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MAJOR LEAGUE President, Business & Media Bob Bowman Executive Vice President, Content; Editor-in-Chief, MLBAM Dinn Mann Vice President, Consumer Media Donald S. Hintze Editorial Director Mike McCormick Publications Art Director Faith M. Rittenberg Senior Production Manager Claire Walsh Account Executive Jake Schwartzstein Associate Editor Allison Duffy-Davis Specialist, Content Media Alex Trautwig Project Assistant Editor Joe Sparacio

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PHOTOS Manager Jessica Foster LittleLeagueMagazine.org Photo Editor Jim McKenna ®

For info, visit: MLB.com magazine 2016

5 38 GAME ON! News from Little League to the Hone your baseball and Major Leagues skills virtually anywhere.

10 ONCE IN A LIFETIME 41 RALLY ANIMALS Superstars like don’t Major League and Little League come around often. teams alike turn to monkey AND SOFTBALL business for luck and motivation. 539 U.S. Highway 15 16 SHE’S GOT GAME P.O. Box 3485 These softball sluggers and 44 PLAYING THE GAME: Williamsport, PA 17701-0485 fastpitch fireballers battle with (570) 326-1921 their Big League brothers for Tips on pitching delivery family bragging rights. Chairman Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour 46 DOWN BUT NOT OUT President & CEO Stephen D. Keener 20 ALL-WORLD EXPERIENCE In the face of on-field adversity, Senior VP of Administration & CFO David B. Houseknecht Little League grad and Mets these Major Leaguers refused to has give up. Senior VP of Operations and made appearances Program Development Patrick W. Wilson a trend. 48 PLAYING THE GAME: VP of Marketing and Communications Liz DiLullo Brown HEATHER TARR Senior Director of Communications Brian McClintock 22 PLAYING THE GAME: Tips on hitting off a tee Director of Constituent Communications Chris Downs 51 BOYS OF SUMMER Director of Digital Media Dallas Miller Tips on playing the outfield Big Leaguers remember their Sponsorship and Marketing Managers Dawn Hall, 27 A KID AT HEART playing days as kids. Matt Custer ESPN veteran slid headfirst into his first Williamsport 54 FUN AND GAMES For Little League info, visit: LittleLeague.org experience. Test your baseball knowledge with these challenging puzzles. If you have any questions or comments regarding material in this publication, please send letters to: 28 KRIS BRYANT POSTER Attention: Editor, Little League Magazine, MAJOR LEAGUE 56 FINAL PAGE PHOTO BASEBALL, 75 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10011 30 ON TOP OF THE WORLD A final snapshot from the 2015 © 2016 Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Reproduction in Last summer, Little League Little League World Series. whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Printed Baseball and Softball welcomed in the USA. nine new champions from around COVER PHOTOS: RICH PILLING/GETTY IMAGES © 2016 Little League Baseball, Incorporated. All rights reserved. the globe. (BRYANT); LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL Around the Horn PICTURE PERFECTSEASON enshrined intotheWorld of Little LeagueMuseumduringaprivateceremony. During theLittleLeagueBaseballWorld Series,thewinnersvisitedWilliamsport,where theirimageswere actor andspokespersonMarioLopez,selectedthethree individualswhobestcaptured thesescenes. celebration. Lastyear, the CanonLittleLeaguePicture PerfectSeason,aphotocontestanchored by Starting inMay, visitLittleLeague.org/CanonPhotoContest tosubmitphotosforthisyear'scontest. Amazing LittleLeaguemomentsleadtoamazingphotos:thediving catch;theperfectswing;big LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (3) eligible tothrow thenextday! he onlyfiredonepitch, heremained the ceremonialfirstpitch. Andsince Snoopy to Williamsport tothrowout brought belovedPeanuts character sponsors ofThePeanutsMovie, and SnuggleFabricSoftener, also Detergent sponsors allLaundry particularly unique. LittleLeague pitch from2015standsoutas Baseball World Series, butone the moundduringLittleLeague some dazzlingperformanceson SNOOPY TAKESMOUND THE Lamade Stadiumhashosted 5 GET THE LOOK The teams that participate in the nine Little League World Series tournaments get to wear some Around the Horn of the coolest jerseys and hats in all of baseball and softball, thanks to the support of Russell Athletic and New Era. For the first time ever, on-field replica jerseys and fitted replica hats were available for purchase in 2015, so fans could show their support and sport the on-field look from the Little League World Series. Limited edition replica jerseys and caps will be on sale at LittleLeagueStore.net during the .

MARINERS CHALLENGER DIVISION DONATION Little League graduate Felix Hernandez and the recently demonstrated their commitment to making baseball an all-inclusive sport by presenting a $30,000 donation to two local Little League Challenger Division programs through the MLBPA Players Going Home Series. For 30 years, the Mariners and Little League have had a strong relationship, and both believe that all children should have the opportunity to have fun on the diamond. Seattle-area District 8 and District 9, which each received $15,000 to commemorate 25 years of Washington State Little League Challenger Baseball, will use the funding for fields, new uniforms and annual Jamborees. King Felix also donated $10,000 to the Seattle Central Little League. “So many people helped me become a Major League player,” said Hernandez, who played at Flor Amarillo Little League in Venezuela before becoming a six-time MLB All-Star. “I want to return the favor by helping to POWER PLAYER give kids today the chance to play baseball.” Ready to win the World Series as your Little League’s Challenger Division was established in 1989 to make the favorite Major League Baseball team? game accessible and fun for boys and girls with physical and mental challenges R.B.I. Baseball 16 is back, and this year, ages 4–18 (or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school). Today, more than Red Sox breakout star is on 30,000 children participate in upwards of 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide. the cover of the beloved MLB franchise. Check out the fun, fast-paced classic baseball gameplay and new fielding moves like dives, wall catches, fake throws and more! Take control of your season: play the entire schedule or sim to the crucial games. Modify your lineup with complete MLB rosters, including more than 1,100 players, and use substitution strategies like switches. Have a blast and challenge your friends online or in your living room on the console and PC version! Get R.B.I. Baseball 16 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iPhone, iPad and supported Android

