LittleLeagueMagazine.org ® PRESENTED BY magazine 2 017 2016 LLWS Highlights Tips from MLB’s best Play Ball anytime, anywhere STARBOY Astros phenom and Little League grad Carlos Correa is skyrocketing to the top of the game MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 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 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jake Schwartzstein MANAGING EDITOR Allison Duffy-Davis SPECIALIST, CONTENT MEDIA Alex Trautwig PROJECT ART DIRECTOR Melanie Finnern LittleLeagueMagazine.org PROJECT ASSISTANT EDITOR Joe Sparacio ® MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PHOTOS MANAGER Jessica Carroll PHOTO EDITOR Jim McKenna magazine 2 017 For Major League Baseball info, visit: MLB.com 4 AROUND THE HORN 34 INSIDE ACCESS News from Little League to the Photos by Alex Trautwig Major Leagues Sneak into The Grove to see how players in the Little League World 10 HOUSTON, WE HAVE Series let loose. LIFTOFF By Brian McTaggart 42 LIVE LIKE A CHAMP LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL Baseballs fly whenever Carlos Correa, Dodgers star Joc Pederson and 539 U.S. Highway 15 one of the best shortstops in the his family have turned their motto P.O. Box 3485 Majors, takes the field. into a lifestyle. Williamsport, PA 17701-0485 (570) 326-1921 16 SIGNED, SEALED, 45 PLAYING THE GAME: DELIVERED CAT OSTERMAN CHAIRMAN Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour Teams from every corner of the globe Tips on perfecting your pitch PRESIDENT & CEO Stephen D. Keener SENIOR VP OF ADMINISTRATION & CFO recorded thrilling photo finishes to David B. Houseknecht the nine Little League Baseball and 47 HEY, BATTER BATTER SENIOR VP OF OPERATIONS AND Softball tournaments in 2016. Learn about the new youth bat PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Patrick W. Wilson standard, which strives to help hitters VP OF MARKETING AND 24 WANNA HAVE A CATCH? optimize their performance at the plate. COMMUNICATIONS Liz DiLullo Brown SENIOR DIRECTOR OF Grab a glove and follow these tips COMMUNICATIONS Brian McClintock to play ball anytime, anywhere. 48 TRUE TO HERSELF DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT One inspirational softball player COMMUNICATIONS Chris Downs 27 PLAYING THE GAME: proudly showcased her culture DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Dallas Miller MIKE TROUT during the Senior League Softball DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS Kevin Fountain Tips on sharpening your swing World Series. SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING MANAGER Matt Custer 28 CARLOS CORREA POSTER 52 BOYS OF SUMMER For Little League info, visit: LittleLeague.org Diamond stars look back on their 31 BASH BROTHERS 2.0 early playing days. If you have any questions or comments regarding By Alyson Footer and Doug Miller material in this publication, please send letters to: Corey and Kyle Seager bat around 54 FUN AND GAMES Attention: Editor, Little League Magazine, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ADVANCED MEDIA, 75 Ninth Avenue, some questions. Test your baseball knowledge New York, NY 10011 with these challenging puzzles. © 2017 Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. 32 PLAYING THE GAME: Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Printed in the USA. ANDRELTON SIMMONS 56 FINAL PAGE PHOTO © 2017 Little League Baseball, Incorporated. Tips on being a vacuum cleaner in A final snapshot from the 2016 All rights reserved. the infield Little League World Series COVER IMAGE: ROB TRINGALI/MLB PHOTOS RUTHIAN > JOURNEY AROUND This April, the most complete Babe Ruth game-worn uniform in the world is heading THE HORN back to the Bronx for a short stay at the New York Yankees Museum. Stored year-round at the World of Little ZOOM IN League in Williamsport, The annual Canon Little League Photo Pa., the uniform display Contest powered by PIXMA Printers gets includes a game-worn underway again in May 2017! Last year, jersey, pants, pair of Emmy Award nominee Candace Cam- socks, and hat, plus a eron Bure (pictured, center) unveiled baseball with Ruth’s sig- the winning photos at the World of Little nature from the 1920s. League Museum. Thanks to Canon The uniform will U.S.A., Inc., fans at the 2016 LLBWS had return to Williamsport the unique opportunity to win a chance in plenty of time for to meet her. Visit LittleLeague.org/ the 2017 Little League CanonPhotoContest all season long to Baseball World Series. submit your best photos. < GET EQUIPPED A PERFECT Little Leaguers at all seven Little League PARTNER World Series events in 2017 will be In 2017, DICK’S Sporting equipped with the latest and greatest Goods became the official bats, helmets, catcher’s gear, and retail and league technology more, courtesy of Easton Baseball/ partner of Little League. With Softball. During the 2017 LLBWS in Wil- its Sports Matter program liamsport, fans can be among the first and community efforts, to swing all-new bats at Easton’s Hit DICK’S Sporting Goods is Lab at