INCEPTION
The LLWS began in 1947. Players range from age 11-13. In 2006, it was ruled that players could participate if they turned 13 on May 1, not Aug. 1 as previously stated. Initially, only teams from the United States could participate, but it has been a worldwide tournament for many years. In its current form, the LLWS includes eight teams from the U.S. and eight from other countries.
The first winner of the LLWS was the host town of Williamsport, Pa. They beat Lock Haven, Pa., 16-7 in the title game.
The Little League program was founded by Carl E. Stotz, an oil company clerk, in 1939 in Williamsport.
HOCKEY PLAYERS CAN PLAY
A surprising number of current and former NHL players have participated in the LLWS, including former Avalanche star Chris Drury.
Drury led his Trumbull, Conn., team to the championship in 1989, pitching Trumbull to a 5-2 victory over a team from Taiwan.
Another former Av, Pierre Turgeon, played in the 1982 tournament, for Rouyn, Quebec. In fact, Turgeon is a member of the Little League World Series Hall of Fame, along with Drury.
Other ex-NHL players who played in the LLWS are Ray Ferraro (1976, Trail, British Columbia) and Stephane Matteau (1982, Rouyn, Quebec).
Former NFL quarterback Brian Sipe played for El Cajon, Calif., in the 1961 tourney.
TAIWAN RULES
From 1971-81, teams from Taiwan won all but two LLWS championships. Their dynasty was interrupted in 1975 by a team from Lakewood, N.J.
But here’s the catch: That was the one year of the decade that non-U.S. teams were banned from participating. After intense criticism, tournament officials rescinded the ban the next year, when a team from Tokyo won it.
No teams from Taiwan/Chinese Taipei participated from 1996-2003, over disputes with Little League officials regarding team sizes and other regulations. Overall, Taiwan has won 17 LLWS titles. Teams from the U.S. have won 28.
ALUMNI IN MLB
Jason Bay, 1990, Trail Ridge, British Columbia
Adam Loewen, 1996, Surrey, British Columbia
Jason Marquis, 1991, Staten Island, N.Y.
Lastings Milledge, 1997, Manatee East, Fla.
Yusmeiro Petit, 1994, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Gary Sheffield, 1980, Belmont Height, Fla.
Jason Varitek, 1984, Altamonte Springs, Fla.
NOTABLE EX-MLB STARS
Carney Lansford, 1969, Santa Clara, Calif.
Rick Wise, 1958, Portland, Ore.
Boog Powell, 1954, Lakeland, Fla.
Sean Burroughs, 1992, 1993, Long Beach, Calif.
Derek Bell, 1980, 1981, Tampa, Fla.
STADIUM FACTS
Howard J. Lamade Stadium seats about 9,000, with room for another 30,000 to 35,000 on the terraced hills beyond the outfield fence. Lamade Stadium is used for some early-round games and is used exclusively for the second half of the Series – once single-elimination play begins.
Outside fences reach a maximum of 225 feet.
GIRLS ALLOWED
Girls were first allowed to play Little League Baseball in 1974, although the first girl to actually play Little League did so in 1950 in Corning, N.Y. – Kathryn “Tubby” Johnston.
To date, 12 girls have played in the Little League World Series. The first, Victoria Roche in 1984, played for Brussels, Belgium.
One woman has coached a team in the LLWS: Kathy Barnard, North Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1993. Betty Speziale of Dunkirk, N.Y., was the first woman to umpire in the Little League World Series, in 1989. In 2002, Flora Stansberry of Seneca, Mo., became the first woman to umpire behind the plate in the title game.
WHERE DO PLAYERS STAY?
All 16 teams are housed in the Dr. Creighton J. Hale International Grove, which is part of the Little League Baseball and Softball International Complex.
The International Grove has air-conditioned dormitories (with a television and video player) for all teams, plus managers and coaches, a dining facility, a recreation hall with video games, televisions and ping-pong, and a junior Olympic-size swimming pool.
Teams’ expenses are fully paid by Little League International from a fund generated by preseason fees for each league.
SHUT OUT
No team from Colorado has ever reached the Little League World Series.
HALL OF EXCELLENCE
Members of the Little League Hall of Excellence who went on to make their names outside the baseball diamond include:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA Hall of Famer
Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist/author
George W. Bush, 43rd U.S. president
Kevin Costner, Academy Award-winning actor-director
Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts coach
Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor of New York City
Hale Irwin, former CU golfer now on Champions Tour
Tom Selleck, actor
Bruce Springsteen, singer/songwriter
Krissy Wendell, Olympic silver medalist in women’s ice hockey
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