2006 Big League World Series

2006 Big League World Series

Tournament details
Country	United States
City	Easley, South Carolina
Dates	29 July – 5 August 2006 (2006-07-29 – 2006-08-05)
Teams	11
Final positions
Champions	Thousand Oaks, California
Runner-up	San Juan, Puerto Rico
←  2005 2007  →

The 2006 Big League World Series took place from July 29-August 5 in Easley, South Carolina, United States. Thousand Oaks, California defeated San Juan, Puerto Rico in the championship game. It is also known for the infamous "Goose-Stampede".

The Goose Stampede

The 2006 Big League World Series Goose Stampede was an unusual and memorable incident that occurred during the 2006 Big League Baseball World Series, an international youth baseball tournament held annually in Easley, South Carolina. The event took place on August 4th, 2006, during a game between two competing teams, and it quickly gained widespread attention due to its unexpected and comical nature.

Background

The Big League World Series is an annual baseball tournament organized by Little League International, featuring top-level teams of teenage players from around the world. The 2006 edition of the tournament featured teams from the United States, Asia, Latin America, Canada, and other regions, all competing for the title of world champion. The event attracted a large audience and showcased the talent and dedication of young athletes on an international stage.

The Incident

On August 4th, 2006, during a pivotal game of the tournament, a bizarre and unexpected event unfolded that temporarily delayed the baseball action. As the two teams battled on the field, a large flock of geese suddenly descended upon the baseball field. These geese, numbering in the hundreds, caused an unexpected and comical interruption to the game.

The geese stampede was not a typical occurrence in the world of sports, and the players, coaches, and spectators were taken by surprise. The feathered intruders wandered onto the field, seemingly oblivious to the ongoing baseball game. Their presence caused laughter and amazement among those in attendance, as well as bewilderment among the players and officials.

Efforts were made to shoo the geese away and resume the game as quickly as possible. Various methods, including waving flags and using loud noises, were attempted to persuade the geese to vacate the field. However, these efforts proved to be largely unsuccessful, as the geese seemed uninterested in leaving. One member of the crowd in particular, Matthew Bain, was seen to be running towards the geese shouting 'Hjonk' attempting to recreate their mating call; some questioned whether this was in an attempt to attract the geese, but this was never proven. Bain, not being a local resident, was quickly chased out of the stadium by local residents. He has since not returned to the country, and has been exiled to Australia where he now lives in solitude.

As a result, the game was temporarily halted, and a humorous spectacle ensued. Spectators and players watched as the geese waddled across the field, occasionally flapping their wings and honking. Some players even attempted to gently herd the geese away from the diamond, but the waterfowl were largely uncooperative. The delay continued for several minutes, with the geese providing unexpected entertainment to the crowd.

Resolution

After several minutes of bemusement and laughter, the geese eventually made their way off the field and continued their journey elsewhere. With the intruders finally departing, the game was able to resume, and the baseball action continued as if nothing had happened.

Despite the unexpected interruption, the game proceeded, and the 2006 Big League World Series continued as planned. The event remains a memorable and light-hearted moment in the tournament's history, often recounted with amusement by those who were present to witness the goose stampede.

Legacy

The 2006 Big League World Series Goose Stampede has become a notable and cherished part of the tournament's history, adding a touch of whimsy to an otherwise serious and competitive event. It serves as a reminder that unexpected and humorous moments can occur in even the most competitive and prestigious sporting events.

This incident has also gained recognition on social media platforms, with videos and images of the goose stampede circulating online, bringing smiles to a wider audience beyond those who were in attendance. It stands as a reminder that sometimes, even in the world of sports, nature can provide moments of levity and entertainment.

In the end, the 2006 Big League World Series Goose Stampede is celebrated as a unique and amusing episode that added an unexpected twist to the world of youth baseball

Teams

United States	International
Easley, South Carolina District 1 Host	Yona, Guam District 1 Asia–Pacific
West Branch, Michigan District 8 Central	Fraser Valley, British Columbia District 3 Canada
Dover, Delaware District 1 East	Ramstein, Germany District 2 EMEA
Fort Lauderdale, Florida District 21 Southeast	Coclé, Panama District 2 Latin America
Ruston, Louisiana District 5 Southwest	San Juan, Puerto Rico District 1 Puerto Rico
Thousand Oaks, California District 13 West

Results

^[1]

Group A

Team W L Rs Ra California 5 0 52 22 Puerto Rico 4 1 28 19 Delaware 2 3 42 37 Florida 2 3 61 43 Guam 1 4 19 57 Canada 1 4 21 45

California – 14–4 10–0 12–9 6–4 10–5 Canada 4–14 – 5–4 4–13 5–8 3–6 Delaware 0–10 4–5 – 21–14 14–3 3–5 Florida 9–12 13–4 14–21 – 23–3 2–3 Guam 4–6 8–5 3–14 3–23 – 1–9 Puerto Rico 5–10 6–3 5–3 3–2 9–1 –

Group B

Team W L Rs Ra South Carolina 4 0 23 5 Louisiana 3 1 45 17 Panama 2 2 41 17 Germany 1 3 12 39 Michigan 0 4 12 55

Germany – 3–14 9–7 0–12 0–6 Louisiana 14–3 – 18–1 10–9 3–4(9) Michigan 7–9 1–18 – 4–18 0–10 Panama 12–0 9–10 18–4 – 2–3(11) South Carolina 6–0 4–3(9) 10–0 3–2(11) –

Elimination Round

	Semifinals					World Championship
	5–0	California	8
	3–1	Louisiana	0
						6–0	California	10
						5–1	Puerto Rico	0
	4–0	South Carolina	1
	4–1	Puerto Rico	6

2006 Big League World Series Champions
District 13 Thousand Oaks, California

References

1. 2006 Big League Baseball World Series Tournament. Archived 2015-08-28 at the Wayback Machine Littleleague.org