Little League Baseball was founded in 1939 as a nonprofit organization. Carl Stotz had the idea to have an organized baseball league for young boys in his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He experimented with different types of equipment and baseball field dimensions and finally started the organization with his wife, his brothers and their wives, and some heads of businesses in their hometown. The organization aims to promote, develop, supervise and assist those who participate in Little League baseball voluntarily.
Field Dimensions
Each league has its own playing field dimensions that are included in the league regulation handbook. Little League baseball is played by children 8 to 12 years, so the size of the playing field provides a challenge for the kids but also takes into consideration their age, strength and abilities. The fields are not, therefore, as large as those used in professional baseball.
Backstop
Baseball is a game in which a pitched ball is either hit or not, and there might be more missed balls than struck balls in Little League games. Because of the potential danger of balls that get past the catcher, as well as the time and effort involved in tracking down those balls, a fence is erected behind home plate to stop the missed balls from getting away and help players gather them faster. The backstop also stops balls that might be struck by the bat but veer backward, and those that are thrown to home plate during defensive action.
Backstop in Little League Baseball
In Little League, the backstop should be placed 38 feet from the home plate. This will give the catcher a good chance to catch some foul pop-ups. The backstop is made from chain-link fence, which can be a bit distracting and might obscure the view if you are seated behind the home plate, but this material is sturdy and provides good protection.
Little League Backstop Size and Dimension
The backstop is 12 to 19 feet wide. The two sides are constructed at an angle and can extend out between 10 and 20 feet, depending on the size of the playing field. Height of the backstop is 17 feet with a curved awning that extends about 15 feet in front.
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