History 300

December 8, 2004

Little League Hits a Home Run

There are many factors that go into forming children into adults.  Race, sex and economic status all control the opportunities that children will have when they become adults.  A child’s experiences with adults and other children can also be a factor.  There are many places where children interact with each other.  A sports league is one of those places.  There are many sports leagues.  Soccer, basketball and baseball are all possibilities.  These leagues offer the child the opportunity to experience competition.  The sport of baseball becomes an interesting case study for sports because of its connection with America.  Baseball is the American pastime.  A study of baseball gives an interesting perspective on the youth of America.  Little League baseball is the most popular youth sport.  The organization provides a historian an effective base for the study of youth sports. The organization of Little League was not always inclusive.  Little League had exclusive tendencies that were corrected when the organization and its first president parted ways. 

            According to Little League, “In 1938 a man named Carl Stotz hit upon the idea for an organized baseball league for the boys in his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.”[1]   The official name, Little League, was coined a year later when Stotz founded Little League baseball.  In the same year, 1939, the first Little League game was played between Lundy Lumber and Lycoming Dairy, which were the first two sponsored teams.  In 1947 the first Little League World Series was held in Williamsport.  Eleven teams competed in that World Series which was, “known then as the National Little League Tournament.”[2]  Little League was then “granted federal charter July 16,1964 by unanimous act of the Senate and House of Representatives and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.” [3]  The year 1997 was another landmark year for Little League.  That year, total Little League participants reached over two million.  1997 was also the first time that the World Series was broadcast nationally by ESPN2.[4] 

One year later Little League had a reconfirmation of its mission by the 150^th Congress.  They stated in a resolution that Little League; “is international in character and has engendered international goodwill through its worldwide activities, particularly among the youth of the world…was established to support and develop Little League Baseball worldwide, through the chartering of local leagues and the provisions of assistance to such local leagues, through the creation or location of facilities in other countries, and the provision of other support as appropriate, including financial support, without right of reimbursement or repayment.  The Congress calls upon the parliamentary bodies and government officials of other nations, particularly those that participate in Little League Baseball, to recognize and celebrate the international character of Little League baseball.”[5]  Congress is correct.  Little League baseball does deserve to be celebrated.  According to the organization of Little League the sport grew to “become the world’s largest organized youth sports program.  In the space of just six decades, Little League grew from three teams to nearly 200,000 teams, in all 50 U.S states and more than 100 countries.”[6]   Little League deserves to be praised because of its fairness.  Little League Baseball was not always inclusive, but they change their ways.  Little League came to include all races and both sexes. 

Lance Van Auken wrote, “Little League has been integrated form the start.  Although no African American participated on the first three teams in 1939, Williamsport’s black community became a part of the program the next year and every year thereafter.”[7] This seems to be true, but there is one time when this belief of Van Auken’s was challenged.  In 1955, a team from South Carolina, made up of all black players was singled out.  David Pitts wrote, “in the summer of 1955, just a few months before Rose Parks would refuse to sit at the back of the bus in nearby Alabama, 14 African American boys from the Cannon Street YMCA Little League were looking forward to entering the local Little League Tournament.”[8] He continued, “But in 1955, of the 62 charted Little League programs in South Carolina, all but one of the leagues—the Cannon Street League—was composed entirely of whites.  When the Cannon Street League signaled its desire to enter to contest, all 61 if the white leagues refused to play them.”[9]  The team from Cannon Street was the first to break the color barrier of Little League baseball.  It was the first all black team.  This set off a civil war inside the organization.   

“All the white teams in the Charleston area, with the support of Danny Jones, state director for Little League, refused to play against the all black team…planning instead to hold their own unsanctioned tournament.  They contended that Little League officials in Pennsylvania should not be able to control the affairs of local little league programs in South Carolina.  Little League would not budge.  If the white team refused to play a duly franchised league, regardless of race, they would not be permitted to participate in the tournament.  This resulted in a mass exodus of teams from Little League, leaving only one ‘legal’ team from South Carolina.”[10]  This left Little League in a quandary.

