1Recognizing the 75th anniversary of Little League Baseball.

2WHEREAS, On June 6, 1939, the first Little League Baseball
3game was played in the city of Williamsport, Lycoming County,
4under the direction of Carl Edwin Stotz: and

5WHEREAS, The Little League program in 1939 consisted of three
6teams, all in Williamsport, and by 1946 there were 12 such
7programs, all in this Commonwealth; and

8WHEREAS, By 1955, Little League was found in every state in
9the nation; and

10WHEREAS, In 2014, in this Commonwealth, there are now 410
11leagues, with over 10,000 teams and 150,000 youth who
12participate in the Little League Baseball program; and

13WHEREAS, Today, Little League Baseball is played in 92
14countries across the globe, with 2.5 million youngsters

1participating, and the program culminates in a World Series each
2year; and

3WHEREAS, From its inception, Little League Baseball has been
4a vehicle for a program to promote the attributes of fair play,
5good sportsmanship and a desire to excel through friendly
6competition; and

7WHEREAS, Over one million adult volunteers give of their
8time, energy and ability to make this program possible; and

9WHEREAS, This year marks major milestones in the history of
10Little League, with the celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of
11Little League Softball, 25th Anniversary of the Little League
12Challenger Division and the 15th Anniversary of the Little
13League Urban Initiative; and

14WHEREAS, Little League has been honored as the only youth
15sports organization to be chartered by the United States
16Congress and remains the only regularly scheduled international
17sporting event in this Commonwealth; and

18WHEREAS, In 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed
19the first "Little League Baseball Week" the second week in June,
20an event that is celebrated every year by members throughout the
21country; and

22WHEREAS, Hundreds of Major League Baseball players and
23leaders in politics, business and industry are Little League
24graduates; and

25WHEREAS, The goals of Little League Baseball have always been
26and will remain to instill in children the values of teamwork,
27discipline and responsibility through a simple, fun game of
28baseball; and

29WHEREAS, Since 1939, and far into the next century, the value
30of Little League Baseball will be measured more by what a child

1learns than what the child wins; therefore be it

2RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the 75th anniversary of
3Little League Baseball and the benefits that have been gained by
4our youth throughout those years by virtue of this outstanding
5program; and be it further

6RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
7Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour, Chairman of the Little League
8International Board of Directors, and Stephen D. Keener,
9President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball
10and Softball.