Carl E. Stotz (February 20, 1910 – June 4, 1992) was the American founder of

Little League Baseball Little League Baseball and Softball (officially, Little League Baseball Inc) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Williamsport, Pennsylvania Williamsport is a city in, and the county seat of, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It recorded a population of 27,754 at the 2020 Census. It is the principal city of the Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a popul ...

. He was the fourth of five children of Lulu Fisk Stotz the third child of a German immigrant (1862) named Kristjian and married first generation German-American Juliana Eddinger, in 1877 in Williamsport. He is honored and memorialized in Williamsport at the following places:

Carl E. Stotz Memorial Little League Bridge The Carl E. Stotz Memorial Little League Bridge, formerly known as the Market Street Bridge, carries approximately 27,700 vehicles a day on U.S. Route 15 over the West Branch Susquehanna River between Williamsport and South Williamsport in Lyco ...

which carries

U.S. Route 15 U.S. Route 15 (US 15) is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Caro ...

across the

West Branch Susquehanna River The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the Northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the ext ...

between Williamsport and

South Williamsport South Williamsport is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is famous for hosting the Little League World Series. The population was 6,259 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statis ...

; "Original League's" Field (a 1995 PA historical Site and 2014 National Historical Site) on West 4th Street in Williamsport, PA; Carl's neighborhood park - Gardenview Carl E. Stotz Park; a statue donated by the Mason's organization placed at Volunteer Stadium of L.L.B. Inc. in South Williamsport, PA; and a 3 player statue on Memorial Ave. & Park Point. In the summer of 1938, at a location next to West 4th Street (at that time Carl could not get permission from the City of Williamsport to start league play at this location), Stotz started to discuss his dream with local children from the neighborhood. He was always set on adult supervision to stop bickering on the

sandlot Sandlot may refer to: * ''The Sandlot'', a 1993 film about young baseball players, and its sequels ** ''The Sandlot 2'', a 2005 film ** '' The Sandlot: Heading Home'', a 2007 film * Sandlot (company), a Japanese game developer * Sandlot Games, de ...

. In 1939, he officially started up the league. The bases were placed 60 ft apart and the pitcher's mound was placed 40 ft from

home plate A baseball field, also called a ball field or baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The term can also be used as a metonym for a baseball park. The term sandlot is sometimes used, although this usually refers ...

. The initial 1939 games were played at Park Point. A field at Memorial and Demarest Street in Williamsport housed the 1940 and 1941 seasons. In 1942, "Original League" returned to the August 1938 area where Carl Stotz, his nephews (Major and Jimmy Gehron) and other boys experimented to determine the league's dimensions and rules. The nephews mother, Laura Belle Stotz Gehron, sewed the initial bases. Carl hand-carved with a penknife the first home plate and pitchers mound. The next step was for him to apply to local businesses for sponsorship and donations. He also looked to parents for help with the organization of the league. A year later in the summer of 1939 they had three teams set up. Each team was managed individually by Stotz (Lycoming Dairy) and brothers George (Lundy Lumber) and Bert Bebble (Jumbo Pretzel). The first game was played on June 6, 1939, with Lundy Lumber defeating Lycoming Dairy 23–8. The first

Little League World Series The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children—typically boys—aged 10 to 12 years old, held in the Eastern United States. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for the ...

wasn't played until the summer of 1948 though. "Original League" on West Fourth Street is currently an unfranchised (from L.L.B. Inc.) and active league which hosted the first Little League Tournament (National Tournament) in 1947. The "Original League" Field was the venue for the 1948 through 1958 series' games. Its clubhouse contains numerous articles of historical interest worthy of viewing, and holds an Open House every day during the

in August. The Little League Women's Auxiliary (1947) was organized by Grayce Stotz, Carl's wife and a great "Original League" supporter. Stotz was commissioner of Little League until 1955. Carl Stotz, a highly principled man, left Little League Baseball Inc. in late November 1955 over honest and valid philosophical differences centered on commercialization and central control issues with the management of L.L.B. Inc., of which Carl's conscience, would not permit him to remain. From that point on Carl continued an active relationship with "Original League" until his passing in 1992.

External links

History of Little League

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stotz, Carl People from Williamsport, Pennsylvania Little League 1910 births 1992 deaths