Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to be Enshrined into the Little League® Hall of Excellence

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to be Enshrined into the Little League® Hall of Excellence. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Little League® Baseball and Softball.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (December 6, 2017) – In honor of his dedication to the growth of youth baseball and softball, his commitment to pursuing excellence, and his positive influence as a role model to aspiring Little Leaguers^®, Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. will be enshrined into the Little League^® Hall of Excellence, the highest honor that Little League can bestow. The enshrinement ceremony will take place at the 27^th Little League International Congress in New Orleans, La., on Friday, January 19.

In 2015, Mr. Manfred became the first alumnus of Little League^® to be elected as Commissioner of Major League Baseball

“It will be an honor to welcome Commissioner Manfred into the Little League Hall of Excellence,” said Hugh E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “His commitment to the growth and development of youth baseball and softball in communities around the world, and the support that he has shown for the Little League program during his time as Commissioner, has been greatly appreciated by those of us at the grassroots level. Both of our futures are bright working together.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Little League® Baseball and Softball.

In 2015, Mr. Manfred, a graduate of Rome (N.Y.) Little League, became the first alumnus of Little League elected to the Commissioner of Baseball following the retirement of current Commissioner Emeritus Allan H. “Bud” Selig. Manfred’s dedication to the youth was evident from the beginning as he made his first major public appearance as Commissioner-elect at the 2014 Little League Baseball^® World Series, throwing out the first pitch of the August 20 game between the Mid-Atlantic Region (Taney Little League) and the West Region (Mountain Ridge Little League).

“I am honored to be enshrined in the Little League Hall of Excellence alongside the many great men and women who have come before me,” said Commissioner Manfred. “The successes that Major League Baseball has had with our youth outreach efforts would not be possible without terrific partnerships like the one we have built with everyone at Little League. The organization shares our belief that anyone who wants to play our great game should have that opportunity. We are very proud of the work we have already done together, but know there is plenty more to come in the future.”

Little League CEO Stephen Keener and Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Little League® Baseball and Softball.

During Mr. Manfred’s tenure as Commissioner, there has been a major focus on connecting and engaging youth in baseball and softball through initiatives and events such as PLAY BALL; MLB Pitch, Hit & Run; the Jr. Home Run Derby; All-Star Week related activities; and Little League Days at MLB ballparks.

His commitment shined bright this year in the establishment of the MLB Little League Classic, a special regular season game that took place this past August between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals in Williamsport during the Little League Baseball World Series. As part of the festivities surrounding the MLB Little League Classic, players from both Major League teamsattended the Little League Baseball World Series in a first-of-its-kind show of support for youth baseball. Later that night, the players and families of the 16 teams competing in the Little League Baseball World Series then had the unique opportunity to attend the MLB Little League Classic at Historic Bowman Field, which for many of the Little Leaguers^® marked their first ever Major League Baseball game experience. Following the success of the inaugural game, MLB and Little League will once again hold the MLB Little League Classic in 2018 with a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets on August 19.

“Major League Baseball’s greatest responsibility is to ensure that today’s youth become active participants in our game as players and fans,” said Commissioner Manfred in MLB’s official release announcing the 2017 Little League Classic. “The ‘MLB Little League Classic’ exemplifies our entire sport’s commitment to building a stronger connection between young people and the National Pastime.”

As part of the celebration of the inaugural MLB Little League Classic, Mr. Manfred played a pivotal role in the announcement of an official partnership between Major League Baseball and Little League International to continue fostering interest and encouraging participation in youth-centered baseball and softball activities. As part of the partnership, MLB and Little League will collaborate on various youth and fan initiatives, and also provide visibility for these programs through a number of platforms, including digital and social media.

Mr. Manfred’s official enshrinement into the Little League Hall of Excellence will take place duringLittle League International’s Quadrennial Congress at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, La., on January 19. Following the enshrinement ceremony, Mr. Manfred will be participating in a special keynote conversation with Little League President and CEO, Stephen D. Keener, which will be broadcasted on Facebook Live through Little League’s official Facebook page,Facebook.com/LittleLeague.

Established in 1988, enshrinement in the Little League Hall of Excellence is an annual honor bestowed on a Little League graduate (or graduates) who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their chosen profession and exemplify the values learned as children in Little League Baseball or Softball. With his enshrinement in January 2018, Mr. Manfred will become the 56^thmember of the Little League Hall of Excellence.

About the Little League^® Hall of Excellence

Enshrinement into the Little League Hall of Excellence is the highest honor that Little League can bestow. To be considered for the Little League Hall of Excellence, a candidate must meet BOTH of these conditions:

1. He or she must have played in a chartered local Little League

2. He or she must have become a recognized role model as an adult.

Being a role model does not necessarily mean being famous (like President George W. Bush, actor Kevin Costner, or singer Bruce Springsteen). Rather, the person must have, as an adult, set an example for children by their actions (like Medal of Honor recipient Spec. Ross McGinnis, Principal of the Year Michael Pladus, or Firefighter Michael Cammarata).

About Little League^®

Founded in 1939, Little League^® Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.4 million players and one million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and more than 80 other countries. During its nearly 80 years of existence, Little League has seen more than 40 million honored graduates, including political leaders, professional athletes, award-winning artists, and a variety of other influential members of society. Each year, millions of people follow the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship that Little Leaguers^® display at our seven baseball and softball World Series events, the premier tournaments in youth sports. For more information, visitLittleLeague.org, and follow Little League on Facebook (facebook.com/LittleLeague), Twitter (twitter.com/LittleLeague), and Instagram (Instagram.com/LittleLeague).