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Historic Marker for Little League Unveiled in Williamsport

WILLIAMSPORT — The Little League World Series is taking a break from the games on Friday, but there is still lots of activity on the other side of the riv...

WILLIAMSPORT -- The Little League World Series is taking a break from the games on Friday, but there is still lots of activity on the other side of the river in Williamsport.

The city unveiled a historic marker honoring Little League Friday afternoon.

On Friday night, the Chamber of Commerce is hosting a big party called  Williamsport Welcomes the World.

This is the seventh year for Williamsport Welcomes the World, a free street fair on West Fourth Street with food and crafts.

A ceremony was held a few hours earlier to honor Williamsport and Little League's place on the National Historic Registry.

There has been a lot of baseball played on fields on West Fourth Street in Williamsport on the site of the original Little League field complex.

The first twelve years of the Little League World Series were played on those fields. The fields were put on the National Historic Registry last December and now a plaque has just been unveiled at the site.

Carl Stotz founded Little League Baseball 76 years ago. His daughter Karen says this ceremony would have made him proud.

"I think he would have been very humble and modest about it, but we do know that Little League has traveled around the world and this is where it started. The birthplace is in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and it always will be," said Karen Stotz Meyers.

Officials from Lycoming County say getting on this registry is no easy task and they wonder what took so long.

"What's more historic? The largest youth sports program in the world started right here. If that isn't historic, I'm not quite sure what is," said Williamsport Lycoming Chamber of Commerce President Vince Matteo.

The ceremony had a large audience including former Little League World Series champion Bill Martin. His team won the series in 1950.

"This is where we played at, on this field," said Martin. "It means a lot more to us than even the other field, even though it's prettier, maybe."

Along with this former player were current players. Seven of the Little League teams came to the ceremony and checked out the fields.

"There's not as many fans that could be there so it would feel like just a regular state game instead of a World Series game," said Eli Burwash, Great Lakes Region.

Those current Little Leaguers threw some pitches, ran the bases, and soaked in the history of the original fields.

As for Williamsport Welcomes the World, this event goes until 9 p.m. Friday on West Fourth Street.

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