A Promise Kept: the story of the founding of little league baseball

The Story

Long before the first Little League game was ever played in 1939, a little boy stood on a sand lot impatiently waiting for his turn at bat. Would the pitcher ever strike out that last batter? As he stood there he dreamed, wouldn't it be great if we could have uniforms & a stadium just like the big leaguers? He could almost hear the crowds cheer as he envisioned a home run over the center field fence. That dream stayed locked away until one warm summer afternoon when Carl Stotz was playing catch with his two nephews. He made them a promise, the promise that grew to become one of America's best known & most enduring institutions, Little League baseball. Though there are others who have claimed to be co-founders, the concept, the first baseball diamond for boys, their uniforms, & the right ball all originated with Carl Stotz. He made the rules, found the money, & organized his friends to form the first Little League in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Filled with his favorite stories & photos of the early years, this is Carl's story. This is the story of how Little League came to be, by the man who started it all. To order: Zebrowski Publishing Company, RR 1, Box 400, Jersey Shore, PA 17740, or call 1-800-753-3727.