The origins of Little League are as old as the history of baseball. In the 18th century, American Revolution soldiers played a game that resembled English cricket yet had its own particular rules. In the early 19th century, Americans played what they called "town ball," which was a slightly different form of what we interpret as baseball. In the mid-1800s, Civil War soldiers played baseball, and by the late 1800s, baseball was fondly referred to as "America's Pastime," according to LittleLeague.org.
Early Organization
In the 1880s, pre-teen children were organized into leagues, but they had to be associated with adult teams so children were quickly cast off. Children were relegated to the streets with makeshift equipment. The formation of a child's sense of confidence and team spirit were not seen as important characteristics of the game back in the 1880s.
First Real Formation
Finally, in the 1920s, the American Legion organized a baseball league for teenage boys. Schools followed suit and formed teams. It wasn't until 1938 that Carl Stotz decided to coordinate a league specifically for pre-teen boys. Stotz did not have any children, but he enjoyed playing ball with his nephews. He experimented with different aspects of the game including the size of the playing field and types of equipment.
Teaching Team Spirit
Stotz also came up with Little League name for his program. He wanted to present a healthy program for boys to teach them about working together, recognizing the importance of fair play and integrity. He considered these traits admirable qualities that boys could use throughout their lives.
Racial Integration
According to PBS.org, in 1947, the first Little League game was played in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. PBS also points out that back in 1957, the Little League recognized the benefits of integration and disqualified teams from South Carolina who refused to play ball with African-American youths.
Inclusiveness and Growth
However, Little League was still sexist, and it wasn't until 2001 that the program ended its ban against girls playing. Today, Little League is present in 105 countries, encompasses 7,000 leagues, and has more than 2.5 million players, according to PBS.org.
Member Comments