A panel discussion headlined by former Little League greats José Maiz, Todd Frazier and Luke Ramirez, along with a tribute to the 21 shot dead in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas in May, headlined the Opening Convocation of the 28th Little League International Congress at the Community Arts Center in Downtown Williamsport.
Uvalde Little League, active since 1959, was the recipient of the Carl E. Stotz Little League Community Award, following a moment of silence to pay respects to the victims. Rachel Lathe, the District Administrator for the 21st district in Texas, was on hand to accept the award and a check for $5,000 to be used as a grant for Uvalde Little League.
“The unspeakable and tragic event that occurred less than a month ago is something that no community, parent, or child should ever have to face, and no words can express the sadness and horror that we have all felt over these past weeks. Oftentimes in the wake of tragedy, Little League fields can become a place that brings back a sense of healing for a community and we hope the members of the league and the entire Uvalde community can find that comfort through the Uvalde Little League program. We have seen many of our local leagues and communities all around the world who have supported the Uvalde Little League program during this tragic time and are pleased to be able to present this award as a step forward as they begin to heal as a community,” Little League CEO Stephen Keener said.
Longtime MLB umpire Gerry Davis was also honored, as he was given the Chairman’s award. Davis, who retired from Major League umpiring last year, was a 40 year vet of the big leagues and is the only umpire to umpire both the Little League World Series and the MLB World Series.
Following remarks by local dignitaries such as Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter and State Senator Gene Yaw, and an in memoriam presentation, among other housekeeping measures, recognition of the hundreds of delegates from all over the world from every Little League region led us into the panel discussion.
Maiz, a 2005 inductee in the Little League Hall of Fame, was a member of the 1957 World Series Champions Industrial Little League from Monterrey, Mexico, the first team outside of the United States to win the series. The team has been immortalized in two movies, the 1960 film The Little Giants and the 2009 film Perfect game, modeled after Maiz’s teammate’s Angel Macias’ perfect game in the 1959 championship game, the first and only championship game in World Series history. He went on to a successful career in construction and now owns the Monterrey Sultanes of the Mexican Baseball League. He is also an executive for Little League Baseball in Mexico.
Maiz reminisced on his tournament run back in 1959, as the team’s left fielder noted that back then it was a single elimination tournament all summer long, with one loss from your local district to the World Series final eliminating you. That Monterrey team only gave up 14 runs in 13 games en route to the World Championship.
Luke Ramirez, the cleanup hitter on the 2009 Little League World Series Champions Park View Little League of Chula Vista, California, was also on hand. Ramirez, who was one of the most physically imposing players in the history of the Little League World Series, hit four home runs and drove in eleven runs during his team’s title run in Williamsport. After interning with Little League in the summer of 2017, He’s since gone on to a career in baseball, serving as the marketing coordinator for Bally Sports San Diego, the TV affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
Keener, who moderated the discussion with all three former players, asked Ramirez about his memories from his time in Williamsport.
“I think looking back my favorite memory was just embracing my dad on the field after the final out. A lot of work went into that run… everything that I remember from my experience here, it’s just nothing but good memories and it’s so happy. So happy to watch it every year after another and see those kids are making the same type of memories that I’ve made,” Ramirez said.
Keener then asked Ramirez about how he dealt with being one of the first little leaguers to play in the World Series in the digital age, noting how much coverage has expanded, from the days of just the championship game being televised to nowadays when all regional games are also televised via ESPN’s family of networks.
“It was definitely a different experience. It started at the regional in San Bernardino, filling out the ESPN questionnaires, questionnaires about what’s your favorite foods, favorite color stuff like that. I think I took to it really well. I noticed I got a lot of questions from reporters most of the time and requests like that. I think just because of how comfortable I was on camera or talking to reporters at an early age, and then actually ultimately led me to wanting to stick in sports media after my playing career,” Ramirez said.
The highlight of the panel was Todd Frazier. Frazier, the star player of the 1998 championship team, Toms River International out of Toms River, New Jersey, went on to start at Rutgers before an illustrious major league career where he was named a two-time all star and won the 2015 Home Run Derby. Frazier hit 218 home runs in his eleven-year career and won a silver medal with Team USA at last year’s Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
For Frazier, it was a no-brainer to come back and speak at the International Congress.
“It worked out perfectly. Steve Keener is a really good friend of mine and he asked me, “we’re having our Congress back at Williamsport. I’d like to have you up there for a question and answer and, you know, meet new people and get after it’ and I said, ‘that’s a no brainer’, and I’ll do anything for that guy. He’s done a lot for me in my career. And I’m trying to work my way back in Little League and help out as much as I can. I’m coaching my son at eight years old. I got another son at three, so I’ll be around a lot, so anything I can do to help for sure,” Frazier said.
Keener asked Frazier about the trip he and his champion teammates took to Yankee Stadium after their Little League World Series title in 1998 and him recreating the picture he took in 1998 with Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter when the two were in the big league years later.
Frazier said that the picture had been making the rounds again on social media and so he had to ask Jeter to recreate it.
The International Congress will run through Monday.
The Link LonkJune 13, 2022 at 01:31PM
https://www.sungazette.com/sports/local-sports/2022/06/cac-hosts-opening-convocation-of-28th-little-league-international-congress/
CAC hosts Opening Convocation of 28th Little League International Congress - Williamsport Sun-Gazette
https://news.google.com/search?q=little&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
No comments:
Post a Comment