W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award

A dedicated advocate for youth sports and community development, as well as a former Little League^® coach himself, Pennsylvania Senator Gene Yaw has been named as the recipient of the 2025 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award.

Throughout his career, Senator Yaw has been a steadfast supporter of Little League and its home in Lycoming County. As Lycoming County Solicitor, he helped facilitate funding from the state that led to the construction of Volunteer Stadium in 2000. He also played a key role in leading negotiations with the Pennsylvania State Police and the Corbett Administration to strengthen the security efforts around the Little League Baseball World Series.

Senator Yaw played an instrumental role in securing the funding needed to renovate the Historic Bowman Field to ensure it met MLB field regulations before the first Little League MLB Classic in 2017. Today, the Little League MLB Classic continues to be a staple during the Little League Baseball World Series. Furthermore, Senator Yaw has worked with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to secure grant funding and continues to support local and state initiatives that uphold the region’s baseball history.

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A dedicated volunteer, long-time advocate of the Little League Challenger Division^®, and former member of the Little League^® International Board of Directors, Little League International will honor Dr. Darrell Burnett as the recipient of the 2024 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award. Dr. Burnett, who passed away on August 26, 2023, was honored posthumously on Saturday, August 24, prior to the 2024 Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game, with his wife, Susann, accepting the award and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

A former member of the Little League International Board of Directors and longtime Challenger Division volunteer in California Districts 55 and 68, Dr. Burnett was a clinical psychologist who specialized in youth sports and worked with special needs children for nearly 30 years. In 2007, he was recognized by Little League with an award for his efforts in the Rancho Niguel Little League and neighboring Little League programs in Southern California. In that same year, Dr. Burnett joined the Little League International Board of Directors, and he began his time as a commentator for the television coverage of the annual Little League Challenger Exhibition Game played in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during the Little League Baseball World Series. Dr. Burnett retired from the Board of Directors in November 2016.

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Following decades of support of the Little League^® program which contributed to its growth around the world, Little League International is proud to present the 2023 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award to the Piszek Family. The award will be presented in honor of the late Bill Piszek and his father, Ed, prior to the 7 p.m. ET game of the 2023 Little League Baseball^® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile.

“For generations, the Piszek family has been supporting the global growth of the Little League program, and we would not be where we are today without the help of Bill, Ed, and the entire Piszek family,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “On behalf of Little League International, and the millions of children we serve each year, we are pleased to present this prestigious award as we honor the friendship, support, and dedication of the Piszek family. While we wish Bill and Ed were here to join us in receiving this award, we know they would be humbled and honored.”

Together with his father, Ed, and Stan Musial, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Bill Piszek organized a fundraising drive to help finance the building of the Little League International’s Region Center in Kutno, Poland. The Little League European Region Headquarters opened in 1996 and is the location where Little League teams from Asia, The Middle East, Africa, and Europe compete annually for a trip to the Little League Baseball World Series. The Region Center features team dormitories, an administration building, a pair of pavilions, and five Little League baseball fields, two of which bear the names of Ed Piszek and Stan Musial.

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Led by their CEO Joe Crookham, Musco Sports Lighting^®, the “Official Sports Lighting System of Little League^® Baseball and Softball” since 1992, was named the 2022 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award winner. Due to unfortunate weather during the 2022 Little League Baseball^® World Series, Mr. Crookham and Musco Sports Lighting were unable to receive their award but will be honored in 2023 with an award presentation prior to the U.S. Championship game on Saturday, August 26.

For the past 30 years under Mr. Crookham’s leadership, Musco has provided quality lighting systems guaranteed to meet Little League standards for local league fields while reducing energy use and maintenance concerns. Also serving as Little League’s lighting consultant in the area of safety and standards, Musco provides local leagues the technical assistance needed to make sports lighting project a cost-effective and long-lasting success. To help leagues with this challenge, Musco offers local league volunteers a free Project Planning Guide, complete with information to help begin planning a lighting project, and also co-sponsors Little League’s A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP).

