Earlier this week during a telecast, ESPN broadcaster Eduardo Perez said something to the effect of, “Attending games at the Little League Baseball World Series should be on your bucket list. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, it doesn’t matter. You need to come here and experience this.”
When I set about plotting my course for retirement adventure by traveling Around the World in 80 Sporting Events I had a few folks wonder aloud why the Little League Baseball World Series made the list. Their thinking was that there were so many other iconic venues and/or events that I could visit that this seemed like small potatoes by comparison.
As my father and I headed out of the Little League complex after spending a recent day on-site, I believe I figured out why this was a not-to-be-missed event for me.
I grew up in rural Indiana and my family did not come from great financial means (my dad independently verified my hypothesis;-) That said, we didn’t take a lot of trips and, to be honest, my view of the greater world came primarily in the form of whatever I saw on our family television … which included all of four channels: ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS.
One such event that brought the rest of the world into my tiny living room occurred in late August, annually, on a now-defunct program, “ABC’s Wide World of Sports.” The voices calling the play-by-play included broadcasting legends Jim McKay, Al Michaels, and Brent Musburger. Baseball Hall of Fame players such as Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench, and Jim Palmer have served as color analysts. Today, of course, ESPN/ABC televises every game from South Williamsport, PA. And while we can engage in a robust debate if it’s healthy for 10-12 year-olds to face the type of scrutiny that comes with international television audiences, I will say the Little League Baseball World Series is one of my core memories and it was something I needed to experience in person.
So my dad and I loaded up the Ford Edge and headed out to see what this event is all about.
The Original Little League Site
No trip to greater Williamsport is complete without visiting the original Little League site.
Located on W. Fourth Street across the street from Memorial Park – which houses Historic Bowman Field (home to the MLB’s annual Little League Classic) – there sits a pair of Little League baseball diamonds dating to the mid-20th Century that are still well maintained. One of which has a quaint press box that once served as the Little League’s offices and now houses artifacts. There’s plenty of homages to Little League founder Carl E. Stotz.
Clockwise from upper left, the field level view from homeplate at the original Little League diamond, the original offices, a view of the field from the press box, a nod to Little League founder Carl Stotz, a statue in front of the original complex, and the history of Stotz.
As noted above, across Fourth Street from the original site is Historic Bowman Field which was in final preparations for this year’s MLB Little League Classic contested between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. Normally home to the Williamsport Crosscutters, a collegiate summer league team. it was like attempting to get into Fort Knox during our morning at the site, but an affable chap named Rodney, who works for Allied Security, allowed us to nose around the exterior and even took a photo for us.
From left, the signage at Historic Bowman Field, one of the entry gates for the MLB Little League Classic, a statue commemorating the site of the first-ever Little League game (June 6, 1939), and the author and his father posing in front of the MLB Little League Classic signage.
Downtown Williamsport
Technically, the current site of the Little League Baseball World Series is located in South Williamsport. It would, therefore, be possible to attend the games and not ever cross the Susquehanna River via the Carl E. Stotz Little League Memorial Bridge (I kid you not!) and see Williamsport.
That’d be a shame.
There are plenty of places to shop and, perhaps most importantly, dine.
We didn’t do either during our time there, but we did pay a visit to the Visitors Center (a converted bank that also houses the Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce offices) and took a stroll up to Market Square and captured photos of the four corners of that intersection that doubles as a sculpture garden featuring an installation known as “Bases Loaded,” which commemorates Little League’s 75th anniversary in 2014.
This is the Bases Loaded installation at Market Square in Williamsport. The first, second, and thirdbaseman are dressed in the uniforms of the original three sponsors; the catcher represents the Charleston, SC, Little League team that was comprised of all black players; the female runner on firstbase represents all the girls who’ve played; the runner on secondbase is wearing a 50th anniversary uniform; the runner on thirdbase represents Little League’s Challener program; the batter represents modern day players; the umpire all the dedicated volunteers; and the manager is Carl E. Stotz, Little League’s founder.
The Little League Complex
Much like our trip to Chicago’s Wrigley Field earlier this month (Event 3), the path to the Little League complex took us through South Williamsport neighborhoods. While the Little League International office building and the World of Little League Museum sit on main drag, U.S. Highway 15 (Montgomery Pike), the fields themselves are lower and the traffic pattern to the parking lots during tournament time is along Mountain Avenue which is akin to driving down any subdivision in America.
There are four parking lots (all free of charge) – including one designated for the physically challenged – for fans who attend the games. There are also shuttle busses that run from the parking lots to the main gate as well as one for the physically challenged which will transport fans to the upper plaza area.
The latter shuttle proved important for my father (and I) as a knee was giving him fits and the inclines to both Volunteer and Lamade Stadiums. And to get further up to the Museum without transport, well, let’s just say that would – literally – have been a steep hill to climb.
Clockwise from upper left, there are plenty of spots for selfies around the Little League complex; fans carry in sheets of cardboard for sledding on the hill (see below for more about this); the center of the complex includes a giant bracket that’s updating following each game; Fatheads of some of the announcers adorned the hill beneath the scoreboard at Lamade; the Metro and Mountain Region team coaches and umpires meet before their game; fans ring the outfield at Volunteer Stadium; looking up at the international flags adjacent to the Museum of Little League; the press box at Lamade Stadium; the view from our seats at Lamade.
The Lamade Sledding Hill
No matter how you’ve taken in the Little League Baseball World Series (in person or via television) you’ve no doubt noticed the hill beyond the Lamade Stadium playing field. Every year about this time it turns into a sledding hill. Playing the role of snow is grass (or mud with heavy rain) and assuming the role of sleds are slabs of cardboard (big, small, and everything in between).
It is truly a spectacle and it operates pretty much non-stop during games. Fans bring in cardboard or nose around looking for spare pieces (think pizza boxes) should they have been forgotten at home.
The Venues
There are two stadiums that host games: Volunteer Stadium and Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Volunteer hosts the International side of the bracket while Lamade fields the American teams. Weather permitting, games generally play at 1, 3, 5, and 7 p.m.
Each stadium is in immaculate condition when play begins each August and they, truly, are fields of dreams for these 20 teams who make their way to South Williamsport.
From left, ESPN’s Julie Foudy speaks with parents of the Mid-Atlantic Region participants; the view from the hill in leftfield at Lamade Stadium; the moon rises over the hills beyond centerfield at Lamade; the view from the grandstands at Volunteer Stadium.
Each stadium has covered grandstands with specific sections reserved for the families of teams and other sections for volunteers, guests, and sponsors. The grandstands are entirely covered by netting with the exception of where the netting meets the grandstand overhang. There one might find a gap and you might be surprised about how often a foul ball finds that gap and makes its way into the grandstand.
There is no charge for entry.
Of course, there are the aforementioned hills where seating is available. Lawn chairs are welcome and it’s not uncommon to see spectators lugging them in. In fact, there are homes in the surrounding neighborhoods who’ll not only charge you $10 to park your car a bit closer to the action, but also sell you a chair for $5.
In addition to the two main stadiums, there are two full fields and another infield for practicing during the two weeks of the World Series.
Next Time: More Recollections from South Williamsport