Every year since 1947, the best youth baseball players and teams have squared off in the Little League World Series. The 2013 Little League World Series is slated to begin on August 15th and runs until August 26th in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Fans can follow all the action with a Little League World Series bracket.
History of the Little League World Series Bracket
The event was originally dubbed the “National Little League Tournament” and was comprised only of teams from the United States upon its inception in ’47. In 1976, the tournament changed its format by splitting it into one bracket for American teams and another bracket for International teams. The tournament features youth baseball players aged 11-12.
On the United States side, one team will represent each of the following regions:
- Northwest
- Southeast
- Southwest
- West
- Great Lakes
- Mid-Atlantic
- Midwest
- New England
On the International side, one team will represent each of the following regions:
- Europe/Africa
- Japan
- Latin America
- Mexico
- Asia-Pacific/Middle East
- Australia
- Canada
- Caribbean
A club representing Williamsport defeated Lock Haven, PA in the first-ever championship game, 16-7, in ’47. However, Lock Haven edged St. Petersburg, FL to win the title the following year. The first International team to win it all was from Monterrey, Mexico in 1957.
No nation has won more LLWS titles than Taiwan, which enters 2013 with a whopping 17 championships. Taiwan’s last title came in 1996. Japan is second on the all-time list with eight. Japan crushed a club from Tennessee, 12-2, in five innings to win the title in 2012. The state of California is third with seven overall championships.
A number of future professional athletes have played in the Little League World Series. Future MLB players include Gary Sheffield, Jason Varitek, Carney Lansford, Jason Bay, Derek Bell and Todd Frazier. Other future athletes include NFL quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Brian Sipe, and NHL players Chris Drury, Ray Ferraro, Stephane Matteau and Pierre Turgeon.
Perhaps the most famous name to ever play in the Little League World Series is Danny Almonte. Just weeks after helping his Bronx team to a third-place finish in 2001, it was revealed that Almonte was two years too old to be playing in the tournament.
Download: Little League World Series Bracket