smartphones and tablets. MARINERS ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS (TOP); BEN VANHOUTEN/SEATTLE 6 Around the Horn PITCH, & under high-pressure situations. YOU GETREADY FORPHR? HOW DIDPLAYING ONALITTLELEAGUE BASEBALLTEAMHELP beat myscore from 2014. COMPETITION? WHAT INTERESTEDYOU ABOUTMLB’SPITCH, HIT&RUN his experienceatthe2015Pitch,Hit&RunNationals: day-long PHRevent. group orbatchoflocalvolunteerscanorganize afree, and softballtalentacross thecountry. Anyleague,civic opportunity tocompeteagainstthebestamateurbaseball Week inCincinnati. the nationalfinalsofbaseballdivisionduringMLBAll-Star competition ofMLB—andlastyearhemadeitallthewayto Major LeagueBaseball’s Pitch,Hit&Run—theofficial skills stage. Forthepasttwoseasons,Joshhasparticipatedin he already knowswhatit’s liketocompeteonthenational Little LeagueinWomelsdorf, Pa.,andatjust13yearsold, Little Leaguers atastadiumnearyou. World Series inSouth Williamsport, Pa. Tune inagainthisseason forthechancetoseemore Pasadena LittleLeagueteam, it’s importantto “always haveeachother’s backs, nomatterwhat.” lifetime. As Dodgersoutfielder AndreEthiertoldthe South given localLittleLeaguersmemoriesandlessons tolasta Pirates, Tigers, Cardinals, Cubs, Angels andDodgershave League stars. Clubs suchasthe Yankees, RedSox, watch battingpracticeandscoreautographsfrom Major “Sunday NightBaseball” gameoftheweek. Tonight SundayNightCountdown” beforetakinginESPN’s in 2015appearedonalivesegmentofESPN’s “Baseball Major LeagueBaseballandESPN, whichcontinuesthisseason, morethan15LittleLeagueteams got toexperienceMajorLeaguetreatmentattheirlocalMLBstadiums. Thanks toapartnershipwith SUNDAYS ATBALLPARK THE It helpedmetogettheconfidenceIneededperform I lovethecompetition,andlastyearwantedtotry Recently, Joshfilledusinonsomeofthemomentsfrom Pitch, Hit&Runoffers boysandgirlsages7–14the Josh NielsenisashortstopandpitcherintheTulpehocken The laststoponthe2015 “” LittleLeaguetourwasthe LeagueBaseball Each teamselectedtoparticipatehasthechance to Sunday nightshavebecomeextraspecialforsomeluckyLittleLeaguers, whobeginninglastseason LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (TOP); NEWYORKYANKEES competition, visitPitchHitRun.comtofindoutmore. friends from allovertheU.S.andCanada. of ’s HomeRunDerbyhitsandmakingnew of thegamewasawesome.Sogettingtoshagtwo WHAT WEREYOUR FAVORITE ALL-STAR GAMEMOMENTS? If you’re interested inenteringMLB’s Pitch,Hit&Run Watching MikeTrout hitahomeruninthefirstat-bat 9 10 ONCE INA LIFETIME

ROB TRINGALI/MLB PHOTOS sharks, Ijustreally enjoyedit. and asateam, andthenintheoffseason gettingengaged andswimmingwith I couldn’t havewritten itbettermyself.Having anunbelievableyear, bothindividually AFTER THAT YOU HADQUITEANEXCITINGOFFSEASON,TOO. competition. Itwasdefinitely one ofmyfavoritethingssofarinbaseballcareer. who were verydeserving.You only getoneyeartowinit,andIhadalotofgood Winning thataward wasahugehonor. There are alotofguys, eveninthisclubhouse, HOW DIDITFEELTOWINTHENLROOKIEOFYEAR AWARD? he keepsitlightintheclubhouse.I’veenjoyedmytimewith himsofar. field, youtakeitveryseriously. ButJoeisjust a trip.He’s somuchfuntoplayforand not takingthingssoseriouslyduringtimeslike[SpringTraining]. Obviously onthe Everybody shoulddoit.Ithinkthegameisshiftingalittlebit tohavingmore funand WHAT’S ITLIKEPLAYING FOR A QUIRKYMANAGERLIKEJOEMADDON? fun ofbaseballbeingontheChicagoCubs. on thatlevel.We bringDJsandanimalstothefield, really gettoexperiencethe It’s funeverydayhere. Alotofusare pretty closeinageandwerelate toeachother LOT OFFUNTOGETHER.HOWWOULDYOUDESCRIBETHEDYNAMIC? THE CUBSAREAVERY YOUNGTEAM,ANDITSEEMSLIKEYOUGUYSHAVE A season cantopit,” headmits, “but I’mcertainlygoingtotry.” only bepossiblewithatriptothe World Series.“Idon’tknowifthis his thoroughlyimpressivelistof2015accomplishments. That may high schoolsweetheartandwentswimmingwithsharks? Oh, anddidwementionthatafterallthishegotengagedtohis totheNLCSandwonNLRookieof Year Award. made hisMajorLeaguedebut, playedinan All-Star Game, carried Kris Bryant. He’s just24yearsold, butsincelast April, hehas >>> The pastyearhasbeenawhirlwindrideforCubssuperstar By AllisonDuffy-Davis don’t comearoundoften. Superstars likeKrisBryant Now, withafullseasonaheadofhim, isouttoone-up Bryant 11 BRYANT’S DAD, MIKE, SUPPORTED HIM FROM LITTLE LEAGUE THROUGH THE MAJORS. HE PITCHED TO HIS SON DURING THE 2015 DERBY AT .

