Little League Baseball Inc.

Little League Baseball Inc. is a renowned nonprofit youth sports organization dedicated to promoting baseball and softball among children around the world. It is not directly associated with the provided URL, which does not appear to be related to Little League Baseball Inc. This article focuses on the organization known as Little League Baseball and Softball, a prominent entity in youth sports.

History

Little League Baseball was founded in 1939 by Carl E. Stotz in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Stotz, an oil clerk, created the first Little League to provide children with the opportunity to play organized baseball, similar to professional baseball leagues. Initially, the league consisted of three teams—Jumbo Pretzel, Lycoming Dairy, and Lundy Lumber—each sponsored by local businesses for $30[1][2].

Structure

Little League operates on four main levels: Local, District, Regional, and International. At the local level, leagues are community-based and overseen by a board of directors. These leagues are responsible for their day-to-day operations and are encouraged to be self-sufficient. Districts comprise 10-20 local leagues and organize tournaments. The regional level includes five U.S. regions and several international regions, overseeing larger geographic areas[1][4][5].

Divisions and Programs

Little League offers various divisions for both baseball and softball players aged 4 to 16. These include:

• Tee Ball: For beginners aged 4-7.
• Minor Leagues: For ages 7-12.
• Little League (Major League): For ages 9-12.
• Junior League: For ages 13-14.
• Senior League: For ages 14-16.
• Big League: For ages 16-18.
• Softball Divisions: Similar divisions exist for softball[1][3].

Mission and Impact

Little League's mission is to help children develop character, courage, and loyalty through sports. It emphasizes teamwork and fair play, providing a platform for children to learn life lessons beyond the field. Little League has grown from its humble beginnings to include programs in over 80 countries and remains the largest organized youth sports organization in the world[2][5].

Interesting Facts

• The first Little League Baseball World Series was held in 1947 in Williamsport.
• In 1956, Carl Stotz ended his involvement due to disagreements over commercialization.
• Little League was granted a Federal Charter by the U.S. Congress in 1964[1][2].