Little League

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Little League Baseball - Logo

Little League pitcher in Winesburg, Ohio

Little League, Wayne, Michigan

Little League Baseball is the name of a non-profit organization in the United States which organizes local children's leagues of baseball and softball throughout the USA and the rest of the world.

These "little leagues" include both baseball and softball and are divided into six divisions based on the ages of the children playing: Tee Ball, Minors, Little (or Majors), Junior, Senior and Big. The age-cutoffs between divisions may differ from league to league, especially in the younger age groups. "Majors" is generally 11 and 12 year olds, with some leagues allowing 10 year olds to play. Juniors are 13-14, Seniors are 15-16, with some leagues allowing 14's to play, and Big is 17-18, with 16's sometimes being allowed. Little League welcomes both boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18. Another division of Little League is the "Challenger Division" which is designed for children with disabilities. One of the aims of Little League, other than simply to have fun, is to teach children about teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play. Their watchwords are Character, Courage, Loyalty

The most well-known event in the Little League calendar is the annual Little League Baseball World Series, which is held every August in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Tournaments leading up to the World Series are held throughout the USA, including the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the CNMI, and Puerto Rico, and also across the rest of the world. In 2003 for example, there were also tournaments in Canada, Europe (Germany and Poland), Latin America (Mexico, Panama, Curaçao and Aruba), and in Asia (Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan) and Peru. The Little League Baseball World Series is just one of eight World Series every year. There are series for baseball and softball in Little, Junior, Senior and Big Leagues, each one held in a different location.

The Little League was founded by Carl Stotz in 1939 as a three-team league in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. There are now millions of Little League players in scores of local Little Leagues around the world. The Little League Museum is also located on the Little League International Complex in South Williamsport. It provides a history of Little League Baseball and interactive exhibits for children.

The organization now has its headquarters in South Williamsport, directly across the Susquehanna River from the site of the original league; however, it continues to have a Williamsport postal address. South Williamsport also hosts the Little League World Series at Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Little League Volunteer Stadium. Little League Baseball encourages volunteers to run Little League programs.

A similar body, known as the Babe Ruth League, also exists; the two are often confused, but have no affiliation with one another.