Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 1968 |
Ceased | 2016 |
No. of teams | 11 |
Countries | International |
Last champion(s) | Taoyuan, Taiwan |
Most titles | Taiwan (18) |
Official website | LittleLeague.org |
The Big League World Series was a baseball tournament for youth aged 15 to 18 years old that began in 1968. [1] On August 26, 2016, Little League International announced that it was eliminating the Big League Level of both baseball and softball, citing low participation levels over the previous 15 years. [2] It was patterned after the Little League World Series, which was named for the World Series in Major League Baseball. Most recently, the tournament was held in Easley, South Carolina.
The Big League World Series was held at four different sites.
Team | Championships | Last |
---|---|---|
Taiwan | 18 | 2016 |
Host Team(s) | 7 | 2007 |
Southern California | 5 | 2006 |
Puerto Rico | 2015 | |
South Carolina | 3 | 2013 |
Florida | 2014 | |
Illinois | 2 | 1973 |
West Virginia | 1 | 1968 |
Northern California | 1971 | |
New York | 1979 | |
Venezuela | 1986 | |
Canada | 2000 | |
Dominican Republic | 2007 |
Little League Baseball and Softball is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States, that organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the United States and the rest of the world.
The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children—typically boys—aged 10 to 12 years old, held in the Eastern United States. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. The Series was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania; while the postal address of the organization is in Williamsport, the Series itself is played at Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium at the Little League headquarters complex in South Williamsport.
The United States national baseball team, also known as Team USA represents the United States in international-level baseball competitions. The team is currently ranked 2nd in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The United States has won many international tournaments, many of which are now discontinued. Most notably the team won the Olympic baseball tournament in 2000, and the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2017.
The Junior League Softball World Series is a softball tournament for girls aged between 12 and 14. The tournament is administered by Little League Baseball, Inc. and is held annually in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, Washington.
Intermediate, Junior, and Senior League Baseball are youth baseball divisions of Little League Baseball that are considered more advanced and difficult than younger Little League divisions due to more advanced rules, including the ability to lead-off and steal as the pitcher breaks, along with longer base paths and greater pitching distance. Junior League also includes the use of bats with 2+5⁄8-inch (6.7 cm) barrels rather than the transitional 2+1⁄4-inch (5.7 cm) barrels of Little League. Junior League also allows the use of metal spikes in cleats in addition to the molded or plastic spikes used in Little League. The Big League level was a former division for even older teens until it was discontinued for both baseball and softball after the 2016 Big League World Series due to low participation levels over the previous 15 years.
The Junior League World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 12, 13, and 14 years old. The tournament is held annually at Heritage Park in Taylor, Michigan. It is patterned after the Little League World Series, which was named for the World Series in Major League Baseball.
The Senior League World Series is a baseball tournament for adolescence aged 13 to 16 years old that began in 1961. In 2017, the tournament was moved from Bangor, Maine to Easley, South Carolina. It is patterned after the Little League World Series, which was named for the World Series in Major League Baseball since 2002.
The 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season, play of college baseball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began on February 19, 2010. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball tournament and 2010 College World Series. The College World Series, which consisted of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA tournament, was held in its annual location of Omaha, Nebraska. It was the final College World Series held at Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium, which closed following the event. It concluded on June 30, 2010, with the final game of the best of three championship series. South Carolina defeated UCLA two games to none to claim their first championship, which was also South Carolina's first national championship in any men's sport.
The 2011 Little League World Series took place in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, between August 18 and 28. Eight teams from the United States and eight from elsewhere in the world competed in the 65th edition of this tournament. Ocean View Little League of Huntington Beach, California, defeated Hamamatsu Minami Little League of Hamamatsu City, Japan, in the championship game. Nick Pratto hit an RBI single to clinch the title for Ocean View.
The Babe Ruth League is an international youth baseball and softball league based in Hamilton, New Jersey, US named after George Herman "Babe" Ruth.
Gary R. Gilmore is an American college baseball coach who is currently the head coach of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. He has held the position since the start of the 1996 season. Coastal Carolina has qualified for 17 NCAA tournaments, most recently in 2022. In 2016, the team made its first appearance in the College World Series and won the 2016 NCAA National Championship.
The Little League Softball World Series is a softball tournament for girls aged 10 to 12 years old. It was first held in 1974 and is held every August at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina, in the United States. Little League expanded the field of World Series participants to 12 in 2022, adding 2 regions in the United States. Before being held in Greenville, it was held outside of Portland, Oregon at Alpenrose Stadium.
The 2001 Big League World Series youth baseball tournament took place from August 4–11 in Easley, South Carolina, U.S. Westminster, California, U.S., defeated Valencia, Venezuela, in the championship game.
The 2003 Big League World Series took place from August 2–9 in Easley, South Carolina, United States. Host Easley, South Carolina defeated Thousand Oaks, California in the championship game.
The Intermediate League World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old that began in 2013. It is patterned after the Little League World Series, which was named for the World Series in Major League Baseball. The tournament is held in Livermore, California.
The Senior League World Series Canada Region is one of six International regions that currently sends teams to the World Series in Easley, South Carolina. The region's participation in the SLWS dates back to 1965.
The 2016 Big League World Series was a youth baseball tournament that took place from July 26-August 2 in Easley, South Carolina, United States. Taoyuan, Taiwan defeated Maui, Hawaii in the championship game. It was the first BLWS title for Taiwan since 1996, and extended their overall record to 18.
The 2017 Senior League World Series took place from July 29–August 5 in Easley, South Carolina, United States. Aguadulce, Panama defeated Coral Springs, Florida in the championship game. This was the first SLWS held in Easley.
The Senior League World Series Caribbean Region is one of six International regions that currently sends teams to the World Series in Easley, South Carolina. The region's participation in the SLWS dates back to 2017. The region was the result of the Latin America region splitting in two.
Qualification for the 2018 Little League World Series took place in eight United States regions and eight international regions from June through August 2018.