only highlighted a handful of the Kids Clubs that are available to join.  Check out your favorite team's website and see if you like what they have to offer.  Unfortunately, the Tigers didn't make our list this year but we'll still be cheering them on while enjoying the baseball season.

37 comments:

  1. This is a great guide! Kids clubs like this are great for introducing the kiddos to baseball without them getting bored.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful thing! I hope more teams get kids clubs going! We are in KC so too far from Cardinals but would love to see the Royals have one. I am surprised they do not!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Royals actually have a decent Kids Club program. It was our #1 ranked Kids Club last year but they narrowly missed the cut for our Top 5 list in 2017. Still a nice program to look into if you have a baseball fan between the ages of 3 and 12 in the Kansas City area

      Delete
    2. Yeah, Royals have a nice program. I'm going to send this to them and see if they step up to the challenge, lol.

      Delete
  3. I had no idea the major league baseball teams had kid's clubs. I need to check and see if our team has this for kids.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I had no idea all of these clubs existed! I have 5 boys and they love sports! I'm going to share this info with my husband and start signing my boys up!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful way to create new fans and keep team love alive! We don't have an MLB team here in Las Vegas, but our minor team is a Triple-A affiliate of the Mets.

    ReplyDelete
  6. They are on to something big with these kid's clubs. This is a great way to create new fans for Major League Baseball teams. Other pro sports should take a cue from this.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is pretty neat that there are programs to encourage children to become interested in baseball. Great way to get them into sports!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My goodness, you have included just about all of the Cubs rivals in this post. I have to point out that the Cubs let kids run the bases at Wrigley on Sundays...definitely a bucket list item for sure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Clark's Crew was our Number 1 ranked Kids Club program in 2015. They need to pick up their game to win the title back :-) The Cubs do have a nice program though that fans in Chicagoland should check out.

      Delete
  9. Kids clubs are so important! It makes them really feel like they can be apart of the sport. Living in Toronto, The Toronto Blue Jays also have a really great program called the Junior Jays and they get to run the bases at the end of the game and one kid each game gets to wear the JR mascot named 'Junior'! Soo much fun.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What an exciting way to introduce baseball to the little ones. These kids clubs sound so fun.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kids Clubs make going to the diamonds a bit fun. With two teams to choose from (we aren't partial to either) it's just nice to know that our kids will be fully entertained!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those clubs sound so great for the littles. I used to love playing softball in school even though i wasnt super great at it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. These look like great ways to get kids interested in baseball!! I love that there are kids clubs!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I actually don't have a baseball team I am into but this sounds like a post I can share with my niece for her son. He has loves baseball and is on a baseball team this year himself. The kids clubs are indeed a great idea to get them involved in the sport. Thanks for sharing the information.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I haven't heard of this before, but it would be so fun for kids who are really into baseball! Great to have some programs too that keep the kids busy this summer.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I didn't realize they had kids clubs but will check them out. I always think sports are a good alternative to playing on the kids devices.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is fantastic. My nephew is really into sports, he woud enjoy learning about this I bet.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love that teams and stadiums offer this! It is really great for kids and parents who are really into sports!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Too cute! I had no idea that these clubs existed! I love this so much and have some real baseball fans in my house!

    ReplyDelete
  20. LOVE this. I had no idea there were clubs like this. Time to share with the family.

    ReplyDelete
  21. These are cute!! I have a son who loves baseball and would love these things!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is so great! It's nice to have clubs like this. My girls are not in to sports just yet, but hopefully they will be!

    ReplyDelete
  23. We have a farm team here. I had no idea they had kid clubs. I need to look into it.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The Texas Rangers have a fun kidzone for the kids. It doesn't cost any extra but they don't get free gear though. It is a play place for them to burn off some energy before the game starts.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I LOVE the kids clubs that MLB stadiums have! You should check out the Yankees one - they have some thing new this year and it's so much fun for kids.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I didn't know there were so many clubs that existed! This is great for sports fans.

    ReplyDelete
  27. These would help the kids develop their love for sports further. I think kids clubs is a great way to keep them active as well! -Marceline Dementori

    ReplyDelete
  28. I had no idea about any of these! My son would love to know about these clubs for sure

    ReplyDelete
  29. My son will absolutely love this, he loves doing sports. Glad that you shared these clubs.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have never really got into sports, but I have always liked baseball. Especially since I lived near by some baseball fields as growing up. :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hey, how come there's no club for the Atlanta Braves? :) We are big fans of the Braves over here and yup, our eyes are glued when our fave team is playing. But good to know all these clubs. Bet kids love 'em.

    -Lynndee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Braves have a Kids Club too. They just didn't crack our Top 5 list this year. Check out the team's website for more info.

      Delete
  32. "The Red Heads" how adorable!! I want to join but I think I'm a bit too old haha!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I didn't even know they had kids clubs! I am going to have to check them out!

    ReplyDelete