“I was competing against things from last year, both as a team and individually. I think there are some in the Home things that I can work on and get better Run Derby. Four years ago, at, and as a team that we can get better at, too. It’s going to be exciting I never would have thought to see the changes and how much I would do that. It was an better we can become. The vibe that I’m getting from unbelievable experience.” everybody is that our expectations are bigger than anybody else’s out there. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GO DOES THAT MEAN YOU’RE AN We expect a lot out of ourselves, and SWIMMING WITH SHARKS? ADVENTUROUS GUY IN GENERAL? we’re holding each other accountable. We were like, “Why not do it? We’re in I don’t know if I’d say I am. I’m slowly We hear a lot of the speculation, but Hawaii.” I guess like “when in Rome, do getting to that point. A couple years as professionals, our own expectations as the Romans.” I get terribly seasick ago, you couldn’t have gotten me in the are through the roof. when I’m on a boat, but I just thought, water with sharks. But I’m realizing that “I have to do this and say I swam with there are a lot of opportunities coming HOW DID IT FEEL TO BE NAMED TO sharks.” It’s once-in-a-lifetime. my way to do cool things like that, THE NL ALL-STAR TEAM DURING I was underwater in the cage for 20 and you’ve got to be crazy not to take YOUR ROOKIE SEASON? minutes — just enough time to get sick. advantage of them. That was so much fun, especially I’m never going to do it again, but it having my whole family there and was fun. AFTER SUCH A HUGE YEAR IN 2015, having my dad throw to me during the WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS . To do it in my first DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF FOR THIS SEASON? year, too, was a once-in-a-lifetime SHARKS THEY WERE? I’m just really looking at this year thing. I’ll definitely remember it for a They were Galapagos sharks and sand as a continuation of last year, with very long time. sharks. No Great Whites or tiger sharks. a little break in the middle for the At the time, I was just in awe. Ken

They said those are the scary ones. offseason. Just trying to build upon Griffey Jr. was there. I was competing JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES 12 against Albert Pujols in the Home Run COULD AN MVP AWARD BE IN THE WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR Derby. Four years ago, I never would CARDS FOR YOU NEXT? KIDS WHO ARE PLAYING THE GAME have thought I would do that. It was an It would certainly be awesome. Typically I NOW OR WANT TO PLAY? unbelievable experience. don’t set goals around awards, but I think Enjoy it and do it because you truly love if I do things the right way and focus it, not because anyone is telling you to ARE THERE ANY CURRENT on the team and helping us win — I’ve do it. My parents never told me to get PLAYERS WHO YOU TRY TO always done it that way — things will out there and practice. It was always me EMULATE ON THE FIELD? turn out for the better. So I’ll just continue wanting to. I just loved the game. Most recently, Evan Longoria. He’s a doing that and see where things go. I used to go out in the cul-de-sac with very underrated player, but he’s one of my friends and play 3-on-3 Wiffle Ball. the best third basemen in the game. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR Just getting out in the street and playing I can learn a lot from watching him, GREATEST YOUTH BASEBALL helps you develop hand-eye coordination. defensively and at the plate. MEMORIES? It’s nothing serious, but all of that practice My favorite one was hitting my first translates into real games. YOU PLAYED WITH BRYCE home run. It was during coach-pitch HARPER AS A KID. WHAT DO YOU practice for my team at Peccole Little DO YOU PAY ATTENTION TO STATS? REMEMBER FROM THOSE DAYS? League in . My dad had told I try not to look at stats. I did that so I played with him when I was around 8 me that if I hit a home run, he’d give much in high school, and it can really or 9 years old and then again when we me $100. And at the time, I was like, cloud your vision. You can’t focus on the were 13 and 14. All I really remember “$100? I can get so much with that.” numbers; they’re always changing. My was just how much better he was than So, I hit my first home run and was dad has always said, “You are who you anybody on the field. He was leaps running around the bases, and my dad are as a player, and you’re going to end above everybody. He would get up to was waiting for me at third base. He up where you’re meant to at the end of the plate and hit bombs. At that time, picked me up and gave me the biggest the year.” And he’s always right. u I knew the type of player he would be, hug. I don’t even think I made it to and now he’s the MVP. home plate. But that still sticks out as Allison Duffy-Davis is an associate I kind of expected that. one of my greatest baseball memories. editor for Major League Baseball.

“The vibe that I’m getting from everybody is that our expectations are bigger than anybody else’s out there. They’re through the roof.” RON VESELY/MLB PHOTOS RON VESELY/MLB 15 16 let’s focusonthesesoftballers’amazing accomplishments. seriously talentedsisters, makingthesportatruefamilyaffair. Butfornow, forgetabouttheboys; families. Infact, manyLittleLeaguegrads–turned–MLBstarshavegrownupalongsidesome >>> Despitetheirfame, someMajorLeaguershavetosharethespotlight, evenwithintheirown they learned toplay atWalickithey learned Little have dazzledon thediamond,too,since sisters Nicole(above, right)andLena he ledtheteaminOBP2015. Younger George, is nowanAstros outfielder, and trio oftalentedkids.Theoldest, also back in1976,andhassinceraised a the LittleLeagueBaseballWorld Series sporting pedigree. DadGeorge playedin The Springerfamilyboastsquitethe GAME GOT SHE’S LENA ANDNICOLESPRINGER her junior season, she joined the Puerto her juniorseason, shejoinedthePuerto Connecticut State University, and during at theUniversity ofHartford andCentral was nobetterplacetoplay.” would bringfoodandhangout. There or not,”saysNicole,apitcher. “Families League field,[whether]youhad agame nights, theplacetogowasLittle League inNewBritain,Conn.“OnFriday BIG BROTHERGEORGE Nicole went on to play two years each Nicole wentontoplaytwoyears each rights. for familybragging League brothers battle withtheirBig fastpitch fireballers sluggers and These softball field, butalso at homeinthebackyard.” Lena. “We wantedtocompeteonthe competitive isan understatement,”says say mysister, brother andmewere and currently playsforOhioState.“To MVP ofherhighschoolvarsity team Connecticut StateUniversity. the assistantsoftballcoachatSouthern Rico NationalTeam. Shenowworksas Lena, alsoapitcher, wasafour-time