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In celebration of his 50^th season as part of the Official Radio Broadcast of the Little League Baseball^® World Series, Ken Sawyer has been named the 2021 W. Howard Hartman Little League^® Friendship Award winner. Mr. Sawyer began his Little League World Series broadcast career in 1971, having the opportunity to witness “Legendary” Lloyd McClendon make World Series history as he recorded five home runs, 10 RBI, and five intentional walks in 10 plate appearances on the first all African American team to participate in the LLBWS.

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There was no award presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrating his 40^th Little League Baseball^® World Series, longtime Little League^® volunteer and dedicated Little League Baseball World Series Press Box announcer, Paul Graziano, had one more honor to add this year as he was named the 2019 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award recipient.

“It is my sincere honor to congratulate Paul on this prestigious honor as we celebrate 40 years of his dedication to our Little League program,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “Over the past four decades, Paul has displayed the values and commitment that we ask of all our volunteers and has served an important role in providing the Little League experience each year. On behalf of all of Little League Baseball and Softball, it is my great pleasure to recognize and thank him for his friendship as our 2019 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award recipient.”

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Don Goodman began his Little League career in 1971 when he signed up to become a coach for his son’s baseball team in his hometown of Cloverdale, Calif. More than 45 years later, Mr. Goodman remains dedicated to volunteering with Little League Baseball and Softball and recently concluded his service as a District Administrator in California District 35.

“On behalf of Little League International, it is my privilege to present this award to Don Goodman in recognition of his commitment as a Little League volunteer, but more importantly to honor him as a lifelong friend of the program,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “We are sincerely grateful for all of the hard work, dedication, and support that Don has given to Little League over the last four decades and are excited to recognize him with this prestigious award.”

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Little League Baseball and Softball is proud of the friendship and partnership that it has fostered with Easton Sports over the past four decades. Jim Darby has been a key piece in the relationship between both the Easton Foundations and Easton Sports with Little League, and Little League International is honored to celebrate this partnership and relationship with the presentation of the 2017 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award to Mr. Darby.

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Little League® is proud that American Honda Motor Co. served as a national sponsor since 1996. For more than two decades, American Honda exhibited its tireless and unwavering commitment to helping children learn sportsmanship, teamwork, and improve their self-esteem through the Little League program.

As Little League celebrated American Honda’s 20^th anniversary as a national partner, it too salutes the company’s loyalty and dedication to the moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and all of the program’s volunteers with the presentation of the 2016 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award.

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Each year, the Little League Baseball® World Series relies on strong support from the Pennsylvania State Police, specifically, Troop F headquartered in Montoursville, Pennsylvania. Prior to the start of the 2015 Little League Baseball World Series Championship Game on Sunday, August 30 at 3 p.m., Little League® presented Captain David J. Young and Troop F with the 2015 W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award. Following this presentation, Little League honored the life of Corporal Bryon K. Dickson. On Sept. 12, 2014, Corporal Bryon Dickson, II, was shot and killed from an ambush at the Blooming Grove barracks in Pike County.

The 2014 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was the Federal Correctional Complex Allenwood & United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

he 2013 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Steve Moff.

he 2012 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Lenel Systems International, Inc.

The 2011 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Dave and Don Fowler.

The 2010 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was WRAK Radio in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The 2009 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winners were Fred Plenkenhorn and Paul Weaver.

The 2008 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

The 2007 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was the Lycoming County Law Enforcement Association.

The 2006 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was the Susquehanna Health System.

The 2005 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Hon. William Miller.

The 2004 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Thomas “Tuck” Frazier.

The 2003 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Peter Luppachino.

The 2002 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Alan Wells.

The 2001 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was the Williamsport-Lycoming Foundation.

The 2000 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Tom Dempsey.

The 1999 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Terry Gramling.

The 1998 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Ed Claudius.

The 1997 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Sharon Verbos.

The 1996 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Mary Lib Stockwell.

The 1995 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was John Troisi.

The 1994 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Gary Mayer.

The 1993 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Bill Byham.

The 1992 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Jack Lundy.

The 1991 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Howard Baldwin.

The 1990 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Putsee Vannucci.

The 1989 W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Robert Yasui.

The Inaugural W. Howard Hartman Little League® Friendship Award winner was Ray Keyes.