During Opening Day of the 2022 Atlantic League season, the Staten Island FerryHawks were down 5-3 to the Charleston Dirty Birds in the 9^th inning. With a late-inning rally underway, Kelsie Whitmore entered the game for the FerryHawks as a pinch-runner. As she took her spot on first base, fans from both teams erupted into a standing ovation and began chanting her name – Kelsie Whitmore had just made history.

Although the FerryHawks would lose the game, it was a win for Girls with Game^® everywhere as Ms. Whitmore became the first woman to play in a professional baseball game associated with Major League Baseball (MLB).

“I did not know I was making history, and, honestly, I don’t think I knew beforehand because that’s not why I play baseball. I am not playing to try and be ‘the first’ or to be a headline, I’m playing because I genuinely love the game.”

It was a historic moment for women in baseball, and one that drew attention to Ms. Whitmore by baseball fans and media outlets. However, Ms. Whitmore’s journey to professional baseball began long before she took that first step onto that field. A native of California, Ms. Whitmore played baseball for the first time with Temecula Valley (Calif.) National Little League, where her love for the game was sparked.

“I remember being the only girl on the field and I remember it not being weird. It became very normal for me to be out there with the boys,” said Ms. Whitmore. “I just loved baseball from the moment I started playing it and I never fell out of love with it. I played multiple sports, but it was the one sport I was drawn towards, and it always felt right to be out on that field. Anything that had to do with baseball was just on my mind all the time.”

Ms. Whitmore carried her passion for the game into her middle school and high school careers when she played for the varsity baseball team. It also pushed her to not give up on her dreams, even when she started receiving pushback for being the only female on the field.

“It’s funny because, at the same time that people started to make comments about me being a female playing baseball or pushing back against the idea, it was also when I knew I wanted to pursue a collegiate and professional career,” said Ms. Whitmore. “I think because I was so driven at the time, the pushback that I was receiving made me want it even more and really drove me to get to each level after high school.”

Getting to that next level after high school was not easy, but Ms. Whitmore was persistent. With the help of her high school coaches, Ms. Whitmore got accepted into Cal State Fullerton.

“I started the process of looking into colleges at the end of my junior year, which is too late for a lot of athletic programs. The freshmen rosters were filled, and there was no real traction at the time, so I switched gears. I knew I wanted a scholarship, and I knew I wanted to stay in a bat-and-ball sport, so I turned to my baseball coaches for help,” said Ms. Whitmore on landing a roster spot on the Call State Fullerton Softball Team. “Playing softball was definitely different, but my coaches were very supportive.”

Even though she made the transition to softball for her collegiate years, earning a full scholarship on the team, she was never far from the baseball field. Not only did she continue her career on the U.S. Women’s National baseball team – which she has been a rostered member of since 2014 – but Ms. Whitmore also spent her summers playing baseball with the Sonoma California Stompers, a team in the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. She and Stacy Piagno, who is also a member of the U.S. Women’s National baseball team, joined the team and became the first female teammates to play on a professional club in more than 60 years.

“I played with the Stompers for two years, which was when I first played at a professional level. When I graduated from college, I just knew that I wanted to continue that journey,” said Ms. Whitmore. “I couldn’t imagine my life without baseball. I couldn’t imagine my career not being baseball. That was the moment when my heart knew I wanted to play professionally, and I was going to do anything I could to get there. So, coming out of college, I reached out to teams, attended trainings, and traveled the world just to get experience and hopefully be seen.”

Ms. Whitmore’s hard work paid off. In 2022, Ms. Whitmore signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks, becoming the first female to sign a contract with an MLB-affiliated league and today, the trailblazing ballplayer spends her days training in the offseason with that same love for the game she had as a Little Leaguer^®.

“I don’t think I found baseball; I think baseball found me.”

To learn more about her experience as a female athlete and her ongoing baseball career, Little League sat down for a special Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Six-Inning Conversation with Ms. Whitmore:  

First Inning: What do you remember from your years playing Little League Baseball^®? 

It’s funny because when you do look back to that time, you don’t remember the plays you made or the outcome of games, but you do remember the community that you built. A lot of the guys that I grew up playing with in Little League became some of my best friends in high school. So, yeah, when it comes to the memories I have tied to Little League, I just think of community.

Second Inning: Once you knew baseball was the sport for you, was there any piece of advice someone shared with you that kept you driven throughout your journey?

This is not really a piece of advice, but the one thing that really kept me going on my journey was my family. They always supported me playing baseball. I never felt like my dreams were crazy because they never made me feel like they were crazy, especially when I told them that I wanted to take it to the next level and play for a professional team… Even now, my brother is going to come catch for me in the bullpen after working his 9-to-5 job. It really is about the little things like that to encourage me and support me.

Third Inning: You made history as the first female to play professional baseball in the Atlantic League with the Staten Island FerryHawks. What was it like when you made the official roster, knowing you were making history?

After my first start for the team, I went on my phone, and it was just blowing up with the news that I was the first female to do so. Ever since that game, I decided to make the best out of it. I am determined to do this the right way so other women are proud and young females are inspired.

Fourth Inning: You are also on the U.S. Women’s National Baseball team’s roster. What is it like to play with this group of women?

It is always an honor to play with them. After playing for so many years playing on all-male teams, being able to play on a field with all women, who went through the same struggles and have the same goals and desires, that is so special. Then there’s another layer where you are representing your country and that’s something that gives me chills just talking about it because you are playing for something that is bigger than yourself. Plus, tournaments we play in are only every couple of years, so we don’t get to see each other very often, but when we do the energy is there and there is so much gratitude in the air for an opportunity to play the game that we love. There’s nothing better than having U.S.A. written across your chest.

