Date of Visit: October 7, 2023

Back in 1998, when I was just a 13-year-old, I was fortunate to be at the Little League World Series championship game. That was the year that Todd Frazier and the team from Tom’s River, NJ, defeated the team from Japan to win the championship.

I don’t remember why our neighbors were making the trip, but I have vivid memories of sitting on the hill overlooking left field watching the celebration, and I still have the program from that day on my bookshelf.

As much as I loved baseball, I wasn’t very good at it and certainly not good enough to make it to Williamsport. But it was always fun to dream about, and now it’s something that my oldest son is dreaming about after his first season of tee ball.

So, on our way north for a fall weekend in Wellsboro, we scheduled a stop at the World of Little League Museum in South Williamsport.

The Museum sits next to the headquarters of Little League International, on a hill overlooking the stadiums that play host to the two-week tournament every August.

Inside the Museum, the exhibits are organized by “innings.” The first inning tells of the early years of Little League when local businessman Carl Stotz devised the idea of an organized baseball league for the town’s youth. He laid out the bases – 2/3 distance of a professional baseball diamond – and set the rules.

And in 1939, the team sponsored by Lycoming Dairy won the first ever “World Series.”

Of course, back then, it wasn’t truly a world series. But the idea quickly grew – first regionally, then nationally, and ultimately internationally.

The evolution is on full display with memorabilia on display from the first home plate to the uniforms worn in games just last year.

But the World of Little League is more than just a history lesson. The museum offers a number of interactive exhibits, and Jakob, our five-year-old aspiring big-league player, was excited to try all of them.  

It started with running from home to first – 60 feet. A timer on the wall showed your speed along with the day’s fastest times. (I will not be posting my time publicly).

There was also a catching simulation where videos of Little League baseball and softball pitchers – as well as a Major Leaguer – threw as you “caught” it from the perspective of the camera.

Nearby, a wall tested your reflexes for fielding ground balls and pop flies by lighting up baseball-shaped buttons that you then had to hit.

The sixth and final inning is reserved for the Hall of Honor, a space recognizing former Little Leaguers who achieved greatness in their lives, including professional athletes, US presidents, and other notable celebrities.

There really is something for everyone at the Museum. Baseball aficionados will appreciate the display dedicated to Cy Young, the great pitcher who leant his name to the annual award and an early supporter and board member of Little League.

And kids will love seeing the exhibit dedicated to Dugout, the larger-than-life mascot of Little League.

Dugout stuffed animals are among the range of items – for kids and adults – available in the official store. We bought a couple t-shirts and a pin (pin trading is a tradition for Little Leaguers) and the woman running the gift shop gave us a copy of the 2023 Little League World Series program for free. (Which had the added benefit of keeping Jakob busy for the remaining drive to Wellsboro).

It was a fun 90 minutes or so though I could have spent longer lingering at all the displays.

And it has Jakob dreaming of making it to the Little League World Series one day.

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