the Family Fun Zone. HALL OF EXCELLENCE looking forward to working The^ Little League Hall of Excellence recognizes Little League with Little League to make HIGH FIVE! grads who’ve had successful careers in their chosen profes- the local league experience For the past five years, the Little League sions and made positive impacts in their communities. In PRIMETIME even better for players Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division 2016, three individuals earned Little League’s highest honor: Since^ 2015, Little League, MLB and ESPN have invited around the world. has given players ages 11–13 the op- TOM COUGHLIN (WATERLOO, N.Y., LL): After playing as a local Little League teams to experience “Sunday Night portunity to have fun on a larger field fullback on the Syracuse University football team, Coughlin Baseball” and appear on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight: with more conventional baseball rules. coached in both college and the pros. He was the head Sunday Night Countdown.” During their visits, Little Established in 2013, the division now coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995–2002, and Leaguers interact with MLB players and ESPN talent. boasts more than 3,000 teams world- later coached the New York Giants, with whom he won two Last year, the following clubs welcomed local Little wide, which will each compete for a spot Super Bowls in 12 seasons. Leaguers for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: at the fifth Little League Intermediate TORII HUNTER (PINE BLUFF, ARK.., NATIONAL LL): A five-time CHICAGO CUBS: Archer Manor LL, Warren Park LL (50/70) World Series, held from July 30 MLB All-Star and winner of nine Gold Gloves, Hunter played LOS ANGELES DODGERS: Manhattan Beach LL to Aug. 6, 2017, in Livermore, Calif. for the Twins, Angels and Tigers during his 19-year career, NEW YORK METS: Parkchester LL and was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2016. He’s a NEW YORK YANKEES: Throgs Neck LL < PLAYING KETCHUP strong supporter of the Little League Urban Initiative. PITTSBURGH PIRATES: Avonworth LL Before the first pitch of the 2016 LLBWS, CAT OSTERMAN (BEAR CREEK, HOUSTON, LL): Now a softball SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: Stockton Eastern LL, players on the 16 participating teams coach at Texas State University, Osterman has quite a re- Leagues from California Districts 3, 39 & 44 gathered for the Heinz Player Dinner at sume. After being named Gatorade National Softball Player ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: Godfrey Park LL, Hillsboro R-3 LL the dining hall inside the Dr. Creighton of the Year in high school and USA Softball National Player of Tune into “Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Count- J. Hale International Grove. The hungry the Year three times at the University of Texas, she played for down” and “Sunday Night Baseball” on ESPN this competitors chowed down on hot Team USA, winning Olympic medals in 2004 (gold) and ’08 season to catch local Little Leaguers at Major dogs and burgers loaded up with Heinz (silver). She also starred in the National Pro Fastpitch league. League ballparks once again. (6) INTERNATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE CREDIT PHOTO ketchup, mustard and other sauces. 4 5 WORLD LEADERS Believe it or not, the Little League < PLAY BALL WEEKEND World Series isn’t the only baseball In May 2016, lucky kids around the tournament that brings together country had the chance to play a teams from around the globe. game with two Dodgers stars on the Every four years, Major Leaguers beach in L.A. (pictured), host a kids- experience international passion only press conference in Kansas City, of the LLWS variety at the World tour the clubhouse in Tampa Bay, Baseball Classic (WBC). During and exchange caps with players at the 2017 WBC, countless super- Wrigley Field. The events were part stars represented their native of MLB’s first-ever Play Ball Weekend, countries: MLB All-Stars Giancarlo during which MLB teams encour- Stanton and Eric Hosmer (Team aged kids to visit the ballpark, be USA, pictured); World Series active and learn about the game. champs Javier Baez (Puerto Rico) Play Ball Weekend returns this year and Salvador Perez (Venezuela); on June 3 and 4, and plenty more and even Little League graduates fun is in store. Find out about events in Carlos Correa (P.R.) and Jurickson your area at playball.org. Profar (Netherlands). This year, fans saw surprising PITCH, HIT & RUN performances from Italy and Israel. Test your core baseball and Colombia won its first WBC game softball skills when you compete ever, and the Netherlands made in Pitch, Hit & Run (PHR), the of- the semifinals again, proving that ficial youth skills competition of it’s a team to be feared on the Major League Baseball. The free international scene. In the end, program, which just celebrated its Team USA defeated Japan and 20th season, provides four levels of Puerto Rico edged the Nether- competition for players ages 7–14.