The organization questioned how it was to resolve the issue of the team for South Carolina.  Little League seemed to only have two options: either let the team play, or exclude them totally from the series.  The rules of Little League stated that a team must go through elimination rounds at the local and state level to qualify for the World Series.  Because all the other teams refused to play against the all black team they could not correctly qualify for the tournament.  The rule did not allow the team to qualify for the World Series.  The issue was resolved when Little League invited the players of the Cannon Street team to participate in the World Series.  The team was not able to play because of the rules, but they were invited to participate in the pageantry of the World Series.   

This could be seen as de facto racism—the team could not play because it was made up of black players.  But this was not a case of de facto racism.  Allowing the team to participate would have broken the qualification rules of Little League.  The organization acted very admirably by allowing the team to come to Williamsport.  The decision not to let the team play was not based on the fact that the players were black.  It was because they did not qualify, because the racist action of the other teams in South Carolina.   

The fight between the organization and the teams in South Carolina lead to a secession of the South Carolina Leagues.  Those other 61 teams started their own league called Dixie Youth.  This division lead to the severing of ties with the organization founder Carl Stotz.  Stotz “opposed allowing non-U.S. teams to participate in the Little League World Series.”[11]  This exclusion also included black players from inside the United States.  A settlement was reached out of court between the organization and Stotz and lead to Dixie Youth. Another result of settlement was that Stotz would be forced to leave the organization.  As David Pitts wrote, “For Little League in general, the impact was significant.  The Organization stood its ground in support of the African American team’s right to play even as many white teams in the south left the program in protest.  For Americans who believed in integration and racial progress, it was the organizations shining moment.”[12] The limited participation of the team from Cannon Street showed Little Leagues’ inclusion.  The team was included, even if it could not play.  This was a “shinning moment” for Little League because it had valiantly fought for the protection of their rules and their mission statement—to allow everyone to play.  This moment lead to the inclusion of two teams in 1971 that Carl Stotz would have never allowed to play in “his” Little League World Series. Stotz’s belief, that no other than white American teams should have been allowed to participate in Little League, would have prevented the formation of two teams that played in 1971.   These two teams were from Gary, Indiana and Madrid Spain. 

The inclusion of the team from Madrid was another inclusive act by Little League.  This team was made up of sons of the Torrejon Air Force Base employees and was the first European team to qualify for the World Series.  This demonstrated, that Little League included Europe although; the team was made up of Americans and not actual European players. This was a circumstance that could not be controlled by Little League—and it showed that they included everyone to the best of their ability.  Little League did not control the qualifying that allowed this team to advance, but this team should not be viewed as one that broke down barriers because it was made up of Americans.

However, this team would have never been included if Stotz was running Little League baseball in 1971 because they were European.  The barrier was broken for a team made up entirely of Europeans.  Such a team would have never existed during Stotz’s command.   

The other team that made up the very inclusive Little League World series that season was from Gary, Indiana.  This team was made up of black players.  Similar to the action taken in 1955, the organization acted in an ethical manner.  The coach from that team recalled talking to a Little League official, “I called and told him, ‘ my boys are black, will there be any problems?’ He told me, ‘Mr. Hudson, these boys are Little Leaguers.  We will accept them, no matter what color they are, as Little Leaguers.  And more important, we will accept them as human beings.’”[13]   

This team received an award by the Boys’ Club of America.  The award was given, “citing the team for it’s ‘great skill and sportsmanship.’ The team members, many of whom belong to Boys’ Club in Gary, were hailed as representing ‘the highest traditions of juvenile decency as practiced by Boys’ Cubs through out the country.’”[14]  An article in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette written about Lloyd McClendon said, “As usual, he managed to overpower the Kentuckians both on the mound and at the plate.  He allowed only three hits and struck out 12 but walked three.”[15]  The article continues, “At bat, he slugged two towering home runs, one of them a three run poke in the first inning.”[16]  Lloyd McClendon went on to “become a Major League player and later the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.”[17]  This is important because McClendon was an African American.  He would have never been allowed to play in Little League if Stotz’s position, of not allowing any blacks to play in little league, would have remained, McClendon might not have had the chance to excel at baseball. 

Stotz’s rules would have also banned girls from playing in Little League.  This issue, of girls in Little League was less cut and dry for Little League.   In 1973, Carl Stotz said in the Detroit News, “When we started Little League, the idea of a girl playing baseball, even with other girls, was simply unthinkable.”  This set up a debate that would not be contained inside Little League.

