Scouts Eye

Little League Baseball it’s where I look for players and people.

For Nolan Ryan, Little League baseball was his first stop on his way to the majors, a successful business career and being a better person some may say the latter was why Little League baseball was engineered.

Youth baseball leagues were formed in the United States as early as the 18880’s. In 1938 Carl E. Stotz started a league in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for children and devised rules and field dimensions for what would become little league baseball.

In 1946 there were 12 similar leagues, three years later there was 300 leagues throughout the country. In 1951 the league had spread worldwide. Little league baseball is now the worlds largest organized youth sports program with some 20,000 teams in more than 80 countries. Williamsport ahs remained central. The Little League World Series – a truly international event – is played there every year and has hit national airways through television. In 2004 the Little League World Series drew 349,379 fans with millions more watching on TV.

In a world when change seems to be happening every second its nice to know that Little League Baseball has remained pleasantly constant. For example the Little League World Series Champion is invited to the White House, and it’s founding goal remains this: To teach children the fundamental principles of sportsmanship, fair play, and teamwork.

Little League Baseball remains a big deal in towns and communities across America and the world (I would like to personally thank God for that.)

Only a small fraction of Little League Players go on to make the major leagues but where would we be without dreams and hope? And I must tell all the Little League players in Claiborne county I will be in your town soon and I’m coming to your games and I’m looking for the next Big Leaguer, so be watching for me because I may be watching you.

There have been many hall of famers that have started their career in Little League such as Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Steve Carlton, Catfish Hunter just to name a few.

Perhaps the most important hall of famers to me anyway, are those less known such as those moms and dads, coaches, volunteers and all those who give so freely of their time and talent so the kids can play Little League baseball. To all those who serve the kids, you are the real hall of famers

Maybe Little League baseball is about so much more than just baseball, just like Carl E. Stotz envisioned it.

This weeks question comes form David from the dinner table. I really enjoyed having dinner with a Big League Scout but of all the places you have been what has been your fondest memory? Davis it was my pleasure to meet you and your group, many of you for the first time and to “Get Caught Up’ of all the news from home over the past 25 years. You all surprised me with some of your news.

My fondest memories are so many with the great people I have met and all the places I have been. By far my fondest memory is having my family with e on those trips and the things we have done together. My wonderful and beautiful wife gets all the credit. No doubt she was sent from heaven. My twins have enjoyed this lifestyle that only God could direct. Go has a way of working things out for the best even though we may not feel it at the time. In my life, the twist and turns it has taken has been directed from on high. Sometimes we have to thank God for unanswered prayers. I know I have thanked him for unanswered prayers of 25 years ago. Probably not the answer you expected, right?

Johnny Smith is a native of Claiborne County and under contract with the Atlanta Braves.