Every year, the world of Little League Baseball descends on the quiet town of South Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the famed Little League World Series. A popular tradition since 1947, the Little League World Series represents the culmination of the Little League season and is steadily growing in popularity thanks to the growing global appeal of Little League Baseball itself. Little League players, parents and coaches alike should take a few moments to learn more about the Little League World Series, its rich history and its impact on youth sports around the world today.

Little League Baseball was established in 1939 in Pennsylvania. Enjoying steady growth in its early years, the organization decided that a formal championship event should be established to decide the overall winner of the league. Accordingly, the first Little League World Series was held in August 1947 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Little League. Initially known as the National Little League Tournament, the event was at first open only to teams based in the United States but eventually opened up to leagues from every corner of the globe. Today the tournament boasts 16 teams from all around the world, including the United States, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico and many others.

The winner of the inaugural Little League World Series in 1947 was, fittingly enough, the Williamsport, Pennsylvania team. In 1949, a team from Hammonton, New Jersey became the first team from outside of Pennsylvania to win the tournament while a team from Monterrey, Mexico became the first international team to win in 1957, just a decade after the establishment of the event. The most recent winners were a team from Musashi Fuchu, Japan who won the 2013 Little League World Series while Taiwan boasts the most overall titles of any country with 17 total.

From its rather humble beginnings back in 1947 to its global reach today, the Little League World Series has truly grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Its mix of thrilling competition, sportsmanship and global appeal makes it unique for a youth sports tournament and among the most popular of all youth sports tournaments in the entire world.

For the past 75 years, Little League has stood as the world’s premier youth sports organization, being played by millions of baseball and softball players worldwide. Some Little League fans know the story of Carl Stotz and the early history of Little League in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, yet few know of the true origins of youth baseball. In many ways, Little League can trace its rich heritage back to the 18th century in the days of Colonial America. Since then, baseball has grown into America’s Pastime and is regularly played by countless Little League players in the United States and across the entire world. To better appreciate Little League’s 75 years of history, it’s important to understand the origins of baseball and the early heritage of youth sports in the United States.

Baseball’s origins date back to the 18th century. An early version of the sport was played by George Washington’s army at Valley Forge, while “town ball,” a version of British sports like rounders and cricket, was widely played throughout the early 19th century. In the 1840s, Alexander Joy Cartwright is often credited with the invention of a new sport called “base ball,” the predecessor to today’s game. In 1846, the first modern scheduled baseball game was played by Cartwright’s team and a rival club, marking a key moment in American sports.

The Civil War saw baseball become widely played by young players on both sides of the conflict and the sport was quickly embraced across the country in the postwar years of the late 19th century. It was around this time that youth baseball clubs were established. In the 1880s in New York City, baseball leagues for children were established, although they had little long-term staying power since the game was still largely played by adults. However, its popular among children and preteens continued grow steadily grow throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, eventually culminating with the establishment of youth baseball leagues by the American Legion and in schools across the country. The sport’s growing popularity among youth players and the need to fill the void of an organized league led to the establishment of Little League in 1939 by Carl Stotz. The new league, initially based in Pennsylvania, offered a chance for children and preteens to play baseball in an organized league that emphasized values like sportsmanship and teamwork. Little League’s popularity soon caught on across the country and eventually around the world, leading to its emergence as the largest and most influential youth sports organization in the world today.

From its humble origins as an outgrowth of cricket to the global popularity of Little League today, youth baseball has shaped American sports culture in many ways. While celebrating 75 years of Little League baseball, its important to keep in mind its surprising origins that date all the way back to the days of George Washington and Colonial America.