OHIO STATE ATHLETICS (L. SPRINGER); BRAD MANGIN/MLB PHOTOS (G. SPRINGER); STEVE MCLAUGHLIN After all,insports, nothingbeatsafamilytradition. UCLA beginning in2017,hopestodothesame. younger sister Jenna, whoiscommittedtoplay at team winthenationalchampionship. Andnowher runner, pinch-hitterordefensivesubstitute.” [player]. Shewasalwaysingames lateasapinch- like Brandon,”Colesays.“She wasautility-type softball program. “Sheistremendously athletic, games overfourseasonswiththeheralded Brandon toUCLA,where sheappeared in142 the fiancéeofPiratesaceGerritCole,followed His youngersisterAmy, whoalsohappensto be selected himinthefourthround ofthe2008Draft. the Bruinsforthree seasonsbefore theGiants of Pleasanton(Calif.)LittleLeague,playedfor in theCrawford family. Brandon,agraduate UCLA baseballandsoftballuniformsare astaple USSSA Pride. Leaguewiththe she spentfourseasonsstarringinthe back nationalplayeroftheyearawards. Aftercollege, campus thenextseason,shewonfirstofback-to- Olympics inBeijing,China.Whenshereturnedto uniform (15)retired. and wasthefirstplayerinprogram historytohaveher she ledtheteamtoitsfirst-evernationalchampionship University ofWashington. Astandoutonthemound, the firstCanadianathleteevertoplaysoftballat now aninfielderwiththeWhiteSox,Daniellebecame Nearly three yearsolderthanherbrother Brett, who’s the ballfieldatLangleyLittleLeagueinBritishColumbia. In theLawriefamily, itwasDaniellewhosetthetoneon AMY CRAWFORD In 2010,herjuniorseason,Amy helpedthe In 2008,Daniellerepresented CanadaintheSummer BIG BROTHERBRANDON LITTLE BROTHERBRETT 17 Little League grad and Mets outfielder ALL-WORLD Michael Conforto has made World Series appearances a trend. SMALL BALL EXPERIENCE Conforto wasn’t the only player on the Mets’ postseason roster to have gotten his start playing youth baseball. Five of his “[Manager Terry Collins] has shown teammates in New York >>> Few clubs in all of sports are as exclusive as the also honed their skills in the confidence [in me] since I came up. Today it felt Little League ranks, and “World Series Slam,” but Mets outfielder Michael Conforto good to help the team and put some runs on the board. two played in youth world The feelings I got on those two home runs, it’s series tournaments at indescribable. You dream about those moments.” is lucky enough to be one of its elite members. When CONFORTO AFTEROF THE HITTING 2015 WORLD TWO HOMERS SERIES IN GAME 4 various levels.

New York took the field against Kansas City in October Palm Harbor (Fla.) LL 2015, Conforto became just the third player in history to 2001 Senior League Baseball World Series* compete in the Little League, College and Major League CURTIS GRANDERSON Lynwood (Ill.) LL World Series. Check out the details below. Mystic (Conn.) LL WORLD SERIES AGE TEAM AVG RUBEN TEJADA Redmond 2004 LLWS 11 .600 Activo 20-30 LL, Santiago, (Wash.) North LL Panama Oregon State 2001 Little League World 2013 CWS 20 .438 University Series; 2005 Senior League 2015 WS 22 .333 Baseball World Series Green Run LL, Chesapeake, Va.

FACT:

Pitcher Ed Vosberg (1973 LLWS, 1980 CWS, 1997 WS) FACT: and (1984 LLWS, 1994 CWS, 2004 & ’07 WS) are In his first game of the only other players to appear in the LLWS, Conforto all three World Series. But Conforto, played against who made his Major League debut future Major League on July 24, 2015, is the only rookie outfielder Randal and the youngest to do so. Grichuk, who’s now with the Cardinals.

Both players homered *Played on the championship-winning team

BRAD MANGIN/MLB PHOTOS (CONFORTO - METS); LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (3) - METS); LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL BRAD MANGIN/MLB PHOTOS (CONFORTO in that game. 20 21 Lorenzo Cain on Playing the Outfield

Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain, the speedy anchor of one of the best outfields in baseball, has both an ALCS MVP Award (2014) and a World Series trophy (’15) under his belt. His penchant for making diving catches and robbing home runs has made him incredibly valuable in Kansas City, where he and his teammates have contended for the crown in each of the past two seasons. The dynamic young star recently shared with Little League Magazine some secrets about how you, too, can dazzle in the field.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE The best way to learn to play the outfield is to practice as much as you can. Some guys make it look pretty easy out there, but it’s not; I’m still learning things about how to play center field, and I’ve been in the Major Leagues for a few years now. The more balls you can track down and catch, the more you’ll help your team. Playing the Game Playing RUN YOUR ROUTES I think the most important thing to learn as an outfielder is to take the best, most accurate routes possible to fly balls. You increase your chances of making a catch if you take good routes. In , my coaches hit extra fly balls to me every day so that I can practice my routes. During the season, I’ll spend a lot of time during batting practice simulating game situations and trying to catch fly balls wherever they’re hit.

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED I was cut from my high school basketball team. Everything works out for a reason, though. If I had made the team, I never would’ve tried out for baseball. But I had to learn fast or I wouldn’t be here right now. I had a great

support system that motivated me to the fullest. BY GOÑI MONTES; ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS ILLUSTRATION 22 A KID AT HEART This ESPN veteran slid headfirst into his first Williamsport experience. By Tim Kurkjian

