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Little League Baseball World Series Gets Underway

By Mark Rogoff
Special Correspondent

As the dog days of summer come barking at big leaguers in 30 cities across the United States, the endless days of summer come innocently at Little Leaguers in the one tiny town of South Williamsport, Pa.

The 2007 Little League Baseball World Series begins today, and nearly 350 kids from around the world have descended upon the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania to participate in the greatest youth sporting event around.

It’s here in Williamsport where these kids fulfill their dreams, while the rest of us look on in awe, wishing we had played at Howard J. Lamade Stadium or hoping our children may one day get to take the field here.

This is the best of the best. Who of these youngsters will become the next Ryan Howard, the next Alex Rodriguez, the next Grady Sizemore or the next Ryan Zimmerman? Could it be Cody Bellinger of Chandler, Ariz., Yuya Fukushima of Tokyo, Japan, or Canaan Cropper of Salisbury, Md.?

The Howards, Rodriguezes, Sizemores and Zimmermans of the world put us in the seats and give us reasons to watch. Now for the Little League All-Stars, it’s their turn to put people in the seats.

Heading into the Series, we do know this: Little League dreams have been turning into big league dreams, and the latest piece of evidence comes from a kid named Todd Frazier, who led his Toms Rivers American Little League squad to the 1998 Little League World Series championship. Todd was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds as the 34th overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft this past June.

Then there’s Colby Rasmus, who is now playing for the St. Louis Cardinals’ Double-A team. Rasmus was drafted by St. Louis as the 24th overall pick in the 2005 draft, six years after leading his Phenix City, Ala. club to the 1999 World Series title game. His brother, Cory, who also played on the Phenix City All-Star team, was drafted as the 38th overall selection in 2006 by the Atlanta Braves.

Lastings Milledge, who represented the East Region as a Bradenton, Fla., All-Star in the 1997 Little League baseball World Series, made his major league debut last year with the New York Mets after being drafted as the 12th overall pick in the 2003 draft.

The baseball season is in full swing, both in the Majors and in Little League, and it’s been quite a year thus far for the game we all love so much. Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Craig Biggio recorded his 3000th career hit. Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run. Tom Galvine won his 300th game. And, of course, Barry Bonds became the sport’s all-time home run leader with his 756th homer just a couple of weeks ago.

Now, America gets to enjoy the innocence and jaw-dropping talent of Little Leaguers as they take over the national spotlight for the next 10 days. What magical and historic moments will take place at this World Series?

It’s that time of year again. The hot dogs are on the grill, pins are ready to be traded and Dugout is ready to dance the night away.

It’s time for those two words we all love to hear: “Play Ball!”