The Philadelphia Youth Baseball Leadership Council (PYBLC) is the first citywide coalition dedicated to shaping the future of youth baseball in Philadelphia. Created by the Philadelphia Baseball Review, the PYBLC brings together the leaders building this game every day — directors, educators, coaches, organizers, and community advocates — to ensure that every child in every neighborhood has access to baseball, mentorship, and opportunity.
Baseball has always been more than a sport in Philadelphia. It is a neighborhood language — a way kids learn how to push themselves, how to work with others, how to respond to failure, and how to lead. From rowhome blocks in the Northeast to the rec centers of West and Southwest Philadelphia, from tight infields in North Philly to long-standing programs in the South, the game has shaped generations.
But the reality across the city is uneven. Many leagues face challenges with aging fields, limited funding, equipment shortages, dwindling volunteer bases, and a lack of coordinated support. Kids show up eager to play, but the structures around them don’t always match their passion.
The PYBLC was created to change that. This council exists to unify efforts, elevate programs, and strengthen the foundation of youth baseball throughout Philadelphia. It is a leadership body built on collaboration, communication, and shared purpose — a space where the people doing the work can come together, identify needs, share solutions, build partnerships, and champion the growth of young athletes both on and off the field.
PYBLC Mission
The mission of the Philadelphia Youth Baseball Leadership Council is to expand access, improve equity, strengthen organizations, develop leaders, and build sustainable pathways for Philadelphia youth to learn, play, and thrive through baseball.
PYBLC Core Commitments
The PYBLC works to broaden access for children in underserved neighborhoods by supporting leagues and clinics that operate with limited resources. It champions local organizations by providing visibility, connections, and strategic guidance that help them build stability. It invests in coaches and leaders through mentorship and development opportunities that keep player growth at the center of the work. It advocates for improved playing conditions, safe facilities, and modernized fields. And it forges partnerships across nonprofits, schools, recreation centers, city agencies, and sponsors who share a commitment to youth development.
All of this is grounded in one belief: that baseball in Philadelphia should be a pathway — not a privilege.
Building the Future Together
The PYBLC is only the beginning. Over the coming months, the council will begin shaping shared priorities, identifying areas of need, launching collaborative initiatives, and building the partnerships required to support leagues and young athletes across Philadelphia. This work is long overdue — and it will take everyone who believes in the power of this game to help move it forward.
Philadelphia has always been a baseball city. Now, it is becoming a baseball community — one built on access, opportunity, and leadership.
The PYBLC is here to ensure that the next generation has the fields, the support, and the pathway they deserve. And we’re just getting started.
How the PYBLC Works
The Philadelphia Youth Baseball Leadership Council meets quarterly as a strategic leadership body. The council does not run leagues, replace existing organizations, or manage day-to-day programs. Instead, it serves as a convening and coordinating force focused on identifying system-wide needs, aligning efforts, and strengthening the overall youth baseball ecosystem in Philadelphia.
Each meeting is designed to produce clear outcomes — shared priorities, aligned messaging, or collaborative opportunities — that advance the council’s mission and support the organizations doing the work on the ground.
Council Members
The following individuals make up the inaugural Philadelphia Youth Baseball Leadership Council. Together, they represent decades of coaching, leadership, youth development, and community building across the city’s baseball landscape.
Angela Marcantonini
Middle school teacher, Wissahickon School District
A connector, community builder and youth sports advocate with real reach — from MLB/MiLB players, teams, coaches and league personnel to baseball foundations worldwide. Angela has spent her career strengthening neighborhoods locally, in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic building partnerships, and creating opportunities where they didn’t exist before.
Shannon Gunby
Founder, The On Deck Circle
Shannon is the Founder and Director of The On Deck Circle and previously served as Director of Baseball Operations for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, leading baseball and softball programming in underserved communities nationwide. From 2007 to 2022, he co-owned Ambler Sports Academy, managing operations, mentoring coaches, and training athletes before its sale to EL1 Sports. He also helped develop USA Quickball’s 6U curriculum and trained coaches across the country, continuing as a consultant after its acquisition by EL1.
Andre Wright
Founder, Give and Go Athletics
Founder of Give and Go Athletics, Andre is a leader who has built a year-round program serving more than 120 athletes. Former college captain, all-conference standout, and lifelong mentor, he understands player development at every level — on the court, in the classroom, and in life.
Juan Namnun
Educator; Head Baseball Coach, Frankford High School
A Philadelphia educator and one of the city’s most respected high-school baseball coaches, leading Frankford to seven Public League championships. Juan’s leadership is built on accountability, culture, and service, with experience ranging from high-school development to MLB scouting environments.
Patrick Gordon
Executive Editor, Philadelphia Baseball Review; Founder, PYBLC
Founder of the Philadelphia Baseball Review and an MLB-credentialed journalist for more than twenty years, Patrick has built one of Philadelphia’s most trusted voices in the baseball community. A coach and Little League board member, he works directly with young athletes and families, bringing a development-driven, standards-focused mindset to the field. Patrick launched the PYBLC to unite proven leaders, raise expectations, and create stronger pathways for every young baseball player in Philadelphia.
