Dear Little League® family,
As I round out my five years of service as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Little League International, I wanted to reflect on the incredible memories, moments, and achievements that this organization has accomplished this past year, all thanks to the dedication and commitment of our amazing volunteers.
Spotlighted by the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the League Baseball® World Series, we could not be more proud to bring back the full World Series experience in all seven divisions of play as we invited back our international teams and full fan attendance at all our events. We were also thrilled to see the expansion of our events in Greenville and Williamsport come to life this year as we saw the World Series experience lived out by six more teams and the added excitement at both our East and West Region tournaments.
This year also marked an incredible journey as we brought our Girls with Game initiative to the next level with new events like the Girls with Game Celebration at the Little League Softball® World Series, the Girls with Game Experience on Howard J. Lamade Stadium this fall, and a full Summer of Softball this year with our friends at Athletes Unlimited. With the celebration of our softball program in the spotlight more than ever before, we also experienced our most watched Little League Softball World Series airing on ESPN this August and we are inspired more than ever to enhance our commitment to continuing to grow that coverage with our friends at ESPN/ABC in the future.
While my time as Chairman may be coming to an end, I want to take the time to thank all of you for your dedication, commitment, and most importantly your focus on giving our Little Leaguers® the best possible experience on and off the field.
As I shared with our District Administrators during our time at the Little League International Congress event in Williamsport this past June, having the opportunity to serve as Chairman has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I look forward to remaining a committed Little League volunteer with my fellow Directors on the International Board and supporting our new leadership with Steven P. Johnson assuming the Chairman role.
These five years have helped remind me about the importance of working together as One Team. One Little League. For that, thank you and best wishes for a prosperous 2023!
Sincerely,
Hugh E. Tanner
Departing Little League International Board of Directors Chairman