• Ms. Whitmore played for the U.S. National Women’s Baseball Team for the first time in 2014 when she was 16 years old.
• The World Baseball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup with be played in Thunder Bay, Canada, starting July 28, 2024.

Fifth Inning: If you had the opportunity to speak with a young female athlete who is just starting her athletic career, what advice would you give her?  

You have to ask yourself what it is that you love, how much do you love it, and are you willing to work for it? There will be failure, difficulties, hardships, and heartbreak, but knowing all that, if you still want it and you persevere, then you will be unstoppable, and your goals will all be possible. Find your community and lean on them. Find the group that appreciates you and supports you not for what you do, but for who you are. It might be hard to understand this now at a young age, but as you get older don’t let yourself get wrapped up in your career, but instead in what is right, what is authentic, and what is true to you. Just be the best version of yourself.

Sixth Inning: As we celebrate the past 50 years of female involvement in Little League, we also look to the future. Where do you see female participation in baseball and sports in general going in the years ahead? 

In general, I see female sports growing and I think it will be the next big thing people will watch. Women are exciting to watch when they are competing, whether it be on the baseball field, basketball court, or soccer field. The energy is there because there’s so much desire to get after it, not only because we love it, but they know they are also fighting an uphill battle. For women in baseball, we are seeing more organizations supporting women with different programs. So, I think if we continue to support each other and get support then it’s only going to grow from here.

NOTE: The Little League Six Innings Features are a piece of the #GWG50 Celebration in 2024, with interviews of Girls with Game who graduated from Little League programs and continued to make an impact on female sports throughout their careers. To learn more about this initiative, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.  

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With just a few months to go until the official kickoff of the Little League^® International Tournament season, the official schedules, websites, and mobile app for the 2024 Little League World Series are now available for fans to enjoy. This year’s slate of fun and exciting action will once again include more than 340 baseball and softball games broadcast across ESPN Platforms, combining for what is expected to be more than 700 hours of Little League action across its seven divisions of play in the span of six weeks.

While the day-by-day schedules are now available, the official first-round matchups for both the Little League Baseball^® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, and the Little League Softball^® World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, will be announced and made available in June in coordination with National Little League Week.

In addition to being a global part of the Girls with Game 50 Celebration, honoring five decades of girls and women in the Little League program, this year’s robust schedule of events will officially kick off on Saturday, July 20, with the Little League Softball U.S. Region Tournaments and feature:

• The MLB Little League Classic, Presented by New York Life, between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers
• A celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
• The return of the AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods for the first time this year
• A record-tying 26 broadcast games scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 4
• Increased exposure with the LLSWS Championship once again airing on ABC
• The Little League Challenger Division^® Exhibition Game at the LLBWS, with increased support from Eggland’s Best for the second year in a row, featuring teams from New Jersey and California
• Enhanced on-site World Series Fan Zone experiences in both Greenville and Williamsport
• Additional resources and opportunities made available through the LLWS mobile app
• Little League Community Heroes of the Year Awards, Presented by New York Life

To learn more and stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries and download the World Series app in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The Little League #GWG50 Celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year. To learn more about the celebration, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50.

Additional information, including visitor resources, special guests, and more will be made available in the coming months at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries. To plan your visit to one of the seven World Series events, as well as the region tournaments leading up to them, visit the specific event’s website at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries. For those looking to cross off the bucket-list trip to Williamsport, start your planning now by going to LittleLeague.org/Visit. Additionally, the dates for future World Series events can also be found at LittleLeague.org/WSDates.

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When Olivia Pichardo stepped onto her first Little League Baseball® field at six years old, she went out there to have fun, but little did she know that she would grow up to become the first female to play on an NCAA Division I baseball team. She didn’t anticipate that she would one day lace up her cleats and put on a USA Baseball uniform to play with a full team of women at international tournaments. But, from the moment she could throw a ball, Ms. Pichardo did know that baseball was the sport for her. 

Ms. Pichardo played her first Little League® game in the Coach Pitch Division of Forest Hills Little League in Queens, New York. She didn’t get to play Tee Ball, which she jokingly blames her father for after he missed the registration deadline, however, she credits her father for something much more important to her athletic career – the love of the game.  

“My dad was a coach on every single one of my Little League teams and helped me develop that initial love for the game, and that’s what I think Little League is all about,” said Ms. Pichardo. “You’re not going to become a superstar or an elite athlete at five years old, or even at 12 years old. So, during those formative years, it is about establishing that initial love for the game and having it be something you get to look forward to at the end of the school day.”  

On her Coach Pitch team, two other girls played alongside Ms. Pichardo. However, as she moved up through the divisions, she found herself to be the only female on her teams. For some, this might have been intimidating, but for Ms. Pichardo, it built her self-confidence.  

“When you’re that young, you don’t necessarily pay attention to the difference in gender, other than the fact that I did know there were not many other girls playing baseball, which kind of fed my ego a little bit. Plus, I never really got any pushback from my teammates at that young age,” said Ms. Pichardo. “Parents and coaches would approach my parents and ask when I would make the switch to softball, assuming that I would because I was a female, but I never wanted to leave baseball.”  

Following her Little League career, Ms. Pichardo continued to play the game she loved, starting with club baseball before joining the USA Baseball Women’s National Team in 2022 where she would go on to play in her first international women’s baseball tournament in a friendship series with Canada.  