             Carl Stotz was smart but was not very inclusive. His battle to keep the team from South Carolina out of the World Series and his beliefs about girls in baseball led to the conclusion of Stotz’s exclusionary nature.  If girls playing baseball is “unthinkable” to him, he clearly did not understand the issue of gender equality.  In 1928, almost ten years before Little League was started, Margaret Gisolo tried to break the gender barrier in American Legion baseball.  She was successful.  She played on an American Legion team that went to the playoffs.  The year after the playoffs, American Legion banned girls from playing ball for economic reasons.  In 1951, while still under Carl Stotz’s rules, Little League followed the lead of the American Legion and also banned girls from the organization. 

Almost twenty years after the rule, Maria Pepe changed the landscape of Little League.  In the spring of 1972, Maria made the Hoboken New Jersey team.  Little League threatened to revoke the team’s charter if she was not removed from the team—she was.   Pepe’s right to play in Little League set off a series of court cases.  The suits were based on the fact that Little League was operating on public funds and using public lands. Therefore, the organization could not discriminate against girls. “In 1973, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to order Little League to permit girls to play.”[18]  The court cases were a turning point for Little League.  Even though, Little League was forced into allowing girls into their boy baseball programs, they also instituted a new, girls’ only softball league.  The softball league started in 1974 with 30,000 players.

            Marie Pepe’s lawsuits contributed to the passing of Title IX.  Title IX stated that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”[19]  Title IX passed in 1972 as part of the Educational Amendments Act.[20]  This law mainly focused on school athletics.   The influence of Little League and the “no girls allowed” policy influenced the amendments.

            The girls in Little League issue seemed to be resolved thorough the creation of a new league and the acceptance of girls into the baseball programs.  The first team with a girl made it to the World Series in 1984.  Her name was Victoria Roche and she played for Brussels, Belgium.  She was American.  The Softball league continues to grow and now has 390,000 players.

            The legacy of Little League and girl involvement is unclear. The rule of “no girls allowed” was taken off the Little League books in 1974, many years after the bitter end of Stotz’s run as president.  It seems that Stotz ran the organization based on his personal beliefs.  Stotz fought the inception of the all black team and was president of Little League when girls were banned.  It is easy and logical to place the blame for these two stains on the history of Little League on Carl Stotz.  After his reign, the organization invited the all-black team to the series and allowed girls to participate.  Stotz was the only person who slowed the progress and inclusion of Little League.  This progress is even apparent today with the Urban Initiative Program that Little League started.

            Little League is still trying to include—even the less fortunate.  “The Little League Urban Initiative Program provides assistance packages for eligible leagues that assist the local volunteer groups with equipment acquisition, capital improvement cash grants, field development and renovation, access to Little League Baseball and Softball Education and training programs.”[21] This initiative has added 1,750 players in 55 cities since it started in September of 2000.   Perhaps the continual growth of Little League can be attributed to the exclusion of Carl Stotz.  It is an interesting concept that to expand Little League had to exclude the person who did not want to include.   

             In the cases of Little League exclusion, it appeared that each time the organization was not able to respond to a new circumstance or reality.  It acted regressively instead of progressively.  This was a critical flaw of the organization.  In the case of the team in 1955 Little League acted as an organization that was not ready for the situation of an all black team.  Because of its rules, the organization acted in the only manner they could, by allowing the team to come to Williamsport.  In the cases of girl participation in Little League, the organization was again not ready to deal with the inclusion of girls.  Little League was forced into both these issues of exclusion because of Carl Stotz.  Stotz’s racist and sexist ideals were out of touch with both the world and the organization.  Society’s shift from previous racial and sexual beliefs left Stotz behind.  Stotz was defending an outdated position.  He was the reason for any exclusion in Little League baseball.  The organization had opposite views to those of Stotz.  The organization was inclusive.  The issues of race and gender in Little League were only issues because of Stotz’s beliefs.  Stotz’s only contribution to the organization was founding it.  Other that that, he was a hindrance to Little League not a contributor.  Society and Little League passed Stotz by.  Without Stotz to hinder the growth of Little League, the organization prospered and was the inclusive organization that is present today.          