>>> I’ve covered Major League Everyone is happy in Williamsport. could. But as hard as he hit, no one hit games in 55 ballparks, including the Admission is free and concessions a ball farther than Terrence Gist from historic and Wrigley include scrumptious kettle corn and South Carolina. As ESPN interviewed Field, but last summer, I found a new fried dough. The games are great, his mom and sister, the 5-foot-10, favorite: the Little League complex but no matter your age, grab some 185-pound Gist launched a pitch in Williamsport, Pa. Everything cardboard and slide down the hill 380 feet, a stunning blast even for there is bigger and better than I had beyond the outfield fences. someone his size. imagined, including the players, who I’ll remember my first trip to “How old were you when you were were dazzling with their soft hands, Williamsport most for my interaction this size?” I asked him. (For perspective, quick feet, strong arms and, most with the kids. I threw BP to Cole I’m 5 foot 5 and 145 pounds.) importantly, captivating smiles. Wagner, the best 12-year-old hitter “The third grade,” he said. Williamsport hosts baseball at I’ve ever seen, who played for the I have so many fond memories its purest level. A bunch of kids, Pennsylvania team. The day I threw of Williamsport, but nothing is more some over 6 feet tall, others under to Cole, I promised his dad, Bret, who enduring than the joyful faces of the 90 pounds, of all shapes, sizes and once played in the Minor Leagues, that kids, the fathers and sons, the mothers nationalities, flock there annually, I wouldn’t hit Cole with a pitch. “I’m not and daughters, Nana and Pop. “I don’t unified in their love of the game. When worried about him getting hurt,” his dad know anyone,” one 65-year-old man a player hits a home run, opponents said with a smile. No, he was worried told me, “but I come here every year shake his hand as he rounds the bases. that this 58-year-old baseball writer for the baseball.” The kids play, compete and really want might be injured by his kid if I didn’t I hope they let me do the same. to win, but even if they lose, they go duck behind the L-screen. somewhere to eat pizza, laugh and Cole proceeded to hit each ball Tim Kurkjian is a senior baseball analyst

ALLEN KEE/ESPN IMAGES (KURKJIAN); ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS bond as a team. as hard as someone his age possibly and writer for ESPN.

27 BIG LEAGUE SUPERSTAR

KRIS BRYANT THIRD BASE 2015 NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR PECCOLE LITTLE LEAGUE, LAS VEGAS

RON VESELY/MLB PHOTOS 1 ON TOP OF THE Last summer, WORLD Little League 1. Rowan Little League’s Baseball batters knocked in four and Softball runs in the first inning of the championship game to give welcomed nine the Southeast team the new champions Little League Softball World from around Series crown. the globe. 2. Marcos Santa helped Latin America edge , 3-1, in the title matchup of the Big League Baseball World Series in South Carolina.

3. Red Land Little 2 Leaguers celebrated Dylan Rodenhaber’s first-inning in the Little 3 5 League Baseball World Series championship game.

4. The Southeast representatives from Tampa Bay, Fla., went a perfect 7-0 to win the Junior League Softball World Series title. They defeated Asia-Pacific, 9-2, in the championship.

5. Tokyo Kitasuna Little League capped a dramatic summer with a Little League Baseball World Series 6 victory in Williamsport. Nobuyuki Kawashima and 4 Raito Sugimoto reveled in their 18-11 triumph in the International final over the Mid-Atlantic team.

6. Uganda’s AVRS Little League sent a team to both the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series. The girls secured two wins during their tournament. LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (1,2,4,6); ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL 30 31 1

1. West Seoul Little League of the Asia-Pacific region tossed one of its coaches in the air while celebrating its undefeated finish in the Intermediate 50/70 4 Baseball World Series.

2. These Little League Baseball World Series competitors from Chinese Taipei and Uganda proved that the event is about 5 teamwork and camaraderie.

3. The 2015 Senior League Baseball World Series champs traveled from Texas to the host site in Maine to claim their title. They beat the Central team from , 8-1, in the finals. 2 4. Southern California’s Conejo Valley Little League lined the field before taking on Latin America in the Big League Baseball World Series championship game. The team ultimately came up just short, losing 3-1.

5. Southwest pitcher Miranda Smart and the rest 3 of her teammates powered through the Big League Softball World Series competition, taking the title contest by a score of 9-1. 6 6. Montana’s Garden City Softball Little League dominated throughout the Senior League Softball World Series and won the championship game by a 10-0 margin. LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL 32 33 1. Chinese Taipei slugged its way to a 12-0 victory in the Junior League Baseball World Series championship against the Southeast team.

1 2. Manila South Little League’s Mary Ann Antolihao helped her Phillipines-based team reach the semi-finals of the Big League Softball World Series in Delaware.

3. Australia’s Cronulla Little League was just the third team from the country, and the first from the Sydney area, to reach the Little League Baseball World Series.

4. The Southeast representatives gave Asia-Pacific a run for its money in the Intermediate 50/70 division championship, plating five. But South Korea’s 10 runs proved to be too much to top.

3

2 4

LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (1,2,4); ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS 35 >>> The grass is cut, the sun is shining, and the baseball season is back in full RUNNING BASES swing. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wants you to get out to a ballpark, field If you don’t have actual bases for this game, that’s some grounders and take some cuts. okay — you can draw them MLB launched the Play Ball campaign or use placeholders instead. Set up your bases anywhere with USA Baseball in June 2015, from 30 to 90 feet apart. encouraging participation in all kinds Two players should stand at each base, like fielders, and of baseball and softball activities. At throw a ball back and forth. www.playball.org, you'll find tons of info All other participants should stand at either base as about youth events and leagues, plus runners. Each base runner guidelines on topics like how to pitch must attempt to run to the opposite base at least once safely. There are also suggestions for fun every four throws. games to try with a couple friends, even The fielders must try to tag out the players as they're if you don't have a baseball diamond running from one base to nearby. Check some out here and find the other; the last runner to be tagged out wins. Keep more at www.playball.org. Play ball! rotating the fielders and the

By Joe Sparacio runners each time someone wins, so that everyone gets a turn at each task.

OFF THE WALL

For this game, you need THREE- a tennis ball, a glove, ERROR some buddies and a wall. Throw the tennis ball GAME off the wall. If you don’t Grab some friends, a glove catch it in your glove, you and a ball. Take turns must run and touch the tossing a baseball or softball wall before one of your to each other — either in the friends is able to field it air or on the ground — and and throw it to the wall. attempt to catch the ball no If the throw beats you to matter how tough the throw. the wall, it counts as a Keep playing until you’ve strike against you. After

virtually anywhere. made three fielding errors. three strikes, a player is out. The last remaining Hone your baseball and softball skills Hone your baseball and softball skills The last player remaining is the winner! player wins the game. GAME ON!