After graduation, Ms. Pichardo moved to Providence, Rhode Island, to attend Brown University. Looking to prioritize her academics, she applied to the university through the regular admission process but immediately contacted the baseball team’s head coach once she was admitted, letting him know she would be trying out in the fall of her freshman year.  After a few weeks of tryouts, Ms. Pichardo earned a spot on the team as a utility player and became the first female to be on a NCAA Division I baseball roster. In March 2023, she became the first female to play in a NCAA Division I baseball game when she made her debut as a pinch hitter against Bryant University. 

To learn more about her experience as a female athlete and her ongoing baseball career, Little League sat down for a special Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Six-Inning Conversation with Ms. Pichardo:  

First Inning: Growing up, what was some of the best advice you received?  

“I can’t remember a specific thing that anyone has told me that has really stuck with me through the years. In its own way, the fact that parents and coaches assumed I was going to switch to softball, and knowing I never planned to do that, was something that kept me motivated. Other than that, I think through the different coaches and teams I played on, which taught me that to be successful you need to have a positive attitude, be a good teammate, and be a coachable player.”  

Second Inning: Reflecting on your experience as a young female athlete playing Little League Baseball, what would you tell young females who are just starting their baseball career now? 

“When I was younger, I had a little bit of a temper problem, and I stressed out a lot. So, if I could give any piece of advice, it would be to not stress out and to just have fun. If you strike out or make an error on the field, just move on, and learn from the moment. Baseball can be a frustrating sport, so try and stay within yourself, control your emotions, and have a good attitude. It is great to have confidence in yourself and have expectations, but also remember to give yourself a break and have fun.”  

Third Inning: Once you finished playing Little League, what was it like moving up to the next level in your baseball career?  

“In middle school, I received a little pushback and was teased for being a female playing baseball. It was the first time that I think I became a little self-conscious as a female in a predominantly male sport, but this is also the time I discovered there were other girls outside of my town playing baseball. I watched Mo’ne Davis in the Little League Baseball World Series, which was a huge inspiration for me, especially because she was a female of color playing. I think it’s a lot easier to keep playing when you have female counterparts to look to for motivation. When I went back to my own Little League to be an umpire for the younger divisions, I noticed that there was at least one girl on multiple baseball teams and one of the teams even had four girls. It shocked me to see that at first since it was unheard of when I was younger, but I am happy to see that they have that.” 

Fourth Inning: What was it like to intern for the New York Mets in 2022 and experience what it is like to be behind the scenes rather than on the field?  

“When the internship was assigned as part of my high school senior project, I turned to Elizabeth Benn to hopefully make some connections at the organization. In addition to her, Kim Ng and Veronica Alvarez are two women on the baseball operations side of things that I am inspired by. So, after meeting with people in the organization, I chose to intern for the amateur scouting department where I was given a bunch of different projects that gave me insight into how it all worked behind the scenes. There really is so much work that goes into making these decisions and analyzing information for the scouts. I am not sure what my future career looks like, but it was very interesting to learn about and be a part of for even a small amount of time.”  

Fifth Inning: What is it like playing for USA Baseball on an all-female baseball team? 

“Having female baseball players around me is definitely something that keeps me going, especially when I get to play for the women’s national team. I love playing with that group of women. We just played in the qualifiers last year for the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, which is happening for the first time in a long time this summer. It is something I am really looking forward to that I don’t think a lot of people know about, but they should.”  

• The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup will be played in Thunder Bay, Canada, starting July 28, 2024. The roster for the 2024 team has not yet been announced.  

Sixth Inning: What was it like when you officially made the Brown University baseball roster, knowing you were making history as the first female to be on an NCAA Division I team?

“I knew going into the tryouts that if I did make the team, I would be the first female to do so in the NCAA, so I felt a sense of pressure going into the tryouts knowing I would have that title and get media attention for it. I just wanted to be a good representative of females. But now that I am on the team, I am over that pressure and instead, I just focus on being the best teammate I can be and make my coaches proud.”  

• Florida International University softball player Ashton Lansdell also played Division I baseball for the National Junior College Athletic Association for Georgia Highlands College. Ms. Pichardo, who now plays with Ms. Lansdell on the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, credits Ms. Lansdell for being an inspiring force that pushed her into one day wanting to play collegiate baseball.  

NOTE: The Little League Six Innings Features are a piece of the #GWG50 Celebration in 2024, with interviews of Girls with Game who graduated from Little League programs and continued to make an impact on female sports throughout their careers. To learn more about this initiative, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.  

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The Baseball Hall of Fame will have two former Little Leaguers® earning their plaques in Cooperstown this July. Todd Helton, a graduate of Farragut Little League (Knoxville, Tenn.), and Joe Mauer, a graduate of Highland Parks Little League (St. Louis, Minn.), will earn the honor and be inducted as members of the Class of 2024.  

To be eligible for election into the Baseball Hall of Fame, players must be named on at least 75% of the ballots cast by eligible voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). After a total of 385 ballots were submitted in 2024, Mr. Helton will earn his bronze plaque in his sixth year on the ballot with 79.7%, and Mr. Mauer will be inducted as a first-time ballot nominee at 76.1%.  

Mr. Helton and Mr. Mauer will officially be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21, 2024, joining fellow inductee Adrian Belté in this year’s election class. With the addition of Mr. Helton and Mr. Mauer, there have been a total of 36 Little League® graduates to earn their bronze plaques in Cooperstown.  

Todd Helton – Farragut Little League (Knoxville, Tenn.)

After his days on the Little League fields, Mr. Helton continued his baseball career at the collegiate level at the University of Tennessee, where he received an athletic scholarship for both baseball and football. As a Tennessee Volunteer, Mr. Helton was awarded the Dick Howser Trophy, which recognizes the National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year, after his junior baseball season in 1995.  

