In 1947, the Board of Directors for the original Little League decided to organize a tournament for all known Little League programs (there were 17) and called it the National Little League Tournament. It was later renamed the Little League Baseball® World Series.
The 12 teams that participated in the first series in 1947 were:
- Williamsport (Original) Little League
- Williamsport Sunday School League
- Maynard Midget League (Williamsport)
- Lincoln League Stars (Williamsport)
- Brandon Boys League (Williamsport)
- Milton (Pa.) Midget League
- Montour Little League (Montoursville, Pa.)
- Montgomery (Pa.) Little League
- Jersey Shore (PA) All Stars
- Lock Haven (PA) All Stars
- Hammonton (NJ) All Stars
- West Shore Original Little League (Enola, Pa.).
The champion was the Maynard Midget League of Williamsport, which defeated the Lock Haven All Stars in the final game, 16-7.
More than 2,500 spectators witnessed the championship game, and the results were printed in newspapers around the country. The publicity helped spread Little League nationwide, and within a few years, Little League programs were in every state. When Little League added other programs (Senior League Baseball, softball divisions, etc.), it added tournament play and World Series tournaments in those divisions. There are now seven (7) World Series tournaments played every year in the various divisions of Little League.
VIEW ADDITIONAL WORLD SERIES INFORMATION
Little League Baseball® World Series
- Eligible Age: 10- to 12-year-olds
- Location: South Williamsport, Pennsylvania (Volunteer Stadium & Howard J. Lamade Stadium); 62nd Season in South Williamsport; 74th Season Overall in 2021
- 2019 Champion: Southwest Region – Eastbank Little League (River Ridge, La.)
- 2021 Dates: August 19-29
- 2022 Dates: August 17-28
Intermediate 50/70 Baseball World Series
- Eligible Age: 11- to 13-year-olds
- Location: Livermore, California (Max Baer Park); 8th Season in Livermore; 8th Season Overall in 2021
- 2019 Champion: Southeast Region – McCalla (Ala.) Little League
- 2021 Dates: August 1-8 (CANCELED)
- 2022 Dates: July 31 to August 7
Junior League Baseball World Series
- Eligible Age: 12- to 14-year-olds
- Location: Taylor, Michigan (Heritage Park); 40th Season in Taylor; 40th Season Overall in 2021
- 2019 Champion: West Region – Golden Hill Little League (Fullerton, Calif.)
- 2021 Dates: August 15-22 (CANCELED)
- 2022 Dates: August 14-21
Senior League Baseball World Series
- Eligible Age: 13– to 16-year-olds
- Location: Easley, South Carolina (Easley Recreation Complex); 4th Season in Easley; 60th Season Overall in 2021
- 2019 Champion: West Region – Central East Maui Little League (Wailuku, Hawaii)
- 2021 Dates: July 31 to August 7 (CANCELED)
- 2022 Dates: July 30 to August 6