1947 Little League World Series

1947 Little League World Series
Original Little League Field in 2016
Tournament details
DatesAugust 21–August 23
Teams12
Final positions
ChampionsPennsylvania Maynard League
Runner-upPennsylvania Lock Haven
1948 →

The 1947 Little League World Series took place from August 21 through August 23, when the first Little League Baseball championship tournament was played at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Maynard Midgets of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, defeated the Lock Haven All Stars of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, 16–7 to win the championship.[1] The event was called the National Little League Tournament,[2] as the "World Series" naming was not adopted until 1949.

In 1947, the board of directors for the original Little League decided to organize a tournament for the 17 known Little League programs.[3] The fields on which the games were played are between the street and a levee built to protect the town from the West Branch Susquehanna River.[4] That levee provided most of the seating for the inaugural series' attendees.[5] Although the Little League World Series has now moved to a stadium in South Williamsport, it's still possible to play baseball on the original field.[6]

The inaugural series was important in history in that it was integrated at a time when professional baseball was still integrating.[7] More than 2,500 spectators enjoyed the final game, which helped to increase the League's overall publicity.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Express25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Express23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "Little League World Series History". Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  4. ^ 41°14′25″N 77°02′41″W / 41.240394°N 77.044643°W / 41.240394; -77.044643
  5. ^ Caldwell, Dave (July 20, 2007). "Williamsport, Pa.: Home of True Small Ball". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  6. ^ Lewerenz, Dave (August 10, 2003). "Small Museum Preserves Historic Birthplace of Little League". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  7. ^ Simonich, Milan (August 13, 2006). "Stroll in Free to the 60th Summer Baseball Classic". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved February 2, 2008.