Play Ball The Story Of Little League Baseball

With more than 4 million people participating in Little League games every year, Little League is the rite of passage into the quintessential American pastime. "Play Ball!" charts Little League's history from its earliest days and shows how, in many respects, its history parallels America's history. 140 illustrations.

The first book in an epic series about family, friendship, and baseball Eleven-year-old cousins catcher Liam McGrath and pitcher Carter Jones grew up playing baseball together. Now, their team is on the verge of winning the greatest championship of all: the Little League Baseball World Series. To reach the title match, however, they must first beat their number one rivals from Southern California. Little do they know that the game will prove to be just the first challenge they'll face on their road to the championships.

Eleven-year-old cousins who are closer than most brothers, catcher Liam McCarthy and pitcher Carter Jones grew up playing baseball together. Now, their team is on the verge of winning the greatest championship of all: the Little League Baseball World

Little League Baseball is a microcosm of American history, filled with countless anecdotes, good fortune, adversity, and hope. In 1947, when the first Little League Baseball World Series was played, there were seventeen leagues in two states. Since then, Little League has achieved global recognition and has touched the lives of children and families in more than one hundred countries. The World Series is the culmination of dedication and teamwork in more than sixteen thousand games ending in a sixteen-team tournament in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Little League Baseball World Series remembers the history of the tournament and its role in bringing together communities. More than two thousand five hundred spectators witnessed the first championship game in 1947, when the Maynard Midgets took home the trophy, and the results were printed in newspapers around the country. Now, millions more tune in to ABC's Wide World of Sports and ESPN for live coverage of the final game. Little League Baseball has enriched the lives of more than thirty million boys and girls who have worn a Little League uniform. Well-known figures such as Derek Jeter, Kevin Costner, and Pres. George W. Bush were all Little League players. The Little League Baseball World Series celebrates this rich baseball history and the best teams the league has produced through the years.

With more than 4 million people participating in Little League games every year, Little League is the rite of passage into the quintessential American pastime. "Play Ball!" charts Little League's history from its earliest days and shows how, in many respects, its history parallels America's history. 140 illustrations.

On April 15, 1947, Matt Romano and his father watch the Brooklyn Dodgers season-opener, during which Jackie Robinson, a twenty-eight-year-old rookie, breaks the "color line" that had kept black men out of Major League baseball. Includes facts about Jackie Robinson's life and career.

Put the play back in "Play ball!" Face it: Your Little Leaguers didn't sign up for your team to work on their pitching, work on their batting, or work on their base-running. They joined the team to play and have fun with their friends. But finding ways to keep your team enthusiastic and motivated doesn't have to supersede crucial skill development. Making Little League‚ Baseball More Fun for Kids can help you overcome the greatest coaching obstacle of all: how to teach your kids the skills they need to win games while allowing them to have fun and appreciate the game of baseball. Children prefer games, contests, and competitions. Since it's their practice time, not yours, why not create a practice schedule that excites them? Making Little League‚ Baseball More Fun for Kids gives both coaches and parents a way to provide skill work in the guise of games that will keep kids happy and attentive throughout their practice. Written by a longtime baseball enthusiast, player, and coach and backed by the prestigious Little League‚ brand, this collection of creative new drills introduces 30 "games within the game" to use during practice sessions. Many can be played at home, while others are designed to involve the entire team. Each game is fun and simple to coordinate, and all of them teach or refine essential baseball skills so kids will enjoy their practice time while improving their technique. Each game features: A brief message or anecdote that relates to the skill being learned Information about the number of players required, necessary equipment, a detailed explanation of how to play the game, and more An explanation of the specific skills that will be improved Sidebars that enlighten and entertain Photos and captions to clarify accompanying text Help your team rediscover the pleasure of playing America's favorite pastime with the help of Making Little League‚ Baseball More Fun for Kids.

The final book in the series has Liam and Carter's teams on the verge of winning the greatest championship of all: the Little League Baseball® World Series. Cousins and best friends who grew up playing baseball together, Liam and Carter must now play against each other to achieve their dreams of winning the Series title! One cousin will win, and the other will lose. © 2013 Little League Baseball, Incorporated.