As the eighth overall pick in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies, Mr. Helton made his MLB debut in August 1997. Mr. Helton spent the entirety of his professional career with the Rockies, where he was recognized as an MLB All-Star five times (2000-2004). Throughout his career, he was also awarded multiple MLB postseason awards including the Golden Glove Award three times (2001, 2002, 2004), the Silver Slugger Award (2000-2003), and the National League Hank Aaron Award (2000).  

Mr. Helton played his last professional game in September 2013. One year later, Mr. Helton’s number, 17, was retired by the Colorado Rockies, making him the first Rockies player to have his number retired in the team’s 26-year history.  

Welcome to Cooperstown, Todd Helton!https://t.co/rubOutz3Mw pic.twitter.com/CzcQS36xON

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (@baseballhall) January 23, 2024

Joe Mauer – Highland Parks Little League (St. Louis, Minn.)  

Selected as the first overall pick in the 2001 MLB draft, Mr. Mauer made his MLB debut three years later in April 2004 for the Twins, where he would continue his professional career until his final game in September 2018.   

During his tenure with the Twins, Mr. Mauer received a multitude of recognitions including being named an MLB All-Star six times (2006, 2008-2010, 2012-2013), the American League MVP (2009), and the American League batting champion (2006, 2008-2009). Mr. Mauer also received the Gold Glove Award three years in a row (2008-2010) and the Silver Slugger Award five times (2006, 2008-2010, 2013). In 2019, the Twins retired Mr. Mauer’s jersey number.  

Welcome to Cooperstown, Joe Mauer!https://t.co/F6JSs6CZId pic.twitter.com/WZ8wAhoLgK

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (@baseballhall) January 23, 2024

The 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame elections also marked the final year on the ballot for 1980 Little League® Baseball World Series (LLBWS) graduate Gary Sheffield, who was unable to make the necessary 75% needed for induction but did round out his final year on the ballot earning 63.9%.  

A graduate of Belmont Heights Little League (Tampa, Fla.), a program within the Little League Urban Initiative, Mr. Sheffield helped lead his 1980 team to victory in that year’s LLBWS U.S. Championship. Just two years later, Mr. Sheffield again represented his league in the 1982 Junior League Baseball World Series, winning the championship game.  

Mr. Sheffield’s baseball career continued at the professional level, just eight years after his LLBWS appearance when he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as the sixth pick in the first round of the 1986 MLB draft. After his MLB debut in 1988 for the Brewers, Mr. Sheffield played with eight different clubs, including the Florida Marlins when they won the MLB World Series championship in 1997.  

Mr. Sheffield is a nine-time MLB All-Star, a five-time recipient of the Silver Slugger Award, and the 1992 National League batting champion. In 2009, Mr. Sheffield retired from professional baseball. 

NOTE: If you know of a Little League graduate who is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, or notice any incorrect information, please complete the Little League Alumni Submission form at LittleLeague.org/Alumni. 

Little League Alumni

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After 26 seasons as a Major League Baseball Manager, Little League® Hall of Excellence enshrinee Dusty Baker has announced his retirement.

A graduate of Riverside (Calif.) Little League, Mr. Baker was inducted into the Little League Hall of Excellence in 2007. After his time on the Little League field, Mr. Baker spent 19 years playing on Major League fields and won a World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.   

After 26 seasons, Dusty Baker made his retirement official today. Congratulations on an incredible career, Skip! pic.twitter.com/TBpDS48KOg

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 26, 2023

While Mr. Baker is finishing his managerial career with the Houston Astros – announcing his retirement at the Astros home field following their playoff run – his more than 25-year long career was also spent with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the Washington Nationals. Mr. Baker won his first World Series as a manager with the Astros in 2022.  

In that same season, Mr. Baker and his son Darren Baker – a graduate of Loomis-Eureka Lakeside Little League in Granite Bay, California – experienced a memorable moment. During a Spring Training game between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, Dusty was met at home plate by Darren, who was a Nationals’ prospect at the time, to exchange lineups. 

Watch the Video 

Mr. Baker finishes his managerial career with 2,183 wins in the regular season, the seventh-most in history. He has also won, as a manager, division titles with five different teams. While Mr. Baker says he is not sure what is next in his career, he says he still wants to remain involved with the Major Leagues in some capacity, continuing a nearly 50-year long career in professional baseball. 

To learn more about Mr. Baker and various other Little League alumni who have gone on to outstanding careers both in professional baseball and in other professional sports and careers, visit LittleLeague.org/Alumni.  

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Little League® International has earned its first-ever Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Award, as presented by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, for its video titled “LLWS: Josiah Porter”. The video production won in the category Sports – Short Form Content (Single Story). Also nominated in this category were videos produced by Eagles Entertainment, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philadelphia Union soccer club, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.   

“Josiah Porter’s story is a true testament to the enduring power of faith in the midst of a tragic situation and has served as an inspiration for communities all around the world,” said Hannah James, Little League Video Production Manager. “This project has been near to my heart from the start and to see it recognized in this way is incredible. I am beyond grateful to the Porter family for letting us tell their story and want to thank them for their support. We are honored to receive this award, and hope stories like Josiah’s will continue to find ways to inspire parents, families, and players for generations to come.”

Produced in coordination with 20/20 Visual Media, “LLWS: Josiah Porter” tells the story of a 2022 LLBWS participant who lost vision in one eye after accidentally walking into the sharp corner of a toolbox hanging on a pickup truck when he was six years old. After multiple surgeries and a long rehabilitation period, Josiah found his way back to the Little League field and to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with his Nolensville (Tenn.) LL teammates to represent the Southeast Region in the 2022 Little League Baseball® World Series.  