JUAN OCAMPO/MLB PHOTOS ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS (TOP); SAM MALLER/MLB PHOTOS 38 39 RALLY ANIMALS Major League and Little League teams alike turn to monkey business for luck and motivation. By Joe Sparacio

THE ORIGINAL 2002

In the spirit of the 2002 Angels, the Sweetwater Valley Little Leaguers brought a star-spangled stuffed monkey to their all- star squad’s first game, and the chimp worked like a charm. The California team never looked back, making it all the way to the Little League World Series (LLWS). “Our record was 16-0 [through the first 16 games] with the monkey,” Manager Ward Lannom said. “We hit 71 home runs with the monkey. We had a batting average over .500 with the monkey.” RALLY MONKEY, 2.0 MONKEY, RALLY The stuffed continued its magic in the LLWS: Sweetwater (CALIF.) LITTLE LEAGUE (CALIF.) WATCH THE VIDEO! won its opener, 14-2, and nearly made it to the

LittleLeague.org/LuckyMonkey VALLEY 2015 SWEETWATER championship game. That’s what we call one lucky monkey.

>>> Baseball players are often incredibly superstitious. And they’re willing to do some funny things — from slapping the same spot on the before every at-bat to listening to the same song on game day — to keep luck on their side. Way back in the middle of the 2002 season, the Angels’ in-stadium video board operators employed some animal antics to entertain the crowd, playing a clip of a jumping monkey from the comedic film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. In doing so, they helped the team spark a ninth-inning comeback, so the Angels adopted a live version of the monkey as a good luck charm down the stretch. Popular among players and fans, the “Rally Monkey” served as an unofficial mascot into the postseason, and the white-haired capuchin’s crowning moment came in Game 6 of the . With the team trailing the Giants, 5-0, in the seventh inning and on the brink of elimination, the lucky monkey appeared and the Halos scored six unanswered runs to win it. They would clinch the World Series the next night. Since 2002, both Little League and MLB have had their fair share of lucky unofficial . Let’s take a look at

ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS (STAR-SPANGLED MONKEY); ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS (STAR-SPANGLED BRAD MANGIN/MLB PHOTOS some of the most recent rally animals that have sparked success. 41 Topps celebrated the Cardinals’ by producing its own base- ball card after the team’s 2011 championship.

RALLY SQUIRREL 2011 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Once the 2011 Cardinals snuck into the playoffs, the Phillies and Brewers still stood between them and their World Series hopes. With the help of a charmed squirrel, though, the Cards defeated both squads and then toppled the Rangers in the Fall Classic. In Game 3 of the NLDS against , a squirrel ran into the outfield, interrupting play. In Game 4, another one bolted across home plate. So during Game 5, Phillies fans threw a stuffed squirrel into the St. Louis in jest. The team held onto it as a good luck keepsake, and it became a sensation with its own theme song, account and custom T-shirt. It was even part of the celebrations after the Cards won the World Series and was immortalized on that year’s rings.

RALLY PARAKEET 2015 NEW YORK METS The Mets are no strangers to lucky animals, as it’s rumored that a black cat inspired the team’s miracle championship in 1969. Just last season, it was a parakeet that motivated the Mets and their newest slugger, Yoenis Cespedes. During an August game, the bright yellow bird perched behind home plate. Cespedes came to bat wearing a matching canary-colored sleeve, and later that day hit his first homer with the team. He then helped New York to its first World Series since 2000, proving that some animals truly are enchanted.

CESPEDES’s NEON SLEEVE

CHARLIE RIEDEL/AP/POOL/MLB PHOTOS (PUJOLS); BRAD MANGIN/MLB PHOTOS 42 44 Playing the Game Delivery Pitching Honing a Mark Melanconon has to say about how your pitching delivery cankeepyouincommand: has tosayabouthowyourpitchingdelivery between maximumeffortandremainingundercontrol. Here'swhatelsehe just 14battersandstrikingout62. Hesayspitchersneedtofindbalance right-hander ledtheMajorLeagueswith51saveslastseason, walking Pirates closerMarkMelanconknowsplentyaboutboth. The hard-throwing remember thatthismeansharnessingyourstuffandcomposure. When itcomestostayingincontrolonthemound, it's importantto be sure rest yourarmaftereachtime youthrow. the time,though, andyourmechanicshave tobeclean.But through muscle memory. You haveto putinthereps and your deliveryenoughtimes, braincantakecontrol becomes more mentalthanphysical.Whenyou’verepeated Once youbecomecomfortable withyourdelivery, thegame Pitching isallaboutconsistency, andqualityoverquantity. MUSCLE MEMORY piercing theglovewithyoureyes. locked in,youhavecompletetunnelvision.You’re almost You havetobefocusedonthecatcher’s mitt.Whenyou’re ZERO IN arm togetontopoftheballbytimeyoudeliverpitch. should break before youstridetoward home,allowingyour to godownasyoumovetoward homeplate.Your hands the proper time,whichisamillisecondbefore yourlegstarts method. It’s themostimportantpartofyourdelivery. This partofthewindupisyoursyncingdevice,timing your bodyneedsthatenergy andmomentumtogoforward. home plate.You don’t wanttorush,eventhoughitfeelslike reach thatpoint,anddon’t starttomoveprematurely toward bring yourhandstogetheringlove.Allowbodyto balance point.That’s whenyourfront legisliftedandyou The keytodevelopingasounddeliveryisestablishingyour GET A LEGUP From there, makesure your handsare setandready at

ILLUSTRATION BY GOÑI MONTES; ELSA/GETTY IMAGES DOWN

46 ARCHER, WHO WAS CUT FROM HIS MIDDLESCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM, WENT >>> ON TO BECOME A FIFTH-ROUND DRAFT League fields, but not every future Major Leaguer has a PICK. WHEN HE'S NOT ON THE MOUND, smooth path to stardom. In fact, many have overcome HE TEACHES LOCAL KIDS THE GAME. limited playing time, being cut from their high school teams, or never picking up a bat or glove as a kid.

