From its humble beginnings as a three-team sport in 1939 until today, Little League continues to build character and promote courage and loyalty. The World of Little League" Museum also has emerged as a world-class showcase for the largest youth sports organization on the planet. Among the items on display in this amazing museum are a Little League keystone patch taken to outer space, an astronaut's suit, a piece of the Berlin Wall, updated safety equipment, and other artifacts that help to tell the history of the sport. Little League graduates include doctors, actors, musicians, firefighters, Olympians, educators, writers, sports stars, and a president of the United States. Their stories and others can be found in this book and at the museum, which is adjacent to Howard J. Lamade Stadium, where the Little League Baseball World Series has been played every August since 1959.
Janice L. Ogurcak joined the Little League International staff in 2005. She is director of public programming and outreach for the World of Little League: Peter J. McGovern Museum and Official Store. Images are from the museum and newspaper archives, as well as personal collections.