LEARN MORE 

Josiah’s story is one of the many unique situations that Little Leaguers® around the world face with each year and shows the importance of community and teamwork within the program to ensure every child has a positive experience both on and off the field.  

In May 2023, the Josiah’s story also received a Silver Telly Award in the “General: Motivational” category and garnered more than 1.1 million views and nearly 1,000 comments on the Little League Facebook page when it aired for the first time in August 2022.  

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in television and digital media industry in the Chapter’s designated award region which includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Wheeling, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio. The 2023 awards were presented on October 14 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

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There are certain moments in life that people can reflect on where every detail is so clear, as if it happened just the day before. For Little League® umpires Robbie Guest and Don Brown, receiving a phone call from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) was one of those moments. 

In addition to their services as Little League umpires, both Mr. Guest and Mr. Brown were invited to umpire at the NCAA 2023 Women’s College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was a milestone in both their careers and a direct result of years of hard work and experience on the field, all of which began with their local leagues.  

To learn more about their careers and their hopes for the future, Little League sat down for a “Full-Count Conversation” with both Mr. Guest and Mr. Brown. 

1-0 Count: Starting at the beginning, what inspired you to volunteer as a Little League umpire? 

Growing up in what he calls “a Little League family,” Mr. Guest spent much of his childhood at the fields of Bloomfield LL in Macon, Georgia. Then, in high school, he became more involved with the league and started keeping score for the games, until one Saturday, an umpire assigned to a game could not make it.  

“I remember when they didn’t show up, I ran out on the field and did a couple of games for the day,” said Mr. Guest. “I don’t know what it is about umpiring, but I enjoyed it pretty quickly and have been doing it ever since.”  

For Mr. Brown, his umpiring story began when his son started playing Little League Baseball®. As part of their local league’s way of ensuring each game had umpires, Mr. Brown and other league parents volunteered as umpires for the division below their kids’ current division. Then, after years of umpiring for LL games, he started volunteering to umpire for baseball and softball of various levels.  

“I loved the game, both baseball and softball, so being able to umpire Little League, high school, middle school, and college ball was a nice way to still be around it,” said Mr. Brown.  

Both Mr. Guest and Mr. Brown grew their umpiring resumes at each level of the game, but they still remember where it all began.  

“Returning to umpire at a Little League game today, there are some differences, but really, it’s all the same. It might be a little different of an atmosphere than a college game or World Series game, but we still umpire the same,” said Mr. Guest. “We treat it the same at all levels because, no matter the age, the game is what is important to them, so it is important to us, too.” 

Since Mr. Guest’s first game, he has gone on to umpire multiple Little League Baseball and Softball region tournaments, various SEC and ACC softball games, the 2023 WCWS, games during the 2021 and 2023 Athletes Unlimited Softball seasons, one season of National Professional Fastpitch softball in 2018, and two seasons of Independent League Baseball, while also serving as a representative for the NCAA Rules Committee for Softball.  

After his first appearance as an umpire in 1996, Mr. Brown has umpired a Little League Baseball region tournament, high school softball games, college softball since 2008, three WCWS (2019, 2021, 2023), Athletes Unlimited Softball games (2020-2023), two seasons of Women’s Professional Fastpitch softball, and is on the Mechanics Committee for NCAA softball. 

1-1 Count: You both were invited and umpired at the Womens College World Series. What was this experience like for you both?  

“I was totally blown away when I got the call,” said Mr. Brown. “I was driving on the interstate and when they asked me if I wanted to go, I had to pull over because I was so excited. I think I even got out of the truck and did a little dance before I continued driving.” 

Mr. Brown would return to Oklahoma City to umpire in the WCWS again in 2021, but it was not until the 2023 tournament that he would get to experience it with the person he has known for more than 20 years and considers to be one of his closest friends in umpiring, Mr. Guest.  

“I remember just listening to the invitation and just being silent for a moment,” said Mr. Guest. “You work your whole career at all different levels, so to have all that work from over the years reach milestones in life like this one, it is difficult to describe, but it really is what it’s all about.”  

For both Mr. Brown and Mr. Guest, getting the invitation to umpire the WCWS was one thing, being in Oklahoma City was a whole other ball game.  

“The experience there was amazing. I never experienced anything like it – the fans, the players, how we were treated there. On and off the field was amazing and I would not have traded it for the world,” said Mr. Bown. “You wish every umpire could experience it because words can’t describe it.” 

2-1 Count: With both of your experiences leading up to umpiring a World Series, whether it be college or Little League, what would you tell current umpires who hope to one day be invited to a World Series? 

“If you want to make it to a Little League World Series or a Women’s College World Series, or whatever it is, you don’t umpire in hopes that one day you could get selected for it, you umpire every game as if you are a World Series umpire,” said Mr. Guest. “That’s my biggest advice to every umpire I speak to – umpire today like you are there because you never know when that door of opportunity will open.” 

Mr. Guest umpired at the 2012 Little League Baseball World Series, an event he says is one that every umpire who gets the chance to do it should reflect on often and remember every moment. Mr. Brown, after his three WCWS appearances, agrees. 

“Just soak it all in. Once you walk out onto the field, just remember that it’s game time. It’s time to umpire and focus on the game,” said Mr. Brown. “But, when you’re off the field, enjoy everything about it. Walk around and see everything you can, take pictures and videos because you will look back at them all the time. Just work as hard as you can, but enjoy every moment that you can, too.” 