never even tried out for a baseball team until he was a sophomore in high school. winner was cut not only from his high school JV and varsity squads, but also from his college team in his first two years. And outfielder Daniel Nava, who knocked the first pitch he saw in the Majors for a grand slam, quit the game briefly after failing to make the team at .

comes in one’s most beloved activity, but it’s something Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain, the 2014 ALCS MVP, that most young players will face at some point. Rays ace still remembers the fateful day coaches Millions of kids learn to love the game on Little handed out letters to the kids trying out for his Clayton, N.C., middle school baseball team.

didn’t make the team, I started bawling,” Archer says. “It was so demoralizing. You just don’t feel like playing again.” Dealing with rejection isn't easy, especially when it the director of the MLB Scouting Bureau, has judged

“I waited to look until I got home and when I saw I

But their love of the game kept them going. Bill Bavasi, NOT

BUT

OUT

plenty of talent over the years and says that ability is the only thing that matters.

: one with one eye and one with one hand,” he says. “Scouts don’t care what happened before they laid eyes on you. That’s why any young person who likes the game should keep at it. Find some place that’ll give you a try.”

middle school to fuel his efforts. His fortitude paid off, as he translated his experience into an opportunity with the Indians organization out of high school. “In the office next door to me is a guy who drafted two to pitch in high school,” says Archer. “It was just the experience of being on the team.”

Santa Clara, he served as the team equipment manager, instead. Just when he thought about giving up the Archer took such advice to heart, utilizing failure in game, he got an opportunity to hone his skills at a junior college also in the San Francisco area, and eventually worked his way onto the Santa Clara squad. “What helped me wasn’t how many innings I got to cope with doubters, and Hershiser delivers a similar message in his motivational speeches to young athletes. “Look at [the rejection] as a test of how much you love When Nava missed the cut in his first two years at

Nava credits his hard times with teaching him how

MIKE STOBE/GETTY IMAGES (ARCHER); MLB PHOTOS In the face of on-field adversity, these Major Leaguers refused to give up.

the game,” he says. “I tried to always have a goal: make the team, prove you’re one of the hardest workers, and fall in love with practice.

hurt. But everything you learn is transferable to the next thing you do, like getting along with others or dealing with major disappointment.”

throw in a 3-2 count with runners on; it’s also about learning to handle whatever life throws at you.

his high school basketball team. “That doesn’t mean not playing or getting cut doesn’t “When I made the [baseball] team, I had to borrow everything: bat, glove, batting gloves, cleats. It was difficult at first, but I had a lot of great friends on the team. A lot of people helped me along the way. After all, the game is not just about learning the best pitch to

the World Series. It has definitely been a thrill ride for me.” u Cain, for instance, turned to baseball when he was cut from

“It hurt when I didn’t see my name on the list,” he says.

“I’m glad I got the chance to make the most out of it and win

By Craig Tomashoff

HERSHISER, WHO PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE IN SOUTHFIELD, MICH., MISSED THECUT AS A TEENAGER, BUT LATER WON ANMLB WORLD SERIESMVP AWARD. 47 48 Playing the Game Off aTee Hitting Heather Tarron like hercollegeplayersstilldo. the timetodiscusshowyoucanhoneyourhittingskillsusingatee, just to a Women’s College World Seriestitlein2009. Coach Tarr recentlytook asheadcoachatheralmamater,she hasserved andguidedtheteam Bay FireStixofthe Women’s ProfessionalFastpitchLeague. Since2005, diamond fortheUniversityof Washington’s team, andlaterforthe Tampa Heather Tarr livesandbreathessoftball. As aplayer, shemannedthe proper pointofcontact. pitch iscoming.You wanttogetyourhandsandhipsthe Some hitterscheatandopentheirhipswhentheyknowthataninside oftheplate. feet staystraight.Positiontheteeoninsidecorner When approaching aninside pitch,youneedtomakesure thatyour ATTACK THE INSIDEPITCH until youreach thespotwhere yourfeetshouldbewhenyoustep into theboxforanat-bat. imaginary catcherorumpire, andthenwalkintothebatter’s box a teeforwalk-through drill.Standbackfrom theteetoward the A great waytoperfectyourrhythm,timingandtempoisbyusing Hit theballnearendofbarrel ofthebat.Imagineithaving GATHER MOMENTUM backspin andtravelingovertheshortstop’s headforadouble. momentum builds.Work ondrivingtheballwhile When youstepinafterstandingstill,your maintaining theproper battingstance. FIND YOUR FOOTING FIND YOUR your hipsand bat comethrough thezone. be sure thatyourfeetare paralleltothefront Whenever youstepintoaswing, youneedto then naturally open upthrough theswing as your hipsare square totheball.You can and backlinesofthebatter’s boxsothat

ILLUSTRATION BY GOÑI MONTES; SCOTT EKLUND/RED BOX PICTURES Boys of Summer When Iwasakid... feel very proudtohavereached thatgoal. feel very path totheUnitedStates andtheBigLeagues. I my dreamofbeingapitcher andsetmeona bigkid,Because Iwasn’tavery hereally inspired the biggestguy, buthewasstillagreatpitcher. loved towatchPedroMartinezpitch. Hewasn’t uniform on. Ifelt likeaBigLeaguer. right away. Irememberbeingsoproudtoputmy was 7yearsold, andIfellinlovewiththesport program [intheDominicanRepublic]whenI was akid. They signed meupforthelocalbaseball PITCHER, KANSASCITYROYALS Soon after, Istartedwatchinggameson TV. I My parentsgotmeinterestedinbaseballwhenI FRED VUICH/MLB PHOTOS(HARRISON);LGPATTERSON/MLB PHOTOS UTILITY, PITTSBURGHPIRATES my friendstothisday. each other. I playedwithafewwhoare still of us[MajorLeaguers]haveplayedagainst small worldbecausealongtheline,some about thewayyouprepare. isn’t necessarilyphysical; it’s mental,andit’s that helpedmeinbaseball,andalotof Leagues. Through him,I gained knowledge Shelby, whoplayed11yearsintheBig I wasalsofortunatetohaveanuncle,John Tee Ballatage3.Mymomwasmycoach. was really young.Idoremember playing picked upabatandglove,butIknow Little Leaguegoesbyfast.Andit’s a I can’t remember exactlywhenIfirst 51 PITCHER, PADRES

