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Did you know that Little League has existed since 1939? Read more to find out about the history of the Little League.

Little League baseball has been around since 1939. Since that time, it's evolved into the main outlet for young boys and girls to play organized baseball with other members of the community. 

Today, Little League is the largest organized youth sports program on the planet. In 2017, nearly 2.5 million children in more than eighty countries played in the divisions of Little League sports. 

The children who participate in Little League don't just learn how to hit a ball or steal a base. They learn valuable lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership. 

Did you grow up playing Little League sports? Or are you playing them now? Either way, keep on reading and you'll learn the fascinating history behind Little League Baseball.

Leading Up to Little League

USSSA World Series Little League Pin
USSSA World Series Trading Pins

Baseball is a sport that's intertwined with the history and culture of America. There are even records of soldiers of the Continental Army playing ball games at Valley Forge during the American Revolution. 

Through the early part of the 1800s, American citizens played more modern versions of the British games of rounders and cricket. They usually referred to these games as "town ball." 

In the 1840s, Alexander Joy Cartwright of New York played a game called "base ball" with his friends. It was very similar to the game that we all know and love today. While some people claim that Abner Doubleday invented the sport, historians generally regard that assertion as a myth.

On June 19, 1846, the very first scheduled baseball game took place.

A few years later, during the American Civil War, soldiers on both sides of the war would play baseball to pass the time.

By the end of the 1800s, baseball was so popular that it was already considered "America’s Pastime.”

Starting in the 1880s, leagues were created for pre-teen children in New York. However, most kids played "pickup" baseball games on their own in the streets. Children-sized equipment was hard to come by during this time. 

In the 1920s, a baseball program for teen boys was formed by the American Legion. Schools in America also started their own baseball programs. Many pre-teen children were still left out of organized baseball, however. 

The Creation of Little League

A man by the name of Carl Stotz came up with the idea of an organized baseball league for boys in 1938. He didn't have any sons of his own but he had some nephews that he would often play baseball with. He wanted to give them a way to play organized baseball of their own. 

Carl gathered several of the kids in his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania and experimented with different kinds of equipment. During that summer, he also messed around with different field dimensions. 

That first year, no games were played and the program still didn't have a name. 

In 1939, Carl and his wife enlisted the help of some of their friends. Carl and his two friends, brothers Bert and George Bebble, became the managers of the first three teams. These teams were called Jumbo Pretzel, Lundy Lumber, and Lycoming Dairy. 

After some more people joined the program, the league had its first board of directors.  

After talking it over with some people in the community, Carl finally settled on the name "Little League." His goal was to have a wholesome baseball program for the children of Williamsport as a way to teach them about the values of teamwork and fair play.  

Sponsorships for the league cost $30 at the time and the money was used to pay for the uniforms and equipment for the league's thirty players. Since that time, sponsorships of Little League, both at the Headquarters level and the local league level, have helped to keep costs to parents at a minimum. 

There are also plenty of fun fundraising ideas that parents can utilize in order to support their local teams. 

The First Game 

In 1939, on June 6, the very first Little League game ever was played. At the end of the game, Lundy Lumber beat Lycoming Dairy, 23-8. Lycoming Dairy managed to come back later, however, and won the first-half title of the season. 

Lycoming then faced off against second-half champ Lundy Lumber in a best-of-three series. In the final game of the series, Lycoming Dairy beat Lundy Lumber 3-2. 

The Following Years

In the years following that first season, other programs emulating the first Little League started to spring up. Boundaries for each Little League program were created in order to make sure that each league could flourish without worrying that neighboring programs would steal their players. 

Little League Baseball Trading Pin
Little League Baseball Trading Pin

From its humble beginnings, Little League Baseball is now the largest organized youth sports program on the planet. Starting with just three teams, the league now has more than 200,000 teams and millions of alumni. 

The Importance of Knowing About the History of Little League

Hopefully, after reading the above article, you should now have a much better understanding of the history of Little League. As you can probably see, what started as a smalltown youth sports program has grown into an international phenomenon that children are enjoying nearly a century later. 

Little League has thrived for all these years partly thanks to the fact that it manages to bring people together and teach children the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.

One way to establish a sense of community and camaraderie among your players is with baseball trading pins. These are intricately designed and expertly produced enamel pins that are unique to your child's team. They make for great collectibles and end-of-season gifts. 

If you'd like to learn more, then contact us today and see what we can do for you!

Takeaways from Little League US World Series Champions Louisiana 2019

Louisiana was crowned the US champion in the 2019 Little League World Series on Saturday. Here's what you can learn from this champion team and their coaches.

While the Yankees and Dodgers battled away the second to last weekend of August, the Little League World Series (LLWS) surged in viewership becoming one of the most-watched baseball telecasts of 2019.