2-2 Count: Outside of Little League, you both have umpired at various levels, most recently adding Athletes Unlimited Softball to that growing resumé. What do you both think of the growth of professional softball and its connection with youth players?  

“It is very important. I know that kids look up to athletes and how they play. They take notice of how they handle bad situations, good situations, excitement, and adversity,” said Mr. Guest. “The way that the women’s game has exploded, you just have more and more kids watching it and connecting across the levels.”  

Launched in 2020, Athletes Unlimited is a professional softball league with an innovative new scoring system where players earn points based on team victories and individual performances. A dedicated partner of Little League, both programs made history this year with the first-ever Athletes Unlimited Pro Games at the 2023 Little League Softball World Series (LLSWS).  

“The athletic ability we saw again this year at Athletes Unlimited was unreal. Some of the plays that were made and some of the at-bats were amazing,” said Mr. Brown. “I was at a restaurant, and they had the AU Pro Games at the LLSWS on the television. There were two Little League teams in there and they were all just watching the game up on the screen and talking about the game. There was a glow from the girls as they watched.” 

3-2 Count: What advice would you both have for those who are on the fence of volunteering as an umpire next season? 

“I would tell the person who is thinking about becoming an umpire to find a mentor, and then to talk with their League Administrator to find out where they can do the training. If you want to do it, all the pieces are there,” said Mr. Guest.  

If you did not play baseball or softball growing up, Mr. Brown notes that you don’t have to be an athlete to be an umpire.  

“The training is there. You just have to find someone who enjoys umpiring as much as we do, and just have a conversation with them,” said Mr. Brown. “We really just need more umpires. The profession is getting slimmer and slimmer with the numbers. If you enjoy the game, it is a fantastic way to be around it.”  

Interested in becoming a Little League umpire? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpires to learn more.  

The post A “Full-Count Conversation” with Umpires Robbie Guest and Don Brown appeared first on Little League.

With this year’s MLB Postseason Picture officially set, more than 55 Little League® graduates are set to compete for the 2023 MLB Commissioner’s Trophy.    

Below are the former Little Leaguers® who are currently involved with each of the postseason clubs, including those on the 40-man roster and members of the Front Office and coaching staffs:

Arizona Diamondbacks  

• Corbin Carroll – Magnolia LL (Seattle, Wash.) 
• Mike Hazen (GM) – Abington (Mass.) LL 
• Torey Lovullo (Manager) – Encino LL 
• Dave McKay (1B Coach) – Little Mountain LL (Canada) 
• Emmanuel Rivera – Sultana LL (Mayaguez, P.R.) 
• Paul Sewald – Peccole LL (Las Vegas, Nev.) 

Atlanta Braves  

• Ozzie Albies – Pariba LL (Willemstad, Curacao) 
• Kolby Allard – San Clemente (Calif.) LL 
• Max Fried – Encino (Calif.) LL 
• Joe Jiménez – Pablo Burgos LL (San Juan, P.R.) 
• Charlie Morton – Trumbull (Conn.) LL 
• Eddie Rosario – Radames Lopez LL (Guayama, Puerto Rico) – 2006 JLB Latin America Region Tournament 
• Huascar Ynoa – Wellington Francisco LL (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) 

Baltimore Orioles  

• Jack Flaherty – Sherman Oaks Southeran (Calif.) LL  
• Brandon Hyde (Manager) – Santa Rosa (Calif.) American LL 
• Dean Kremer – Sundown LL (Stockton, Calif.) 
• Jorge Lopez – Puerto Rico District 1 LL – 2011 BLBWS 
• James McCann – Goleta Valley South LL (Santa Barbara, Calif.)  

Houston Astros  

• Michael Brantley – Southwestern Port St. Lucie (Fla.) LL
• Alex Bregman – Eastdale LL (Albuquerque, N.M.)
• Alex Cintron (Hitting Coach) – Juan Antonio Bibiloni LL (Yabucoa, P.R.)
• Martin Maldonado – Naguabo (Puerto Rico) LL
• Lance McCullers Jr. – Citrus Park (Fla.) LL
• Jeremy Peña – Elmwood LL (Providence, R.I.)
• Kyle Tucker – Tampa Bay (Fla.) LL
• Justin Verlander – Tuckahoe (Va.) LL

Los Angeles Dodgers  

• Austin Barnes – Magnolia LL (Riverside, Calif.) 
• Walker Buehler – Lexington (Ky.) Eastern LL 
• Ryan Brasier – Wichita Falls (Texas) LL
• Freddie Freeman – Long Beach (Calif.) LL  
• Yonny Hernandez – Gran Maracay (Venezuela) LL – 2011 LLBWS 
• Lance Lynn – Brownsburg (Ind.) LL (1999 LLBWS) 
• Clayton McCullough (1B Coach) – Greenville (N.C.) LL 
• Duncan Webb (Director of Baseball Resources) – Wyoma (Mass.) LL 
• Kolten Wong – Hilo (Hawaii) American LL – 2007 SLBWS 

Miami Marlins 

• Jazz Chisholm Jr. – Freedoms Farm LL (Nassau, Bahamas) 
• Trevor Rogers – Carlsbad (N.M.) National LL 

Milwaukee Brewers 

• Christian Yelich – Thousand Oaks (Calif.) LL 

Minnesota Twins 

• Carlos Correa – Villa Blanca LL (Santa Isabel, P.R.) 
• Jose Miranda – Juncos (P.R.) LL 
• Jovani Moran – Gino Vega LL (Sabana Grande, P.R.) 

