Originated in the summer of 1951, PONY Baseball is a youth baseball organization. PONY League was originally a transition league for 13- and 14-year-old players designed to take graduates of Little League. PONY League is headquartered in Washington, Pennsylvania, and is a nonprofit organization. As of 2011, there were nearly 30,000 teams, over 450,000 players and 4,000 leagues spread over 30 different countries.
Founder and Name Origin
One of the founders of the PONY League, Lew Hays, became commissioner when it was incorporated as a national organization. He held this position until 1964, after which he became the president.
The name PONY was suggested by the young players and was short for "Protect Our Neighborhood Youth." It was later changed to "Protect Our Nation's Youth" to develop it into a national program.
Initial Milestones
The first player selections for PONY league took place on June 8, 1951, and more than 130 were picked that day. The first regular-season game was played on June 18 in Washington, Pennsylvania, and approximately 800 people attended that game between the Redwings and the Chiefs. By 1952, there were 505 teams in 106 leagues.
First PONY League World Series
The first PONY League World Series was held in 1952. In this event, there were eight games played and the tournament lasted for four days. The first winner of the PONY Baseball World Series was San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio beat Brockton, Massachusetts, 2-1.
Age Brackets
PONY League baseball is organized with two-year age brackets. The Colt League was established in 1953 for 15- and 16-year-olds. It merged with the PONY League in 1959. The Mustang League was formed in 1970 for 9- and 10-year-olds, and the Pinto League was formed for 7- and 8-year-olds. The Thoroughbred League was formed in 1973 for players between 17 and 20 years old. The age limit expanded to 21 years old in 1977. In 1990, the Shetland League was organized for 5- and 6-year-olds.
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