An impressive 3.02 million viewers tuned in to ABC to watch the showdown between River Ridge (Louisiana) and Curacao. In the process, the broadcast of the Little League US World Series Champions 2019 garnered a 1.9 rating.

To put this in context, no Major League Baseball (MLB) game this season has topped a 1.8 rating or 2.91 million viewers. This begs the obvious question. What do a bunch of 11 and 12-year olds have over the MLB?

From sportsmanship to teamwork and love of the game, let's dive into what made the LLWS Series 2019 such compelling viewing.

The LLWS Dominates Ratings

Not only did the LLWS River Ridge-Curacao game beat out all MLB games this season. It also toppled the College World Series, which boasted a mere 2 million viewers and 1.3 rating at its height during Game 3.

Even more surprising, the Louisiana team Little League 2019 game enjoyed a less-than-stellar spot at 3 pm EST (12 pm PST) on Sunday.

That's right about the time many West Coasters were sitting midway through a church service or making their first batch of coffee. Not raptly watching a LLWS baseball game.

Perhaps because of this, the ratings marked the third-lowest for the LLWS title game series since 1997. Nonetheless, they matched 2012's viewing stats and pulled in ahead of 2016 and 2017.

Had the game been given the primetime slot it deserved? We can only imagine what ratings would've looked like.

That said, even with one of its worst showings, the LLWS soundly defeated the MLB and College World Series on their best days.

Buried beneath all of these numbers and stats is a bigger lesson about the state of baseball in America.

What Makes the LLWS World Series Unique

When it comes to College baseball or the MLB, we've all got our favorite teams. As a result, most fans tune in primarily when it involves their team.

But the Little League World Series plays by different rules. Sure, most people have favorites based on geography, but what drives people to tune into the series? Nostalgia, memories, and a fundamental love of the game.

Kids also drive some of this viewership. After all, kids love watching other kids play. By extension, their extended family members and friends end up watching with them.

But what accounts for the older fans? The LLWS captures the innocence of baseball. Far removed from the professional league's commercialism and drug-related scandals, it's a breath of fresh air. And it takes many back to memories of their youth and dreams of baseball fame.

Unlike the College series or the MLB, the games aren't about money. And players aren't crumbling under the stress of Herculean expectations. For two weeks, people can simply tune in and enjoy the game for what it used to be.

Good old-fashioned American fun.

The Genuine Nature of LLWS Players

Watching sixteen teams, eight from the US and eight from the rest of the world, battle it out during a double-elimination tournament makes for exciting entertainment. And the authentic nature of the kids makes it heartwarming, too.

Players sleep, eat, swim, and play ping-pong together at "The Grove," just a home run away from the Lamade Stadium.

As the tournament narrows to two American teams and two international teams in two separate semifinals, interesting friendships and rivalries emerge.

But more than that, the kids prove sincere, skilled, and funny. More importantly, they exude a genuine joy that's hard to find in professional sports.

No wonder viewers across the US and the globe willingly trade in egotistical, embittered, tobacco-chewing MLB players for a bunch of kids whose sports "doping" consists of diving into a bag of Skittles or taking a long swill from their Gatorade.

What Lousiana Can Teach All of Us

Besides the fact the LLWS makes for great entertainment, there's also plenty that we can learn from Louisiana and its coaches. The River Ridge 13 represent some of the finest examples of teammates in modern baseball.

And a collective example that would put a lump in Babe Ruth's throat.

Sure, some players stood out from the pack like Reece Roussel whose total hits smashed the tournament record. There was also the standout pitching of Marshall Louque and Egan Prather as well as some powerful hitting by each of them.

But when it's all said and done. there were no egos or celebrities among the Little League team 2019 winner. They all played for each other and because they love baseball. Period.

And throughout the tournament, their coaches and team manager consistently reminded them to get out there and have fun. This, in turn, made it fun for all of us. Isn't that what baseball's supposed to be about?

Lousiana's Great Coaching Staff

At the center of all of this enthusiasm and team spirit are the team's coaches, Don Abadie and Kevin Johnson, as well as the team manager Scott Frazier. What makes their approach to the team unique?

First of all, none of them has a kid on the team. Second, each is a volunteer. At times, they even take unpaid leave to participate.

What's more, they see baseball for what it is, something much bigger than winners and losers. Baseball, they wholeheartedly believe, can teach kids important lessons about the game of life.

From learning how to work hard to fostering persistence and a can-do spirit, they all believe baseball can produce better, more productive boys. Boys who'll grow into great adults, husbands, and fathers.

In other words, they see baseball as a microcosm of some of the best aspects of American culture. The Little League 2019 champions' perspective and its implications could teach professional baseball a thing or two.

Congrats to the Little League US World Series Champions 2019

What viewers tuned into on August 25th was akin to magic. The Little League US World Series Champions 2019 warmed our hearts and reminded us of what's great about baseball and American culture.

