National Little League Baseball Week

Baseball is a classic American sport, and the concept of young American kids playing in a baseball league of their own has a delightful background! It dates back to the late 1930s when the official Little League program was founded in Williamsport, Pennsylvania by Carl E. Stotz.

By 1947, the first Little League Baseball World Series was conducted, though at the time all of the teams were only from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as there were no other teams. But within just a few years, the program spread to all 48 states and eventually became international, with more than 80 countries now represented!

How to Celebrate National Little League Baseball Week

Have fun celebrating National Little League Baseball Week with some of these delightful ideas:

Cheer On a Little League Team

Get excited about celebrating National Little League Baseball Week by heading out to a game and supporting a local team. Cheer the players on at bat or in the field, and high fiving them as they come off the field. Those who have a special penchant for baseball might be interested in volunteering as a coach for a young people’s baseball team, as a way to invest in the local community.

Attend the Little League World Series

Serious fans of the game might want to consider making plans and booking tickets to attend the Little League Baseball World Series, which typically takes place in the Eastern United States. Where the best and brightest baseball players, usually boys from ages 10-12, have the opportunity to play against other top notch athletes and see who takes the top seat!

Watch Some Kids Baseball Movies

Have loads of fun celebrating National Little League Baseball Week by checking out some ways that this cool sport has made it to the silver screen in the past. Check out some of these titles that offer some super entertainment for kids and adults alike:

• The Sandlot (1993). This delightful film reveals the adventures of a crew of neighborhood baseball players.
• Bad News Bears (1976). This classic film with Walter Mathau and Tatum O’Neal offers a comedic look at the way a baseball team can turn around with a little help. (Remade in 2005)
• Everyone’s Hero (2006). An animated picture revealing the adventure of a boy and Babe’s Ruth’s baseball bat, this film includes a number of all star voice actors including Rob Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg and William H. Macy.

History of National Little League Baseball Week

In 1959, in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Little League, then-U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a proclamation to declare National Little League Baseball Week as an official observation. The days were declared to be celebrated annually, beginning on the second Monday of June.

With the purpose of providing opportunities for youth fitness, the challenge was given for schools, athletic fields, parks and other spaces to be used for activities, ceremonies and games to further the national fitness objectives of America’s children.

National Little League Baseball Week continues to be celebrated each year on this day, with their league motto, “Character, Courage and Loyalty”, not far from anyone’s mind.