Little League® Baseball began in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1938, when Carl Edwin Stotz, an oil clerk, agreed to a game of catch with his nephews:– Jimmy and Harold “Major” Gehron – who were too young to play organized baseball. Acting on a promise to find a way for children to play baseball like the Major Leaguers of the day, Mr. Stotz created a three-team league that would play on a field that was two-thirds the size of a standard baseball field. After being turned down by 56 local businesses, Mr. Stotz convinced a lumber company, a dairy, and a pretzel maker to sponsor the teams for $30 each. On June 6, 1939, the first Little League game was played at Park Point in Williamsport.

In Williamsport, Mr. Stotz received several inquiries about children playing. He believed the fairest system was one that allowed players from the same school or neighborhoods to be on the same team(s). The 1940s were rich with invention as opportunity to play inspired Little League adults and children alike. Word of mouth, and the end of World War II, motivated other communities to ask about forming Little Leagues. In only a decade, Little League had expanded into several states and the first postseason tournament, later to become known as the Little League World Series, was played.

In only 10 years, the idea that sprang for a promise Carl Stotz had made to his nephews, had become an international phenomenon. The first leagues outside of the United States were organized, Little League Baseball was now a corporation, the Little League World Series was won by a team outside the United States, Little League moved its operations to South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the President of the United States proclaimed the second week in June to be National Little League week.

Little League is now a global program with more than 5,500 leagues worldwide. The call to play Little League at older ages is answered with the creation of divisions for teenage boys. Television expands the Little League revolution with coverage of the Little League Baseball World Series championship on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. During the decade, President Lyndon Johnson sign public law 88-378, granting Little League a Federal Charter of Incorporation, which allows it to operate in all 50 states.

Technology and opportunity influence the direction of Little League with the election of a new corporation president, the introduction of alloy bats and improved batting helmets; the admittance of girls to the program and the creation of the Little League Softball program. During the decade, it also becomes important to re-focus on the mission of Little League and remind the world that Little League was founded as a community-based program designed to develop good citizens, not great players.

In a decade where Little League celebrates its 50th anniversary, refining the program and expanding opportunity and availability includes the creation of Junior Baseball for teenagers and the Challenger Division for children with mental and developmental disabilities. Glasnost and the end of the Cold War opened up the former Soviet Union to Little League. President H.W. Bush, a former Little League volunteer delivered the first Little League charters to Poland.

Little League Founder Carl. E Stotz passed away during the decade. He was 82. Stephen D. Keener is elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, becoming the first Little League graduate to hold the organization’s ranking position. The 50th Little League Baseball World Series is played and the decision to expand the tournament to 16 teams in confirmed along with an agreement with ABC and ESPN to expand the television coverage of the Little League International tournament. During the same 10 years, Little League continues to expand its reach, with team charting in more than 100 countries.

Into a new millennium, Little League’s influences have reached the White House as George W. Bush becomes the first Little League graduate to be elected President of the United States. The relationship between President Bush and Little League creates the unique opportunity for Little Leaguers to play games at the White House through the Tee Ball on the South Lawn initiative. Also this decade, Little League introduced Pitch Count regulations designed to protect pitchers from overuse injuries, Dr. Davie Janie Gilmour is voted as Chairman-Elect, eventually placing here as the first female chairman of the Little League International Board of Directors.

To date in the 2010s, Little League created its first new division in 14 years with the launch of the Little League (50/70) Intermediate Baseball Division for players 11-to-13 years of age; and re-envisioned its history with the renovation of the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum, now called the World of Little League. Also during the decade, ESPN introduced 3D technology to its game broadcasts; and Little League placed a moratorium on the use of composite barrel baseball bats.