Most recent season or competition: 2016 Little League World Series |
|
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 1947, 70 years ago |
No. of teams | 16 |
Countries | International |
Most recent champion(s) |
Maine-Endwell, New York |
Most titles | Taiwan (17) |
Official website | LittleLeague.org |
The Little League Baseball World Series is an annual baseball tournament in the eastern United States for children aged 11 to 13 years old. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. The Series was first held 70 years ago in 1947 and is held every August in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Although the postal address of the organization is in Williamsport, the Series itself is played at Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium at the Little League headquarters complex in South Williamsport.)
Initially, only teams from the US competed in the Series but it has since become a worldwide tournament. The tournament has gained popular renown, especially in the United States, where games from the Series and even from regional tournaments are broadcast on ESPN. In 2006, the age limit was changed to include players who turn 13 after April 30 of the same year, rather than after July 31, as had previously been the case. As the Series takes place in August, many of the players will have already turned 13 before the Series starts. Effective November, 2015, a new implementation plan was established, which "grandfathers" players born between May 1 and August 31, 2005 as 12-year-olds for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons, using the current April 30 age determination date for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 seasons. Beginning with 2019, a new determination date of August 31 will be used, which will ban 13 year old players from participating in the Series.