After three decades of covering Major League Baseball (MLB) and serving as a baseball columnist with the New York Post for 10 years, former Little Leaguer® Ken Davidoff found his new adventure as co-author of “101 Lessons from the Dugout.” With the help of pediatrician and parenting expert, Dr. Harley A. Rotbart, the novel features the lessons kids can learn beyond the strikeouts, base stealing, and double plays.
In 2026, Davidoff made the trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to experience the Little League Baseball® World Series himself, and while in town, Little League® sat down with him to learn more about his journey from the diamond to famed sportswriter to young adult author and the important lessons he learned along the way.
First Inning: How did you get involved in Little League?
I grew up in Edison, New Jersey, and we had a vibrant Little League community with a couple programs in the area. I played in North Edison Little League. As someone who grew up loving baseball, there was never any doubt that I’d be playing Little League as soon as I was eligible.
Second Inning: What should a parent look for in a youth baseball or softball program?
I think a parent should look for a coach who cares most about development. Winning is great. Team parties are fun. Handshakes are great. But I think when young people are playing Little League, I’d rather see the coaches emphasize skill development and personal development. The relationships you can make from playing on a team together, for me, are greater than the victories.
Third Inning: What was the inspiration behind your book, “101 Lesson from the Dugout”?
I was blessed enough to be invited to join a project that was originally hatched by my coauthor, Dr. Harley Rotbart , who is a pediatrician in Denver who loves baseball and softball. Holly combines those gifts of connectivity with young people and using baseball and softball as a teaching tool. Holly brought me in because of my love for those games and my having covered Major League Baseball for 30-plus years now. So, we kind of blended our experiences and our perspectives to create this book.
Fourth Inning: If you could pick one value you think a Little League family would resonate with, what would it be?
Inclusivity. If you are gifted and blessed enough to be in the starting lineup, keep an eye out for your teammates who are not in the starting lineup. When I played Little League, I was often not in the starting lineup and one of my fondest memories is from a game when I was 15, my last year of Little League. I came in in the fourth or fifth inning as a defensive replacement and made a big catch in right field to help us win the game. After games, my coach would give out special patches that we would sew into our hats, and my teammates voted for me to get one of the patches after that win. It was so meaningful to me that I’m still remembering it 40-plus years later. It’s very important to me for the starters to make the non-starters feel included.
Fifth Inning: What lessons from baseball do you think your son is still using in his day-to-day life today?
The importance of having a plan. My wife and I raised our son in an apartment building in Manhattan. Not a lot of real estate to play baseball, so we would play in our hallway on the eighth floor. Luckily, we had understanding neighbors. We’d stand about 30 feet apart, and I would throw him a baseball. I would say, ‘Okay, now Brett Gardner is hitting this ball.’ So, he knew, ‘Okay, I have to move fast.’ Brett Gardner was speedy, and he had to quickly get the ball and unleash it to Dad at first base.
Or, ‘Okay, now Bengie Molina is hitting this ball.’ He knew with Bengie Molina, he could take a little more time, collect himself. Bengie Molina was a little slower back in the day, and he could throw out Bengie that way. I think my son still is very prepared. He kind of scans and plans no matter what he’s doing. He’s now a schoolteacher as part of the Teach for America program. So, as he’s preparing for that, I think he’s pretty good at surveying the field, metaphorically speaking, and preparing for what’s coming his way.
Sixth Inning: If a friend was signing their kid up for youth baseball or softball, and asked “Why Little League?” how would you respond?
I know I’m biased, but I think baseball and softball are the best games, in part because there is no clock at the youth level. It’s the most democratic of games. Everyone gets their turn at bat. There’s just such a great beauty in the game that you don’t get with horizontal sports, which I love in their own way, but there is something beautiful about the diamond and everyone having their spot on the field and their turn at the plate.
To learn more about Little League’s notable alumni, visit LittleLeague.org/Alumni. If you know of a notable Little League graduate who is not listed on our website, please fill out our Little League Alumni Submission Form.