Magic in Williamsport: Big Leaguers Relive Their Youth at Little League Classic

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — For a few special hours on a summer Sunday in Pennsylvania, Major League Baseball players weren’t just stars—they were kids again.

At Historic Bowman Field, just six miles from the iconic Lamade Stadium where the Little League World Series is in full swing, the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners faced off in the MLB Little League Classic—an annual game that has become one of the most joyful and wholesome traditions in professional sports.

For Carlos Mendoza, manager of the Mets, the game held special meaning. A team from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, his hometown, is representing the region in this year’s Little League World Series. Excited to see the young players in action, Mendoza struck up conversations with some of the kids while visiting the Little League complex. But keeping their attention was easier said than done.

“I’m talking to one kid and Juan Soto walks by,” Mendoza recalled with a laugh. “Then Francisco Lindor walks by. It was hard to maintain that conversation.”

A Comic Book Star Comes to Life

Juan Soto, the electrifying star outfielder, was always going to turn heads. But his custom-made cleats for the event made sure of it. Designed with a comic book theme, Soto’s shoes featured bright illustrations with slogans like “SOTO SMASH!” and “SOTO BLAST!”, alongside Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man and Iron Man. Completing the look was the caption “The Incredible Juan No. 22,” a playful nod to “The Incredible Hulk.”

The cleats were a big hit with the kids, but Mother Nature had other plans. Rain delayed the start of Sunday night’s game, proving that even a superhero like Soto isn’t immune to bad weather.

From Little League to the Big Leagues: Dan Wilson’s Journey

While kids from all over the world watched their heroes walk past in MLB uniforms, one current big league manager was living proof that those dreams can come true. Dan Wilson, now on the Mariners’ staff, once stood where the Little Leaguers now stand.

Back in 1981, Wilson was just 12 years old when his team from Barrington, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, advanced to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport. He pitched in the tournament’s opening game and helped his team reach the U.S. championship.

“We were down 11-4, we came storming back with two outs,” Wilson remembered. “The tying run got thrown out at the plate. A heartbreaking loss. There were a lot of tears.”

Despite the tough loss, Wilson and his teammates were celebrated like champions when they returned home. A local parade honored their achievement, and it became a memory that shaped the rest of his life.

“So much fun, so much joy,” Wilson said. “You just don’t expect that to happen when you start this experience. You start going to tournaments, playing tournaments, and start winning—pretty soon you find yourself in Williamsport.”

Now, decades later, Wilson took the mound again—this time to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Panama vs. Mexico Little League game earlier in the day.

Big Leaguers Turn Into Big Kids

Before the serious competition began under the lights, the Mets and Mariners joined in on the fun happening at the Little League complex. Players took part in everything from cardboard sledding down the hills at Lamade Stadium to pin trading, wiffle ball, and photo ops with starstruck Little Leaguers.

Mets pitcher Sean Manaea showed off a plastic bag full of pins he’d collected, mostly by trading with Little Leaguers who were desperate to get their hands on Juan Soto pins.

“It’s serious business,” Manaea joked. He even joined a pickup wiffle ball game.

“I was playing second-and-a-half base,” he quipped. “I did get a hit.”

Off an 11-year-old pitcher?

“I almost hit a home run,” he grinned. “Almost.”

It was a reminder that even professional athletes can still channel their inner child.

Little Dumper, Big Personality

No player may have leaned into the spirit of the event more than Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads the league with 46 home runs this season. Nicknamed “The Big Dumper,” Raleigh received a custom T-shirt from Little Leaguers reading “Little Dumper” and even autographed a toilet seat for a young superfan.

Raleigh’s chest protector for the game featured a custom design made to resemble a baseball card, complete with childhood photos of Mariners players and coaches. The playful gesture delighted kids and fans alike, adding to the warm, festival-like atmosphere of the day.

Locker Room Time Machine

The MLB teams embraced the event fully. In the locker rooms, players displayed oversized cardboard cutouts of themselves from their Little League days. Soto had a WWE-style championship belt displayed over his locker, a humorous and fitting tribute to his status as a superstar of the sport.

Meanwhile, players took time to hand out hats and other gear to the young attendees, many of whom watched the big game live from the stands.

“Something as simple as a hat for those kids, those coaches—it means so much,” Mendoza said. “It’s a memory that will stay with them forever.”

Growing the Game

The Little League Classic, which debuted in 2017 with a matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, is part of Major League Baseball’s broader strategy to connect with younger fans and grow the game internationally. It’s a celebration of baseball’s grassroots, showcasing the journey from neighborhood sandlots to professional stadiums.

This season’s event even included a “Kidcast” on ESPN2, where children took over broadcast duties for the game. It gave viewers a look at the event through the eyes of the very audience MLB hopes to engage more deeply—kids.

Other outreach efforts, like the Speedway Classic earlier in the season, are part of the same mission: create unforgettable moments and inspire the next generation of players and fans.

For many, the Little League Classic has become one of the most anticipated games on the MLB calendar—not because of standings or stats, but because of the spirit it captures.

“It doesn’t matter who—you’ve got a big-league jersey on and it’s kind of like, ‘I want to be like him,’” Manaea said. “I feel like I can represent that. It’s a cool way to give back to the game.”

Baseball’s Past, Present, and Future on One Field

In Williamsport, the past, present, and future of baseball meet in the most wholesome way possible. From a 12-year-old Dan Wilson throwing pitches in 1981, to Cal Raleigh signing a toilet seat for a fan in 2025, to Sean Manaea trading pins with wide-eyed kids, the game has a way of bringing people together across generations.

At its core, the Little League Classic is more than a game—it’s a reminder of where the love for baseball begins. In backyards, in local parks, in Little League games filled with dreams. For one day a year, MLB players return to that place—not just physically, but emotionally.

In doing so, they don’t just entertain. They inspire.