WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — When the team planes for the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets touch down in Williamsport on Sunday for this year’s Little League Classic, the major leaguers will be immediately surrounded by their younger counterparts in an encounter that is unscripted, unstructured, and entirely unpredictable.
The questions from the young players will be candid and direct. A Little Leaguer is likely to ask Cal Raleigh about his “Big Dumper” nickname and whether his mom still dislikes it. Raleigh might even show them the custom bat for the weekend, inscribed with: “Big butt… even BIGGER BOMBS.” Others will surely ask Pete Alonso about his “Polar Bear” moniker or quiz Randy Arozarena about his signature arms-crossed pose. Though Juan Soto has shelved his famous “Soto Shuffle” in his first season with the Mets, some kids might still be eager to show him their own impersonations.
The interactions highlight a fundamental shift in perspective. While adults often view players through the prism of wild-card standings, home run totals, and ERAs, the Little Leaguers see them differently. For them, the fun of the game supersedes statistics.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona, who attended the event in 2021 as Cleveland’s manager, called it “one of the funnest things I’ve been a part of. It was like a county fair, with baseball.”
That festive atmosphere will fill Bowman Field, where the crowd, composed almost entirely of Little Leaguers, will watch Sunday night’s game. Every high fly ball will be met with a collective “oooooooooh,” an expression of pure awe at the power of a big leaguer.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who regularly chats with young fans before games, is looking forward to the experience. He noted that many kids are interested in the big-league gear. “A lot of kids want to trade stuff,” he said, laughing. “Wrist bands. Batting gloves. A bat. A baseball.”
“I love it,” Lindor added. “I’m kind of a kid at heart, and it’s a reminder of why you fell in love with baseball in the first place.”
Some young players will seek advice on hitting or defense, while others might be too star-struck to speak. During a past Classic, cameras captured Little Leaguers simply gawking at the 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge as he sat among them in the stands. In another memorable moment, a young fan bravely interrupted an in-game interview to ask pitcher Gerrit Cole for an autograph.
Francona praised this aspect of the event, noting, “Even though the games were televised, the kids were left to themselves to be kids.”
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, whose team participated last year, was similarly impressed. “I was blown away by the whole environment,” he said. “The amount of pride from the kids and their love for our players was incredible. I saw kids ask baseball questions and just hang with them like teammates.”
Hinch recalled how the day prompted his own players to share stories about their Little League days, reconnecting them with the origins of their passion.
“It kinda brought everyone back to their roots,” Hinch reflected. “The experience inspired the team and reminded them why we love the game.”
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