Boys of Summer Boys My very first baseball memories are of playing in the backyard with my two older brothers when I was about 3 years old. I thought baseball was the greatest thing in the world. I wanted to play all the time. I started playing Tee Ball when I was 4, and I’m lucky enough to still be playing the game I love now that I’m a grown up. I’ve had so many good memories, from Little League to high school ball all the way through a pair of World Series. I’ll often think back to when I was little and smile because I’ve never lost that childlike love of the game.

I thought baseball was the greatest thing in the world. I wanted to play all the time.

GERRIT COLE PITCHER, I remember the first ball that I ever hit hard. I used a bat that belonged to my teammate Thomas Rose. He had the new Easton Redline. I literally hit the ball off the pitching machine, and I thought I broke it. I remember telling my dad, “We need to go get that bat.” I played with the same group of guys since I was 5 all the way through Little League until we got to high school. I remember dying my hair with them for all-star tournaments. I always had a pretty good arm, so I played positions based on my team’s biggest need for a strong arm. Catcher was my main position until high school. I could throw out runners, and I liked to block the plate. In high school, I played all three outfield positions, but mostly right. I’ve also pitched for as long as I can remember, but it didn’t become a priority until about sophomore year; that’s when I started to excel. DENIS POROY/GETTY IMAGES (SHIELDS); ROB TRINGALI/MLB PHOTOS 52 YOU MAKE THE CALL!

1 You’re on first base with no outs. The batter bunts toward the , who fields it and throws to first. The 2 then fires to the shortstop You are on first base when the batter, WORD SEARCH covering second, but you dive back into who also happens to be the fastest base runner on your team, hits a The ability to blast a baseball out of the park with ease is a first. The shortstop argues that you are ball into the gap. As you’re rounding rare talent. Hidden in the puzzle below are the last names of out because it was a force play and he second, she passes you on the bases. the 10 players who topped the MLB home run leaderboard stepped on second. What’s the call? The umpire says: "You’re out!" Your in 2015. Look for them in every direction: up, down, forward, coach asks him which player is out. backward and diagonally. See how many you can find! A. It’s a double play and you are out, as What’s the call? there’s a force play at second base.

B. In this instance, the force on you, the A. The runner who passed you. N E C S T W S K A B S N lead runner, is removed once the batter is retired. Therefore, you remain safe at B. You are, because you were passed. O R D A I D O V J I L P first base. C. You are awarded second base, as the C. The umpire is wrong, and S G H M D V D X Y F O A batter successfully sacrificed you over. neither runner is out. D X C K B Q A H L T J Z

Fun&Games L T O L P E N D U E U C WHO SAID IT? Players around the Major Leagues are just as passionate about the game A N Y P H R E F X R P A as you are, and they aren’t afraid to express that. Can you guess which players made the statements below? N O I C A N R A C N E H Harper’s 42 1. “Just playing the game 2. “The fans give me a 3. “To throw a no-hitter takes O S W G R D A B P T R E homers in 2015 is good enough for me, lot of energy. Hearing luck. But if you want to be a and to be in the same all those fans in the dominant pitcher, you look at nearly doubled category as Sonny [Gray] stands calling my what you can control. When D A V M P L I K C U Z S and David [Price] was name — ‘Eddie, Eddie, you’re able to go out there his career total special in its own right. Eddie’ — [I thought], ‘I and punch guys out and not U Z J Z E L A Z N O G L It’s something I never have to do it for them.’ walk anybody, that’s what I’m and helped him expected. ” And I did.” proud about.” R E N A R F Q B U R V I Who said this after Who said this after Who said this after throwing win the NL MVP winning the American Game 1 of the ALCS his second no-hitter of the C V O B A U T I S T A D League Cy Young between the Royals 2015 season? Award. Award in 2015? and the Blue Jays? A. A. A. Edwin Encarnacion B. Jake Arrieta B. B. Edinson Volquez DAVIS (47) TROUT (41) C. C. C. Edwin Jackson CRUZ (44) BAUTISTA (40)

SONNY GRAY

D A T S I T U A B O V C

I V R U B Q F R A N E R ARENADO (42) GONZALEZ (40)

L G O N Z A L E Z J Z U

S Z U C K I L P M V A D

HARPER (42) PUJOLS (40) E R T P B A D R G W S O

H E N C A R N A C I O N

WORD SEARCH A P R X F E R H P Y N A

DONALDSON (41) ENCARNACION (39) A 3. B; 2. C; 1. C U E U D N E P L O T L

WHO SAID IT? SAID WHO Z J T L H A Q B K C X D

A O F Y X D V D M H G S

1. B; 2. A 2. B; 1.

P L I J V O D I A D R O

YOU MAKE THE CALL! THE MAKE YOU N S B A K S W T S C E N BRAD MANGIN/MLB PHOTOS IMAGES ALEX TRAUWIG/MLB PHOTOS (LITTLE LEAGUE); JASON O. WATSON/GETTY ANSWERS 54 55

DON’T MISS THE EXCITEMENT OF THE 2016 LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT SEASON! More than 100 games on the ESPN family of networks. Thousands of fans packing the stands and the iconic Lamade hill. Nearly 100 teams from leagues around the world competing for one of nine Little League World Series championship banners. Thousands of Little Leaguers just like you get the chance to participate in Little League World Series events. And the best thing is, the games they’re playing in late August are just like the ones that millions of you play on your home fields during the year. Don’t miss a moment of the 2016 Little League World Series tournament season. Visit LLBWS.org and follow #LLWS on Instagram. ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS 56