Junior League Baseball

The Junior League World Series is a spectacular weeklong international tournament for the best teams of 13- and 14-year-old baseball players from around the world. Founded in 1981, the Junior League World Series is the “older brother” of the Little League World Series held annually in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the best teams of 12-year-olds. Like the Little League series, the Junior League World Series has a storied history.

The Junior League World Series began as a tournament for the best teams of 13-year-old players. It has blossomed to include 14-year-olds and now attracts teams from around the globe: from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, Canada and, of course, the United States. To date, teams have come from 27 different states in the U.S., four Canadian provinces, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Guam, Poland, Venezuela, Saipan and Russia. The Netherlands (formerly known as Holland) will make its debut in 2005 after winning the regional tournament held for teams from Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

A number of current or past professional baseball players – Gary Sheffield, Eric Bedard, Brett Myers, Jose Valentin, Erubiel Durazo, Chad Hermansen, Derek Bell, Delino DeShields and Shannon Withem – played for teams in the Junior League World Series years before making it as stars in the big leagues. Sheffield and Bell were teammates on the Belmont Heights team from Tampa, Florida, that won the Junior League world championship in 1982. Some future major leaguers may be on the rosters in 2005.

The above info is courtesy of the Junior League Baseball Website. Please visit them at http://www.cityoftaylor.com/worldseries/

Junior League World Series Champions