For more than 75 years, the Little League World Series has been one of the most anticipated sporting events of the summer. Featuring talented young ballplayers from all across the world, the series has blossomed from a small local tournament in rural Pennsylvania into the widely televised and attended weekslong competition that it is today. And every August, millions descend on South Williamsport to cheer on the world’s best youth baseball teams as they compete for the ultimate prize.

The beginnings of the Little League organization can be traced to downtown Williamsport’s Memorial Park. Here, a statue recognizes the first-ever Little League game, played in the summer of 1939 on a small field adjacent to historic Bowman Field. Made possible by founder Carl Stotz, his three-team league – sponsored by a local lumber company, dairy farm and a pretzel maker – would eventually grow into the global organization which today provides an outlet for youth from all around the world to play the game they love.

Little League’s first annual championship tournament came in 1947, contested exclusively between teams from the United States. It remained a strictly domestic affair for a decade, expanding to include international squads in 1957. For many years, the series was held just across the street from Bowman Field, but swelling crowds would force the construction of a much larger facility across the Susquehanna in 1959. Today, the tournament is held in South Williamsport at two iconic ballparks – Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium.

Howard J. Lamade Stadium

The crown jewel of the Little League complex, Lamade Stadium is one of the largest and most recognizable ballparks in the country. It features a concrete seating structure, which can hold around 10,000 fans, and an expansive outfield hill that allows for an additional 35,000. This massive berm is prominent in the background of television broadcasts, with throngs of spectators in lawn chairs front and center and kids using pieces of cardboard to slide down the hill’s steep incline behind them.

On-site during the tournament, folks on the berm are pretty self-regulated and don’t block walkways or the view of others. Sightlines, however, are naturally obstructed by other factors such as light poles, tents, fans close to the front and even just the angle of the hill itself. But despite the expansiveness of the area, the setting remains fairly intimate.

The venue is named after former Little League executive Howard J. Lamade, whose efforts helped thrust the organization into the national spotlight. He was also the vice president of a newspaper run by the Lamade family – a weekly publication called Grit – who donated a significant amount of money to aid in purchasing the land on which the complex presently sits.

The field itself is two-thirds the size of a professional baseball diamond, with 60-foot basepaths, pitching rubber that’s 46 feet from home plate and a symmetrical 225-foot outfield fence. Although it’s certainly smaller than any MLB ballpark, the stadium still manages to capture the feel of the major leagues, thanks to its pristine grass playing surface, comfortable dugouts and remarkable ambiance. Massive crowds often fill the stands – especially during championship weekend – creating an unforgettable atmosphere for the kids who’ve worked so hard to get to Williamsport.

Little League Volunteer Stadium

Across the way from Lamade is the much more quaint Volunteer Stadium, which features the exact same dimensions as its larger sibling. Built in 2001, the park has 3,000 fixed seats and can accommodate up to 2,000 fans on its outfield berm. It serves as a secondary stadium for the tournament, hosting the entire international part of the bracket, as well as the consolation and elimination matchups.

The ballpark’s moniker is a nod to the thousands of volunteers who keep leagues running all around the globe and who make the Little League World Series possible each year. These dedicated individuals assist with everything from ticket taking and concessions, to field maintenance and even umpiring. Over the years, their tireless efforts have allowed for many smooth and successful tournaments that enable young players to solely focus on doing their best.

Volunteer Stadium hosts all 10 international teams as they go head-to-head for a chance to compete for the championship, and there’s always an amazing showing by fans who’ve traveled overseas to cheer on their boys. During the title game, which is held between the international and US winners over at Lamade, support for the latter sadly often drowns out the huzzahs of the international side. The foreign teams, however, have technically fared better in the tournament than the domestic ones, nearly matching the amount of wins secured by American teams despite only accounting for 4% of Little League players worldwide.

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Both Lamade and Volunteer Stadiums are part of the larger Little League complex, which includes additional practice fields and facilities to support the tournament. A large fan fest area, the World of Little League Museum and an immense new store are just a few of the highlights on the guest side. Overall, the sprawling campus provides ample space for the 20 teams that qualify for the World Series and the hundreds of thousands of folks who make the trek to central Pennsylvania to see them play. The complex has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years to keep pace with the tournament’s growth, improving amenities and enhancing the experience for fans and players alike.

As the Little League World Series has grown, its iconic home stadiums have become as much a part of the event’s legacy as the young athletes themselves. They’ve served as the stages upon which the players get to live out their dreams and etch their names in history. Undoubtedly, Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium represent the true spirit and excitement of Little League baseball.

Info Invasion

Parking: Free parking in nearby fields, staff and signs will direct you to the appropriate locations
Nearby Venue(s): Journey Bank Ballpark, Peoples Natural Gas Field
In the Area: Visit the World of Little League Museum
Other Notes: Depending on the day, the actual seating structure of Lamade Stadium may be closed to casual fans; thankfully, admission is always free to any of the tournament’s games