Williamsport, Pa. — Aaron Judge was greeted with a chorus of “Judge!” from excited kids as soon as he stepped off the team plane for the New York Yankees’ appearance at the Little League World Series. The Yankees slugger, one of baseball’s biggest stars, was undoubtedly the main attraction in Williamsport.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. contributed to the frenzy, tossing souvenirs to eager children and filming the excitement with a handheld video camera. Giancarlo Stanton, in his Yankees uniform, demonstrated the proper grip of a baseball to Little Leaguers during a bus ride. The young players were dazzled by the presence of their major league heroes.
“They were blown away by how big G and Judge were on the bus,” Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe remarked.
Yankees and Detroit Tigers players also participated in the traditional slide down the outfield hill outside the Little League World Series stadium. Judge handed out collectible pins, while Tigers players played video games and table tennis with the kids in the game room, making it hard to distinguish who was having more fun.
“Just to get a chance to share that moment with them, talk to them, sign a couple of autographs, I think if you ask both teams, we all enjoyed that experience,” Judge reflected.
Despite a rainy Sunday afternoon that delayed the Little League World Series games, the Yankees and Tigers relished acting like kids again as they mingled with the elite 12-year-olds from around the world, all gathered for the pinnacle of youth baseball.
The Tigers went on to rally in the ninth and 10th innings, beating the Yankees 3-2.
“I had dreams of playing in the Little League World Series,” said New York manager Aaron Boone, who instead found himself playing a role in the Major League Baseball Little League Classic on Sunday night at the Historic Bowman Field with a seating capacity of 2,366.
The Yankees and Tigers, after playing two games in Detroit over the weekend, took a quick flight to Williamsport to conclude their series on Sunday. They were welcomed at the airport by enthusiastic Little Leaguers. Both teams rode buses with the youth players, hoping to catch some Series action at Lamade Stadium, though rain altered their plans. Eventually, they headed to Bowman Field, which has been a landmark since 1926.
“I just couldn’t imagine at that age being able to hang out with big leaguers at that time,” Stanton said.
Curious kids peppered the major league stars with questions about life in the big leagues, the toughest pitchers they’ve faced, and the path to the majors.
“They’re pointing at your muscles and asking how you get big and strong,” Judge said, laughing. “It’s pretty cool stuff.”
Some Little Leaguers were already familiar faces to the Yankees and Tigers, who had been following the World Series bracket.
“The cool thing is I recognized some of the kids from watching them play this week,” Stanton said.
The Little League Classic is one of MLB’s innovative approaches to attracting new fans and reconnecting with lapsed ones by hosting games in unique settings, such as the Phillies-Mets series in London this year and the first Little League Classic in 2017, which featured the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dillon Phelan of the Great Lakes region team, based in Hinsdale, Illinois, mingled in full uniform with his teammates near the Tigers’ dugout before Sunday night’s game. Though his team lost both games in the World Series, Dillon was adept at catching autographs, proudly showing off his cap filled with signatures from Yankees and Tigers players including Stanton, Volpe, Juan Soto, Kerry Carpenter, and Riley Greene.
“It’s been cool,” Dillon shared. “It’s been a good memory that I won’t forget for a long time.”
The Little Leaguers were treated like MLB All-Stars during their time in Williamsport, celebrated by thousands in a downtown parade and featured in extensive ESPN coverage.
Great Lakes coach Damon Phelan, Dillon’s father, recounted the team’s eight-day stay in town before playing any games.
“There’s so much prep that goes into the games, everything from the boys getting new uniforms, cleats, all new batting gear, catcher’s gear,” he said. “It’s like Christmas in August.”
The best gift of all, however, might have been the chance to make lasting memories and friendships with the Yankees and Tigers.