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[1] www.littleleague.org/about /histroy.asp

[2] www.littleleague.org/about/chronology.asp

[3] They were singed in as Public Law 88-378, 88^th Congress H.R. 9234, and amended December 26, 1974 Public Law 93-551, 93^rd Congress H.R. 8864.  www.littleleague.org/about /mission.asp

[4] ESPN2 is a cable sports network that is part of the ESPN family of networks.

[5] S. Congress Resolution 37. Agreed to on April 28, 1998

[6] www.littleleague.org/about /histroy.asp

[7]Lance Van Auken and Robin Van Auken.  Play Ball! The Story of Little League Baseball.  (University Park Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2001) pg 78.

[8] Pitts, David.  “1955 Little League Baseball Team Honored.”  International Information, 04 September 2002. 

[9] ibid

[10] Lance Van Auken and Robin Van Auken.  Play Ball! The Story of Little League  Baseball.  (University Park Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2001) pg 79.

[11] Lance Van Auken and Robin Van Auken.  Play Ball! The Story of Little League Baseball.  (University Park Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University  Press, 2001. pg 65

[12] Pitts, David.  “1955 Little League Baseball Team Honored.”  International Information,

04 September 2002. 

[13] Lance Van Auken and Robin Van Auken.  Play Ball! The Story of Little League   Baseball.  (University Park Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2001. pg 65                

[14] “Gary Little League Tops with Boys’ Club,” Boys’ Clubs of America, 28 August 1971.

[15] David Thompson, “European, All Negro Teams Triumph,” Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 26 August 1971; 37.

[16] ibid

[17] www.littleleague.org/about/chronology.asp

[18]Lance Van Auken and Robin Van Auken.  Play Ball! The Story of Little League Baseball.  (University Park Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2001. pg 151

[19] http://www2.ucsc.edu/title9-sh/titleix.htm

[20] These laws amended the Higher Education Act of 1965

[21] “Little League Urban Initiative Program Fast Facts,” April 2004. LLM

Here it is in all it's glory! i wrote the paper with footnotes, not end notes bu t when i copied it it changed.  I guess notepad did this.  THis paper is after both rewrites and line edits.  This is the final paper.  the concerns: its onesideness and it's lenth.  I did not reach the 3500 word mark but i figured that any more would be filler.  The issues are onesided.  There is no decenting opinion in this paper.  THis mokes the paper stronger and weaker.  Weak because there is no arguement.  My point of view is the only one represented.  i think the paper would be better with my thoughts on another persons arguement.  The strenths:  my paper seems to have no counter arguement.  the facts are persented are true and the actions of L.L are well represnted.  Perhaps there could aslo be a study of dixie youth and conparisions between the two. 

Comments

[Craig]

The essay “Little League Hits a Homerun”, Aaron takes on a topic very dear to my heart. I was once a Little Leaguer and ended up playing ball for a good 16 years of my life. Furthermore I now coach baseball and had the great opportunity to coach a Little League team myself this summer. With that being said, Aaron’s paper was a very enjoyable read to me. Having played baseball for a good part of my life, finding out the history of the sport was very appealing to me. Aaron essay did a great job at providing the reader with History and facts of the formation of the league and policies.
“Little League Hits a Homerun” essay from what I gather not only presents the reader with the History of the league but depicts society as it changes through the decade. One prime example Aaron focuses on is Racism and segregation of not only in society but how the Little League dealt with this issue as well. I would have to say that the paper sticks with his thesis dealing with little league connection with society. I think that essay does a great job at touching on topic that have been and still are debated upon.
All in all the essay written by Aaron was a well written, that offers the reader a unique look into the history not only of Little League but society as well. Aaron does a great job on interviewing society and the issues that were factors of the time into how they affected the history of Little League.
On the downside of things, Aaron’s essay while well written seemed to get lost in the facts and history for me. I would have like to have seen the paper include a little more unique topic. Don’t get me wrong the paper was interesting; I just seemed to get lost in all the facts of the paper. I would have liked to see some personal reactions or feeling by those individual that played in the World Series. Maybe have a little more about how foreign teams have done and their reactions. Another topic maybe could be about some of the recent scandals that have arisen in the last couple of years. I think that maybe I just know too much about Little League baseball and that there would always be something that I would find not touched enough for me at no fault to the writer.
All in all I really enjoyed the paper. I was impressed with the organization and format of the history and connection with society. This essay gives me the facts of something that is very dear to my heart, “Little League Baseball”.

Letter Grade B