Little League

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Little League

From its inception in 1939 to the present, Little League has evolved into the primary outlet for youngsters to participate in baseball—America's National Pastime. Today, well over three million boys and girls from across the globe between the ages of five and eighteen partake in Little League programs. Those who coach in the League, which is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, do not simply teach children how to swing a bat, toss a curve ball, or steal a base. The essence of Little League is clearly stated in its official Pledge: "I trust in God. I love my country and will respect its laws. I will play fair and strive to win. But win or lose, I will always do my best."

Little League was founded in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, by Carl Stotz and George and Bert Bebble. The initial league consisted of three teams; a year later, a second league was added, with ten more coming on board during World War II. In 1947, the first non-Pennsylvania league—located in Hammonton, New Jersey—became an official Little League, and the initial Little League World Series, the organization's showcase event, was held. The victor was Williamsport's Maynard Little League. By the following year, 94 youth baseball programs had become official Little Leagues, and in 1950 there were 307 leagues spanning the United States. Little League went international in 1951, with the establishment of a program in British Columbia, Canada. Six years later, the team from Monterrey, Mexico, became the first foreign squad to win a World Series title. When it repeated the following year, Monterrey became the first back-to-back Little League champions.

In 1952, the organization had its initial full time president in Peter J. McGovern, and there were over 1,500 Little Leagues in and outside the United States. In 1953, CBS first televised the Little League World Series with Howard Cosell behind the microphone. By 1955, there was at least one Little League in all 48 of the United States, and by 1959 the organization had grown to over 5,000 leagues. That year, which was the twentieth anniversary of Little League, President Dwight Eisenhower announced that the week following the second Monday in June of every year will be designated National Little League Baseball Week.

Throughout the 1960s, Little League continued to develop. Senior League Baseball was established for 13-to-15-year-olds, as was Big League Baseball for those 16-to-18. A summer camp was inaugurated in Williamsport, and the League was granted a Federal Charter of Incorporation by the United States Congress. The World Series was broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Teams from Spain and Venezuela made it to the series—and one from West Tokyo, Japan, became the initial Asian squad to win a championship.

The 1970s saw the introduction of the aluminum bat, the evolution of which came in conjunction with the League. Girls began taking part in League softball programs, and Junior League was inaugurated for 13-year-olds. By the end of the decade, there were 6,500 Little Leagues, 2,850 Senior Leagues, and 1,300 Big Leagues. In the 1980s, the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum commenced operation in South Williamsport; Vice President George Bush threw out the first pitch in the League championship contest, and the original 1947 World Series winners, the Maynard Little Leaguers—now all grown, and well into middle age—were honored on the fortieth anniversary of their triumph. In the 1990s, Little League continued evolving as a Challenger Division was established for physically and mentally impaired youngsters.

Many major leaguers began their baseball careers in Little League. Boog Powell and Ken Hubbs played in the 1954 Little League World Series. Rick Wise and Hector Torres did so in 1958. In 1971, Lloyd McClendon belted five dingers in five World Series at bats. Tom Seaver was the inaugural inductee in the Hall-of-Excellence, located in the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum. Other alumni include Carl Yastrzemski—the first Little Leaguer to make the Baseball Hall of Fame—Jim Palmer, Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, and Dale Murphy.

Yet not all-star Little Leaguers were fated to make the major leagues. In 1956, Fred Shapiro, playing for Delaware Township, New Jersey, tossed the initial perfect game in the Little League World Series. The hero of the 1964 competition was Danny Yacarino of the Staten Island, New York, Mid Island Little League, who hurled a no-hitter and belted a home run in the championship contest against Monterrey. One notable Little League graduate is National Football League quarterback Brian Sipe, who participated in the 1961 series, with his team, hailing from El Cajon, California, winning the championship. Among the Little League Museum Hall-of-Excellence honor-ees are National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a member of New York City's Inwood Little League; NBA star and United States Senator Bill Bradley of the Crystal City, Missouri, Little League; George Will, the nationally syndicated columnist and political commentator who played Little League ball in Champaign, Illinois; actor Tom Selleck, a graduate of the Sherman Oaks, California, Little League; and former Vice President Dan Quayle of the Huntington, Indiana Little League.

The official goal of Little League is to "promote, develop, supervise, and voluntarily assist in all lawful ways, the interest of those who will participate in Little League Baseball." Its true purpose, however, is not simply to train youngsters in baseball fundamentals and then send them out on the field to win at all costs. Beyond athletic competition and the enjoyment inherent in learning and playing baseball, the primary objective of Little League is to build within all participants character and loyalty, a solid work ethic, and a sense of identity as a citizen of their home country. Indeed, the emphasis in Little League is on developing exemplary world citizens, instead of outstanding ballplayers.

—Rob Edelman