Each February, Little League® joins the rest of the world in celebrating Black History Month, committed to ensuring every player, coach, parent, and volunteer feels welcome and included from the grassroots level to the biggest stage in youth sports. From alumni who started on the Little League Baseball or Softball diamond and continue to make an impact in their communities today to a junior umpire who shares his story with hopes of inspiring more kids like him to step up and volunteer, we believe the Little League story belongs to all of us.
Over the next four weeks, Little League will showcase moments in history that have reshaped the program, plus players, volunteers, and communities who continue to inspire generations of Little Leaguers® to write the next chapter of the story. Below is a preview of just some of the stories that will be told this February. Make sure to check back in throughout February for more!
“Six Innings Conversations”
Cliff Floyd, Former MLB Left Fielder and Current Baseball Analyst
From the lessons he learned to the relationships he built, for Cliff Floyd – former Major Leaguer and current MLB Network analyst – baseball has always been about more than what happens on the diamond. Little League sat down with Floyd for a special “Six Innings Conversation” – six questions for the six innings in a Little League game – to learn more about his journey from fields of Markham Manor (Ill.) Little League to the big leagues, and to offer advice for the next generation of Little Leaguers.
Naomi Ryan, USA Baseball Women’s National Team Athlete
For Naomi Ryan, who made her debut on the USA Baseball Women’s National Team in 2023, baseball has not only served as a way for her to connect with her brothers and father, but also as an opportunity for her to grow the game in the Black community. Little League sat down with Ryan for a “Six Innings Conversation” to learn more about her journey from Little League to Team USA and to offer advice for the next generation of female athletes.
Little League Proud Parent Series
Dusty and Darren Baker
Launched in October 2025, the #LLProudParent content series spotlights parents and their first-person reflections on their experiences with their child in the Little League program. Former Major League Baseball manager and Little League Hall of Excellence Enshrinee Dusty Baker shares his journey as a baseball dad to his son, Darren, who is still living out his Major League dreams.
Celebrating Canon Street YMCA Little League at the 2025 Little League Baseball® World Series
During the 2025 Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, three members of the 1955 Canon Street YMCA Little League team from Charleston, South Carolina, traveled to Williamsport for a memorable 70th anniversary.
In the summer of 1955, every chartered Little League in South Carolina was made up of entirely white players – except for one. That league was Canon Street YMCA Little League. The league sent a team to Charleston’s tournament, which, before 1955, had seen only white players take the field. Their story is an example of Little League’s values of influencing all children to socialize and learn life lessons, and an exhibit can be found on display in the World of Little League® Museum in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
In addition to sharing on its social media channels (@LittleLeague) using #BHM, this story will also be updated with this content as it becomes available.