Philadelphia Phillies 

• Michael Lorenzen – East Anaheim (Calif.) LL 
• Edmundo Sosa – Juan Diaz LL (Panama) 
• Trea Turner – West Boynton Beach (Fla.) LL 
• Zack Wheeler – Smyrna (Ga.) LL 

Tampa Bay Rays 

• Kevin Cash (Manager) – Northside LL (Tampa, Fla.) – 1989 LLBWS 
• Zach Eflin – Oviedo (Fla.) LL 
• Erasmo Ramirez – FESA LL (Soyapango, El Salvador) 

Texas Rangers  

• Brad Miller – Windermere (Fla.) LL 

Toronto Blue Jays  

• Jose Berrios – Santa Monica LL (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) 
• Bo Bichette – Maitland (Fla.) LL 
• Cavan Biggio – West University LL (Houston, Texas) 
• Matt Chapman – Lake Forest (Calif.) LL 
• Hagen Danner – Ocean View LL (Huntington Beach, Calif.) – 2011 LLBWS 
• Don Mattingly (Bench Coach) – North Side LL (Evansville, Ind.) 
• Luis Rivera (Third Base Coach) – Cidra (Puerto Rico) LL 
• George Springer – Walicki LL (New Britain, Conn.) 

The 2023 MLB Postseason will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 3, with four of the American League and National League Wild Card Series games and conclude with the World Series, starting on Friday, Oct. 27.  

To see all the former Little Leaguers who are currently playing Major League Baseball, as well as a number of other notable alumni in a variety of different areas, visit LittleLeague.org/Alumni. 

NOTE: If you know of a notable Little League graduate that belongs on this list, please complete the Little League Alumni Submission form. 

The post More Than 55 Former Little Leaguers® Set to Compete in the 2023 MLB Postseason appeared first on Little League.

In 2013, an 11-year-old Blake Money stepped onto the field at Lamade Stadium for the first time with his Southeast Region teammates. 10 years later, Mr. Money continues to play the game he loves at the professional level within the Baltimore Orioles organization.  

Ahead of the 2023 Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, Little League® caught up with Mr. Money for a special “Six Innings” segment.   

First Inning: 15 years ago, you traveled to Washington, D.C., to play Tee Ball on the South Lawn of the White House. What do you remember from this experience and how you felt during it?  

“I still to this day have not fully realized the meaning behind it. I just remember as a young kid that I was really excited to go play and, me being the competitor I am, I took it completely seriously,” said Mr. Money. “But, it was fun! I got to meet the President, got to have a tour of the White House, got to go see all the cool things in Washington, D.C., and it was just awesome to be able to do that.”  

The White House Tee Ball Initiative was first held in 2001 by former President George W. Bush to promote interest in childhood sports. In the second-to-last game played, one child was selected from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The players were organized into teams representing North, South, East, and West for a doubleheader. Mr. Money was selected to represent Florida in that 2008 event.  

Second Inning: Five years later, in 2013, you put on the Southeast Region jersey for the first time at the LLBWS. What can you remember feeling during your first series?  

“It was very surreal and something I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Mr. Money. “As far as the games go, I don’t think you’ll ever forget the first time you show up and there’s a crowd of 20,000-plus people there. It was awesome to go out there and play in front of that large of a crowd. I think the biggest thing that I took away was how supportive the fans were.”  

Mr. Money says his favorite off-field memory is meeting the players from across the world and spending time with them in the International Grove and throughout the Little League International complex.  

“We actually grew extremely close with the players from Australia my first year because they allowed us to use their gloves for a skills session before the tournament started since we didn’t have ours,” said Mr. Money. “From there on out, throughout the Grove we would go swimming, or we would go in the Rec Hall and play ping– pong together. It was just a great time to have a team from outside the country that you were close with and share moments off the field with, that was the biggest takeaway that I had.”  

• The Southeast Region team lost its first-round game to the New England Region team before winning two out of its three games in the elimination bracket, eventually being knocked out by the Northwest Region team.  
• Multiple players from the 2013 Southeast Region team would continue their baseball careers at the college or professional level, and for some, both. These players include Robert Hassell III (San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals), Christopher McElvain (Vanderbilt University, Cincinnati Reds), and Zane Denton (University of Tennessee). Southeast Region teammate Conner Smith did not continue his baseball career at the collegiate level but is now a country music artist and released his debut EP in 2022. 

Third Inning: You just played your final year as a Louisiana State University (LSU) Tiger and ended it victorious. How did it feel hoisting the NCAA Men’s College World Series trophy over your head in your final moments as an LSU pitcher?   

“There is probably no better feeling than the last out being recorded and then the dog pile at the end. Everything that you’ve done throughout the year to get there – every early morning, late afternoon, long practices, standing out in the heat – you feel it all in that moment. It all rushes to your head when you make that final out and you get to run out there and celebrate,” Mr. Money said. “Then to hoist the trophy, that’s really insane, because you think of the people who have done it before you and then to go out there and do it, that is something that will last forever.”  

• During his three years with LSU, Mr. Money pitched in 51 games (16 starts), recording 118 strikeouts in 123.2 innings.  
• In 2023, Mr. Money recorded no walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 relief innings versus Florida in Game 2 of the College Baseball World Series final three-game series. LSU won the final series, 2-1, crowning them as National Champions.  

Fourth Inning: You are now moving on to the biggest stage of baseball. What was going through your mind when you were drafted by the Baltimore Orioles organization?   

“It’s something I have wanted since I was a child. It’s something that I’ve worked towards for a really long time. So, to be able to experience being drafted and knowing you have the chance to accomplish the ultimate goal, that’s really exciting,” said Mr. Money. “There’s a different feeling when you become a professional, to a certain degree, because now you’re solely focused on one thing and that one thing for me is baseball. I get to do that every day, it’s a part of who I am, so it’s been awesome.”  

