Little League International

Our World of Little League Museum has unveiled a brand-new #GirlsWithGame exhibit in coordination of the #GWG50 Celebration, proudly supported by DICK'S Sporting Goods, bringing the year-long campaign to life while celebrating the pioneers who have helped pave the way for generations of young girls over the past 50 years. “We hope the newly updated section of our museum will serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Girls with Game who visit us throughout the year and help us to continue to document those champions who continue to bring the initiative to life now and in the future.” - Adam Thompson, Director of the World of Little League Museum → https://lnkd.in/ep5P22Xn

For generations, girls and women have been told they don't belong in sports. That could not be further from the truth. During my lifetime, girls have always had a place in Little League. But, in reality, when my dad was sitting on the bucket catching my sister's endless pitching drills, we were less than a decade into girls in our program. This year's #GWG50 anniversary celebrations has been one the most meaningful experiences of not only my professional career, but also personal, as I've been able to see my youngest niece on the Tee Ball field for the first time and my oldest niece be coached by my sister and her former Little League teammates and their coach, my Dad. So, Finley, Reagan, and all girls around the world. You Belong!

"Dear #GirlsWithGame, You belong. It’s simple. When you have those nerves hit you – whether it’s before your first practice or when you’re getting in the batter’s box for the 20th time – remember, you belong." 🧡💜 This month's Girl With Game letter is from Brian McClintock, Little League Senior Communications Executive → https://lnkd.in/etdYS4Fq

Two stars of professional hockey round out the Little League Hall of Excellence Class of 2024, joining Maria Pepe who was enshrined earlier this month. Congratulations Meghan Duggan and Ray Ferraro! Meghan Duggan played her Little League with Danvers (Mass.) American LL, before an astonishing hockey career that saw three Olympic medals and seven World Championship gold medals for Team USA on the ice. Ray Ferraro grew up playing on the fields of Trail Little League in British Columbia, Canada and lived out a dream that every Little Leaguer hopes for at the 1976 #LLWS. Ferraro went on to an incredible 18-year National Hockey League (NHL) career before hanging up his skates in 2002 and turning his attention to the broadcast booth. Learn more about each of the two hockey stars and their enshrinement → https://lnkd.in/esA_WTJ6

Welcoming our 2024 Class of Summer Interns! We are so eager to see everything each of these young professionals contribute to our organization from their various departments as we push into a busy summer culminating in Greenville and Williamsport with the Little League Softball World Series, presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods, and Little League Baseball World Series, presented by T-Mobile!

📰 #LLAlumni in the News: Nearly 10 years after she made history, Mo’ne Davis returns to the diamond to honor Black baseball pioneers (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Ten years after her two-hit shutout in the Little League World Series, Davis’ participation in the inaugural Hall of Fame East-West Classic came as a representation of the three Black women who played in the Negro Leagues — Mamie Johnson, Connie Morgan, and Toni Stone. “It was just an honor, so people don’t forget that women also played in the Negro Leagues; women were also pioneers, they also opened the path for a lot of Black people in baseball and Black women in baseball,” Davis said. “It’s something that I won’t forget, and I’ll always honor them because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to be in this position that I’m in today.” → https://lnkd.in/eAwfxDGV

ICYMI: Little League was announced as one of the nearly 20 partner organizations for The Aspen Institute’s new #63X30 Vision, aimed at getting at least 63% of youth playing sports by the end of the decade in 2030. According to federal data shared by The Aspen Institute, only 54% of children ages 6-17 in the U.S. played on a team or took lessons in 2022, down from 58% in 2017. As one of the partner organizations, Little League joins the other partnering organizations in committing to taking actions that can get and keep more young people playing sports, from creating affordable programs in underserved neighborhoods to promoting multi-sport sampling to developing more coaches to serve children’s needs. “As the world’s largest youth sports organization, we have an obligation to help lead the way in getting more children involved in playing sports and there is no better organization to rally behind than The Aspen Institute and Project Play. We are honored to serve as one of the partner organizations for this great new vision and look forward to helping to make this goal a reality by 2030.” - Patrick Wilson Read more about the new initiative→ https://lnkd.in/ePY6hb6X

#GWG50 Staff Spotlight: Ashlea (Nash) Miller 💡 For the June edition of GWG50 Staff Spotlights, enjoy this first-person letter from our Director of Softball Development, as she walks you through her own GWG50 Journey! Read the full spotlight → https://lnkd.in/dJ-vqxke

This week we unveiled the head to toe look our Little Leaguers will be wearing at the 2024 #LLWS tournaments! 🤩 This summer is the 30th anniversary of New Era Cap supplying on-field caps for the boys and girls of summer. As the Official Uniform Supplier of the #LLWS, the lineup of Adidas jerseys will feature pinstripes on the baseball side and celebrate the fun of the game on the softball side (check the collar details). Each year the uniform unveil is another important marker of developing excitement as we enter a fun few months of putting on premier baseball and softball events for young players from communities around the globe!

We are hosting our first Job Fair for the Little League World Series from Aug. 14-25 TOMORROW! Come visit us at the World Series Job Fair at the John W. Lundy Little League Center (245 Route 15 Highway, South Williamsport, PA) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to learn about the many flexible work opportunities we provide. Snacks and water will be available at the fair.