The Little League World Series is taking place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with the championship to be played this Sunday. Long before many of us became Royals fans, most of us were probably Little Leaguers ourselves. For many of us, this was the extent of our baseball careers. It may have been when you had your greatest athletic achievement. You may have met your best friend on your team. Or maybe it was a miserable experience!
Experiences differ, but there are some common features to Little League. Uniforms emblazoned with corporate logos of local businesses. Orange slices after games. The big kid that seems three years too old to be in the league.
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With the Little League World Series in full swing, on this Royals off day, I thought I’d ask about something a little more nostalgic – what do you remember about playing Little League?
I played in Blue Springs at Pink Hill Park and Blue Springs Park. I came to baseball a bit late at age 10, and its hard to catch onto a team at that point, so my dad coached me and a team of cast-offs. We won one game in 16 tries. The next year I caught on with another team (no, my dad did not designate me for assignment). We won one game in 16 tries. TCBY was our sponsor. They had The Country’s Best Yogurt, but also The City’s Worst Baseball Team.
But being on a terrible team meant that I got a lot of playing time, particularly at pitcher and catcher. And I got pretty good! Eventually I got picked up by a decent team (Stone Container!) and we would beat every team in the league except the travel teams, who would beat our brains in.
I was once one out away from throwing an no-hitter when a kid reached on a bunt single (we did not have the unwritten rules back then). That was the apex of my athletic achievement! It was all downhill from there when I got to high school and realized everyone could hit my curveball. But the memories of playing as a kid will last a lifetime.
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Tell us about your team, your coaches, your teammates, your field, and, most importantly, the stories you still remember decades later. Any teammates you remember? Did you play against anyone that went on to notoriety (I once looked up at the opposing third base coach’s box and saw John Wathan, who had been fired as Royals manager the year before). Who sponsored your uniforms? Were there any amazing moments? Sage advice from coaches?
What was Little League like for you?
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