What is Little League?
Little League® is an international pastime that has been a fabric of societies throughout the world for 75 years. Since its founding in 1939 by Carl Stotz, Little League has instilled leadership, character, courage and loyalty in all that participate, including the nearly 1.5 million adult volunteers. Little League can be found in more than 80 countries worldwide with more than 2.4 million children participating each year. Little League has celebrated many milestones due to the dedication of its players, parents and volunteers.
For 75 years, Little League® has established a proud, rich history in the hearts and minds of generations of Little Leaguers. Since its founding in 1939, Little League has nurtured the human spirit, and that is why it has been universally successful in cities and towns throughout the world.
Little League promotes a healthy balance of community-based activities through regular-season play among local teams and access to the world’s largest youth baseball and softball tournament for more advanced players – the Little League International Tournament. The organization offers programs and divisions of play that serve boys and girls, ages 4 to 18.
Whether physically or developmentally disabled (Challenger Division®) or living in an area where green space is sparse (Little League Urban Initiative), children and their families involved in Little League can craft a program to fit the needs of their neighborhood or community. What’s important is having an understanding of the needs and wants of your area. The Little League program is “your” program and the people where you live decide what to make of it.
Little League Baseball, Incorporated is a non-profit organization with the mission to “promote, develop, supervise, and voluntarily assist in all lawful ways, the interest of those who will participate in Little League Baseball and Softball.” Through proper guidance and exemplary leadership, the Little League program assists youth in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being. By espousing the virtues of character, courage and loyalty, the Little League Baseball® and Softball program is designed to develop superior citizens rather than stellar athletes.
On the world stage, recognition comes to its pinnacle every August, as more than 130 Little League Baseball and Softball games are televised worldwide on ABC and the ESPN family of networks. However, reaching a World Series is only the end of a long and exciting journey that showers timeless accolades on your league, community, region, state, territory, province and country. For the millions of children who play in the regular season and for those who choose to play “all-stars” but don’t reach a World Series, the moments and memories of Little League are equally influential because of the people they meet along the way.
When a town or neighborhood looks to join Little League it can take comfort in knowing the “Little League” name is the most recognized and respected name in youth sports. To be “Little League” offers the assurance that the league’s children and adult volunteers are the highest priority.
The outcome of a game will never outlive the pride of belonging, the experience of playing, the friends and the fun. The essence of Little League is the people, their communities, and the everlasting bond between them.