Are you coaching a Little League team this year? Would you like to take some of the lessons from Louisiana onto the field with your team? If so, read on for our nine tips to becoming a better coach.

 

Did you know that the Little League World Series represents the largest elimination tournament in the world? During the course of the Little League season, hundreds of thousands of games get played to determine which teams make the cut.

And when the excitement converges on Williamsport, Pennsylvania, get ready for the time of your life. Over the course of the month leading up to the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania, 935 Little League players between the ages of 10 and 16 years old will compete. They come from 78 different teams all over the world.

Read on to find out more about this amazing event and how to get to the Little League World Series with your kids this summer.

History of the Williamsport, PA Little League World Series

Founded in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1939, Little League marks an important rite of passage for kids in the US and around the world. The first Little League World Series happened in 1947. Held in Williamsport, the event has since moved to the Susquehanna River, a major sports complex located in South Williamsport.

Every year since 1947, the event has remained in the same place, a testament to the longevity of this amazing family-friendly experience. Today's competition happens every mid-August. That's when 16 of the best teams in the world coalesce on the area. Eight come from the US and eight come from around the globe.

Over 11 days, the World Series narrows the field culminating in a face-off between the top American team and the top international team. And this comes with lots of good old-fashioned fun for the whole family.

Here are the highlights from the 2018 Little League World Series.

An Affordable, Family-Friendly Event

What are two of the best things about the Williamsport Little League World Series? First, the event proves family-friendly. Second, admission remains 100 percent free. In other words, experiencing this Little League event represents one of the best and most affordable options for families in Pennsylvania. And it's a magical one at that.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you attend. First off, the food served at the World Series proves affordable and tasty. But since this is a family-friendly affair, no alcohol or tobacco use is permitted in the stadium. Second, in order to ensure everyone's safety, you'll need to go through security before entering. This includes metal detectors and mandatory bag checks. So, give yourself some extra time to get through the lines and secure your seats.

Stadium-Sized Fun at the Little League World Series

Because of the high numbers of kids who participate in the event, two stadiums house the games:

The Howard J. Lamade Stadium's relationship with Little League began in 1959 when it was first used for a World Series. And it remains the main field for the event.

Although smaller than Lamade Stadium, Volunteer Stadium also provides great accommodations. It holds approximately 3,000 people in the stands and 5,000 when the nearby berm gets counted.

Because of its limited seating, only early-round games for the series' international teams are held there.

More About Lamade Stadium

Of the 30 tournament games held during the Little League World Series, 20 happen at Lamade Stadium. These include the nail-biting last few days of competition.

The Lamade Stadium can accommodate up to 15,000 observers. But this number fluctuates based on how many people squeeze into the bleachers. It also features hillside viewing that can hold up to 40,000 people on the grounds.

In fact, the hillside represents one of your best bets when attending the World Series. Seats are almost always available, and from the hill, you'll enjoy excellent views of the outfield.

The hillside includes two tiers accessible via a walkway. On days when crowds prove more sparse, your kids can even share in the local tradition of riding down the hillside's slopes using cardboard boxes. (Sleds are not permitted.)

The Fun Doesn't Stop at the Stadium

Besides the two baseball stadiums, great family activities abound at the Little League World Series. Just walking around the sports complex and taking in its sights and sounds will keep you and your kids busy for hours.

And if your kids need a serious outlet for their pent up energy? Don't forget to visit the Family Fun Zone located near the two stadiums. The Fun Zone offers activities for kids of all ages including:

Just remember that on busy days, the Fun Zone fills up quickly. So, it's highly recommended that you pre-register in order to avoid long wait times.

Your family will also want to check out the Peter J. McGovern World of Little League Museum. The museum is located along Route 15 at the top of the hill.

It explores the history of Little League baseball while showcasing famous players. Your kids will also find plenty of interactive activities to help them explore Little League's fascinating past.

How to Get to the Little League World Series

During the Little League World Series, a few thousand bleacher seats are usually dedicated to the public. For early round games, admission is free, and you don't have to secure tickets. But you'll want to arrive early to get a good spot.

That said, in rare instances, Little League may deem it necessary to issue tickets. You can get these tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the event that tickets get issued, you may obtain them at "Will Call" or from an usher. But here's the caveat. Each member of your party must be present at the time that these tickets are issued.

Each stadium opens one hour before game time. But you should arrive even earlier in order to secure a good spot. Seats fill up quickly.

Note that for each of the championship games, no public seats are available. All seating remains reserved for ticketed VIPs alone.

"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

Few moments hold as much excitement as the umpire's proclamation, "Play ball!" at the beginning of a game during the Little League World Series. Watching the best kids in baseball from around the world strive to win will captivate your whole family.

With the guide above, you now know how to get to the Little League World Series. Will this summer be your year?

Want to read more about Little League? Check out our post on five lessons that can be gleaned from Little League baseball.

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