• The Baltimore Orioles selected Mr. Money in the 12th round with the 361st pick of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. 

Fifth Inning: For the Little Leaguers^® who are right where you were 10 years ago, what advice do you have for them as they look ahead to their future baseball careers?  

“Just soak in every moment because you’ll never get to be 11– or 12-years-old again,” said Mr. Money. “Just take it one pitch at a time and remember that it’s not about who gets the credit. It’s about getting to be there, playing the game that you love with your friends – so just enjoy every moment and make it last.” 

Mr. Money surprised the 2023 Southeast Region team, represented by Nolensville (Tenn.) Little League, with a videoboard message before its first game in the 2023 Little League Baseball World Series.   

Sixth Inning: In 2014, you returned to the LLBWS and played against Mo’ne Davis, who set history as the first female pitcher to win a game at the LLBWS. Based on your experience playing against her, what did it mean to you to see Stella Weaver on the roster of the Southeast Region team at this year’s tournament?  

“I think Stella is in a very unique position to go out there and make some history of her own and have a positive impact. I think that her going is awesome and that girls in sports are phenomenal,” said Mr. Money. “I know where sports are headed, and I think it’s great to see female players on a team right now so that they get to have that experience and make a difference in the way that they are.”  

• Stella Weaver is the 22nd female to play in the LLBWS. In the Southeast Region’s first game versus the Metro Region, Stella became the 10th female to record a hit in the tournament’s history.  
• Against the West Region team, Stella recorded the team’s first hit of the game, making it her fourth hit of the series to tie  the record for most hits by a U.S. female player in the LLBWS.   

The post Six Innings with 2013 LLBWS Graduate Blake Money appeared first on Little League.

In 1973, Cactus Little League (Tucson, Ariz.) traveled to South Williamsport for the 26^th Little League Baseball® World Series (LLBWS). On the team was retired Major League Baseball (MLB) player Ed Vosberg, who led his team to the 1973 LLBWS Championship game against Chinese Taipei.

This was the first of three World Series the Tuscan-native would play in, making Mr. Vosberg the first Little League® graduate to play in the LLBWS, College Baseball World Series (1980; University of Arizona), and Major League Baseball World Series (1997; Florida Marlins).

First Inning: Looking back on Cactus Little League’s run in the 1973 LLBWS, what do you remember feeling at that time?

“It didn’t seem like it was real at all, it just seemed like a dream. It seemed like it happened so fast for us… It just seemed like a fantasy, like a fairy tale.”

• Eight teams participated in the 1973 LLBWS, including four from the United States and four International teams (British Columbia, Germany, Mexico, and Chinese Taipei).
• Cactus Little League beat the both the teams from New York (U.S. East) and Michigan (U.S. Central) before losing to Chinese Taipei in the championship, 12 to 0.

Second Inning: You went on to compete in the 1980 College World Series with the University of Arizona, what was that experience like?

“I didn’t realize how lucky we were going to be to go to the World Series when I was a freshman. We got there, we lost the first game, and then I got asked to pitch the second game which we had to win because it’s double elimination. It was just an amazing experience.”

• The University of Arizona’s 1980 College World Series appearance was the team’s 11^th trip to the series. The team beat the University of Hawaii, 5-3, to win the school’s second national title.
• Vosberg earned second-team All-America honors and was named first-team All-Pac-10 during his college career and set Arizona career records for games started (60).

Third inning: What lessons from your Little League and college years do you think prepared you to play for eight different MLB clubs?

“It was all a part of the journey. It gave me confidence along the way, and it helped me realize life is about timing. I got to the big leagues at 24 and didn’t get back for a few years, but it made me realize that everything in our life worth anything might be a struggle, but giving up and quitting is the easy part. Sticking around and trying to persevere – it’s tougher. But Little League gave me confidence and college gave me confidence to realize, I could really do this if I really hang in there.”

• Vosberg was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1983. He made his first Major League debut for the Padres In 1986.
• Between 1983 and his last Major League appearance in 2002, Mr. Vosberg played for eight clubs, won the World Series championship in 1997, and the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, California.

Fourth Inning: As you celebrate your 50^th Anniversary of playing in the LLBWS, how do you feel today looking back on your time in the World Series and your career to follow?

“I can’t believe it’s been 50 years. I mean I still am lucky enough to work with kids now and I still throw a baseball almost every day. I feel very fortunate to be really healthy and, just looking back, it blows me away that its been 50 years.”

Mr. Vosberg says he does his best to stay in contact with his teammates from the Cactus Little League team and hopes to return to South Williamsport soon to experience the World Series as a Little League fan.

Fifth Inning: What are the biggest differences between the LLBWS when you played versus the event today?

“The biggest difference being the huge amount of notoriety and press, and everything being so magnified.”

In 1973, the only game televised from the LLBWS was the championship game. However, it was on a tape-delay and would air during the weekend. Mr. Vosberg says he had not watched any of Cactus Little League’s championship game against Chinese Taipei until the early 2000s, when a reporter from Philadelphia reach out to him with video of the game.

Sixth Inning: What advice do you have for the Little Leaguers® that will be coming to Williamsport, ready to take on teams from across the world?

“If you are lucky enough to get there, just enjoy the moment. Try to realize it is not just about winning and losing. It’s about how difficult it is to get there and if you are lucky enough to get there, just embrace it and enjoy.”

To learn more about the history of Little League, please check out LittleLeague.org/History.

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