The Sports Fan Project

Unlike my two previous Events – The Open Championship and Wrigley Field – I was able to return home and enjoy the remainder of the Little League Baseball World Series, the sights and sounds of the venue, how the tournament unfolds, how the media builds the narratives, and, ultimately, who wins the championship.

I was able to experience just that during Event 1 – The U.S. Open Championship – returning home in time to spend Father’s Day watching the final round play out from Pinehurst No. 2; a course we’d just walked together only days earlier.

I’d hoped to see more action on our lone day in South Williamsport, but as noted in Part 1, traffic was gnarly, the hills were a bit challenging for my father to navigate, and it was a fairly warm day which meant a strategic break(s) would be required.

By the time we’d arrived in the early afternoon, the first game was already out of reach. We caught a brief glimpse of the action between Japan and Puerto Rico (Japan won, 11-0) as I touched base with my friend John Pakledinaz (hear him in S:1, E:12 and S:2, E:46) who – as a longtime LLBWS volunteer – had secured my father and I seating passes behind homeplate at either Lamade or Volunteer Stadiums.

We turned our attention to the day’s second game, which featured America’s Metro (Staten Island, NY) and Mountain (Henderson, NV) Regions played on Lamade’s famed field. As it wasn’t due to begin for a good bit, we decided to take advantage of the golf cart shuttles to and from the newly opened Little League Flagship Store that sits at the bottom of a hill adjacent to Volunteer Stadium. (Yes, everything seemed to be at the top or bottom of a hill in the Little League complex.)

The Flagship Store

Much like it was at the first three stops on Around the World in 80 Sporting Events I can state, unequivocally, that commerce is alive and well.

^{The interior and exterior of the newly opened Little Leage Flagship Store.}

While everything else in the complex seems to be a shrunken version of the Major Leagues, the store is decidedly full-sized. If you can think of an item to put the Little League logo on, chances are it was available for purchase. You’re able to see all of the merchandise for sale at this link.

Game Time

After I helped somewhat boost the Lycoming County economy, we found some seats on the firstbase side behind homeplate. Mercifully, we were out of the sun, though I’m sure the families to our right (from Henderson, NV) might have found the conditions to be a bit cool.

Much like any major event, there were pregame activities. In the case of the opening games for these teams at the World Series, each player and coach was introduced, they received their medals for winning their respective regions, introduction of the umpires, there was a ceremonial first pitch (in this case it was thrown out by ex-MLB pitcher and New York native, Jason Marquis), the recitation of the Little League Pledge and the Parent & Volunteer Pledge, and, of course, the Star Spangled Banner.

The pomp and circumstance befitted the moment.

Time for a Walkabout

As the team from Nevada eked out an early lead, I decided to check out as many views of Lamade Stadium as I could, pick up some food, and discover the best way to get up the hill (see what I mean) to the World of Little League Museum.

^{Clockwise from upper left, a rendering of Casey (from “Casey at the Bat”) stands sentry in centerfield at Lamade; the view from the far corner of the hill in leftfield; the view from high above Lamade in rightfield; the scoreboard at Lamade; a wide angle look at all the fans from rightfield; the Nevada fans celebrate during its game against Staten Island; and a look at the sunsplashed fans on the hill.}

My walkabout yielded results: Plenty of photos (as you’ve already seen), an order of chicken tenders for me (I’d heard broadcaster Todd Frazier extol their virtues on the air the previous day), macaroni salad for my dad (I inexplicably couldn’t find the ice cream which was immediately behind our section), and I learned the best route to the museum without scaling hills.

Museum Visit

Much like Event 1 when the heat and humidity of mid-June in Pinehurst got the best of us and we sought a respite in the World Golf Hall of Fame, we abandoned the New York-Nevada game in search of some air conditioning and an opportunity to see the World of Little League Museum.

It took a bit of shuttle bus relay and the kindness of one of the shuttle bus drivers who made a special trip, but we successfully found our way to the tippy-top of the complex where the museum sits.

Unlike game passes and parking (which are both free) there is a museum admission fee; it was $8 for me and $5 for my dad.

In my estimation, it was worth every dollar.

The museum simultaneously chronicles the history of the game and provides the sort of interactive attractions that will appeal to many younger visitors. Plus, did I mention it was air conditioned?

^{Some of the artificats found in the museum (clockwise from upper left), 1939 is the year Carl Stotz founded Little League; an interactive catching exhibit allows visitors to experience what it’s like to catch ex-MLB player Mike Mussina and a Little Leaguer; part of the exhibition of international teams; the jersey and jacket of Baseball Hall of Famer Gary Carter; Maria Pepe was the first girl to play in the LLBWS; equipment of Dale Murphy and Mike Schmidt from their Little League days; the Little League Wall of Honor; a young Dick Vitale played Little League; Hall of Famer Tom Seaver’s Little League hat; pin collecting is a big deal in the complex; Mussina was born in Williamsport; the museum gift shop; and the first exhibit hall guests visit upon entering.}

Final Thoughts

We returned to Lamade for the final game of the night – with ice cream!

The nightcap featured the Texas team which made the American Bracket Championship and a team from Pennsylvania. The latter was probably responsible for the estimated crowd of over 15,000 on the second night of the tournament which created a fun environment as the sun slowly set beyond the rightfield grandstand.

Texas jumped out to an early lead and I leaned into my dad and indicated we’d begin heading for the exits to avoid what would be a snarled parking lot either at the end of the third inning or 8:15 p.m., whichever occurred first.

It was an amazing experience to be onsite for game action, to see the myriad cultures of fans, the hundreds of volunteers, the activity on the sledding hill, and to hear the supporters cheer on their children and grandchildren.

Having said that, the impact of ESPN’s major investment in Little League’s broadcast rights is unmistakable. Waiting for commercial breaks between innings was all too common and games (6 inning games!) lasting 2 hours, 30 minutes or more was not abnormal.

All that considered, I still agree with ESPN’s Eduardo Perez who I paraphrased to being Part 1: It’s an event baseball fans of all ages should experience in person. If I lived closer I would return regularly to experience all the excitement.