Williamsport, Pennsylvania - 1938

Roughly 18 years before Golden Valley Little League came to be, a game of catch between an uncle and his nephews took place in a small Pennsylvanian town. Little did the world know the impact that game of catch would have on youth baseball...

Little League® began in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1938, when Carl Stotz, an oil clerk, agreed to a game of catch with his nephews 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 diamond. 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 in Williamsport. Today, Little League has expanded around the globe and now offers opportunities to millions of boys and girls of all abilities in more than 80 countries worldwide. 

The next chapter starts with YOU!

The story of Little League began nearly a century ago, and it is up to all of us to write the next chapter – to create the latest installment in an epic series, every time we play.  It is a story that focuses on an authentic, big idea – celebrating all the moments that make Little League such a memorable experience. Our story isn’t just of our history; it’s where we go from here. We all share in this story of Little League, and when we add to it, when we make it our own, we make it even better. Because we know that the greatest stories aren’t open and shut. The greatest tales ever told aren’t contained between two covers – they happen on and off the field. So, join GVLL and Little League® and write your chapter, whether it’s your first or your greatest. The story of Little League belongs to all of us. 

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