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Drum roll please … Little League is the biggest, greatest, oldest youth organization on the planet

It keeps growing as the 69th annual event bats again at South Williamsport, Pa. Thursday. They tried and failed in 1939, they tried again in 1947 and succeeded to where it has grown into a world event

Arnie Leshin

By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today

For those history buffs who have followed Little League baseball, it actually had its first season in 1939, one year after Carl Stotz originally devised the Little League model.

Except it was merely an attempt to bring a bigger and better league for the youngsters. There were few teams, little support, and it wasn’t until 1947 when the board of directors for the original Little League decided to organize a tournament for known Little Leagues pattered after the Stotz model.

It began with 17 teams and was named the National Little League Tournament, which was later changed to the Little League Baseball World Series.

Year one did bring attention, but it came from 11 Pennsylvania teams and one from New Jersey, and it included the original Williamsport LL. Other Williamsport teams were the Sunday School League, the Maynard Midget League, the Lincoln League Stars, and the Brandon Boys.

Yes, it sure was the Quaker State paving the way. The others were the Midget League from Milton, the Montour Little League from Montoursville, the Montgomery Little League, the Jersey Shore (PA) All-Stars, the Lock

Haven (PA) All-Stars, and the West Shore Original Little League from Enola. The Garden State team was the Hammonton All-Stars.

This brought the first official Little League champion when the Maynard Midget League of Williamsport defeated the Lock Haven All-Stars, 16-7, before a crowd announced at 2,500. Results were printed in newspapers around the country.

The publicity helped spread the Little League nationwide, and within a few years, Little League programs were in every state.

From there, it was official, Little League was in business. It added the Senior League and softball divisions, it added tournament play and World Series tournaments in those divisions. There are now seven World Series tournament played every year in the various divisions of Little League.

Japan was the first international team to make it to South Williamsport, where the new J. Lamade Stadium was unveiled. Years later, Volunteer Stadium was added, but the championship game is always at J. Lamade, where the hills behind the outfield have filled up and where packed crowds have been announced around 45,000.

Taking in the Little League World Series is for almost everyone. There is no admission fee, great concessions, high-fives, the wave, and plenty of entertainment on the field of play. Plus, you might even find yourself on television.

This is the 69th edition of the world’s biggest, greatest youth event. Teams from faraway places like Italy, Australia, Japan, Venezuela, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Dominican Republic have traveled here through the years.

No more can Barnum and Bailey claim it has the “World’s Greatest Show.” With circuses shutting down, Little League is all by itself. Plus, it’s a place that keeps parents off the streets (LOL) and youngsters finding a game that they can play.

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