February 20
FATHER OF LITTLE LEAGUE DAY
Millions of kids throughout the world have spent their summer days playing baseball thanks to a man named Carl E. Stotz. Stotz was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on this day in 1910. Twenty-nine years later, Carl Stotz found a way for little boys to play at the man’s game of baseball. He founded the Little League Baseball Organization, which consisted of three teams. (Today, each local league may have from four to ten teams.)
Boys, ages 8 to 12, formed the baseball teams that played on a diamond two-thirds the size of a regulation diamond; and played for six innings. Wearing rubber cleats and using bats no longer than 33 inches, boys were able to participate in America’s favorite pastime. Girls have been included in Little League since 1974 and championship tournaments are played at the end of the regular season of at least 15 games. The tournaments are held to select eight regional winners from around the world.
In honor of Carl Stotz, each August, the regional winners from the U.S. compete in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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