About Us
WBO Sports Facility
Founded in 1995, before becoming your best choice for batting cages Tulsa World Baseball Outreach’s journey started with a mission trip to Nicaragua in which we distributed six baseball gloves and a dozen baseballs. Soon after, WBO began collecting baseball and softball equipment at various sites in the Tulsa area. Since 1995, WBO has shipped baseball and softball equipment to over 25 countries. WBO has also joined with several churches and businesses throughout the USA in an effort to provide equipment to children here in the USA and internationally.
In 2007 clinics were conducted locally at the Tulsa Boys Home and Tulsa Dream Center. Clinics were also conducted at boys’ ranches in Missouri, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Colorado. Clinics provided new & used baseball and softball equipment for youth programs while providing professional, collegiate, and high school level instruction in batting cages Tulsa. In 2009 we began leading mission trips to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Brazil. In 2011 we established a relationship with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Santo Domingo where we are working with “Los Bufelos” a Christian baseball and softball organization that serves 8 barrios. Through our relationship with YWAM, we are able to take an “asset-based” approach utilizing the gifts and strengths of dedicated volunteers in Santo Domingo and bringing in mission teams to help build on-going relationships to help restore the struggling youth. WBO also expanded relationships in Haiti with the assistance of YWAM providing over 2000 meals and providing personal care items each visit to orphanages in Porte Prince.
In 2011 WBO started the first Major League Baseball Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program with 150 youth playing baseball for the first time. In 2013 we registered over 650 children playing baseball and softball. WBO eliminated all the obstacles that families face by providing new uniforms, equipment, access to the batting cages Tulsa, and no league fees.
Jerry Jacobson, Executive Director and Founder
Jerry spent most of his young life on a farm enjoying his time with his grandfather who was always love in many different ways. What Jerry remembers most about his childhood was the time spent on the old John Deere Tractor. After moving off the farm Jerry began to play more and more baseball spending hours in batting cages Tulsa. He also remembers the day his Uncle Ralph gave him his first glove and bat. Baseball was the only time he recalls being told, “good job kid” or any other positive compliment. At 17 he ran away from home empty and far from God. Even with a lot of life’s bad decisions, God always showed His love and grace and eventually opened doors to college and a short time in independent ball.
After baseball, Jerry spent time changing jobs every 5 years until he finally ended up in airline maintenance with over 250 employees. Still, Jerry felt like he had no real talents or ways to serve the Lord. Finally, a coworker told him he was already serving His purpose. Jerry had been working with youth on high school teams, spending a lot of time at batting cages Tulsa. This is when Jerry realized he could actually serve God the best through his passion for baseball. One thing led to another with his first mission trip to Nicaragua where God put it in his heart to collect baseball equipment. This was the beginning of World Baseball Outreach. Jerry began going on mission trips.
In 2016 WBO moved into its current location, home of your best choice for batting cages Tulsa. What God placed on Jerry’s heart at a very early age was the tool used to grow his faith became a ministry that serves thousands around the world through the game of baseball. Today, Jerry and his wife Barbara live in Tulsa, OK. They have a son, Sgt Jeremy Jacobson, currently serving in the US Army. Jerry and Barbara continue to inspire others to know the Lord and to seek their potential through their passion and to use their gifts to love and encourage others.
Graduate of Missouri Southern State University Joplin in 1982 in Business Administration. Worked at American Airlines from 1998-2006 as a supervisor in Avionics before a leap of faith moved him to move full time in the WBO ministry. Founded World Baseball Outreach Equipment Ministry that turned into WBO Sports Center with the best batting cages Tulsa in 1995 after a mission trip to Nicaragua. Jerry led WBO from an equipment ministry to expansions in 2006 of faith based youth mentoring adding faith based missions in 2008 to Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Nicaragua.
Barbara Jacobson, Owner
Barbara Jacobson was born and raised in the Tulsa area. She graduated from Charles Page High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Health from Oklahoma State University in 1993. Jerry and Barbara have been married since 1998 and have one son, Jeremy, who is currently serving in the US Army. After working in the medical field for several years Barbara received her real estate license in 2001 and has enjoyed helping her clients buy and sell homes. You will see Barbara working around the indoor facility at the front desk, assisting in the batting cages Tulsa, or screen print/embroidery shop doing whatever needs to be done. She also enjoys helping out in the concession stand several nights a week out at the RBI league games. In addition to her volunteer work with WBO she serves at Tulsa Hills Youth Ranch. The Ranch is a mentoring program for Youth from tough places.
Barbara joined Coldwell Banker Select for their strong reputation of honesty and integrity. In 1993 Barbara graduated from Oklahoma State University and in 2001 she gained her Real Estate License and has been helping Oklahoman’s sell and buy their homes ever since. Her greatest strength is strategizing and problem solving, she says there are many problems that can arise in a transaction and she does her best to stay ahead of them. As a born and raised Oklahoman herself, she has loved living here for the genuine people, slower pace of life, and affordable living which is what she helps her clients find everyday. Barbara is very active in her community where she is involved with two volunteer organizations that help kids, World Baseball Outreach, with the best batting cages Tulsa, since 1996 and Tulsa Hills Youth Ranch since the fall of 2014.