Tee Ball on the South Lawn

For eight years, Lance Van Auken (then Little League Director of Media Relations and Communications) coordinated Little League International’s involvement in President George W. Bush’s Tee Ball on the South Lawn program.

Little League provided personnel, materials, logistical support and a major portion of the funding in administering the program. This support was provided not only because of the Bush family’s close ties to Little League, and President Bush’s status as the first U.S. President to have graduated from the Little League program, but Little League’s belief that holding these games is beneficial to our nation, and our President.

For most games, Mr. Van Auken traveled to the sites of the Little League teams chosen to play, conducting news conferences for the media, and holding meetings with the parents, players, and local league leadership. These news conferences and meetings generated extensive publicity in those regions and helped to facilitate better communication between the players’ family members, Little League, and the White House.

Funding assistance from Little League was provided since 2002 to the U.S. Treasury. Several sponsors have donated funds to Little League for use in the Tee Ball on the South Lawn initiative, both for direct payments by Little League to the U.S. Treasury, and to offset Little League’s expenses. The sponsors have included: CNA, Masterfoods, Inc. (Snickers Brand), Smiles for Life Foundation, Ace Hardware, AIG Companies, Musco Sports Lighting, ChoicePoint, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Russell Athletic, Wilson Sporting Goods, and New Era Cap Company.

Each of the sponsors (up to five sponsoring companies per game) received the opportunity to have 10 guests at the games, with the tickets supplied by Little League as part of its 70 or 80-ticket-per-game allotment from the White House.

White House Counsel made it clear that contributions by the sponsors would not result in a “quid pro quo” of any kind. Little League wholeheartedly agreed with this position. However, each year, the White House Communications Office was able to provide one or two opportunities for the sponsors to very briefly meet the President and pose for a group photo.

In 2002, ’03 and ’04, President Bush named Cal Ripken, Jr., as the honorary commissioner of the Tee Ball on the South Lawn games played in those years. Starting in 2005, individual honorary commissioners were named for each game, which resulted in a “fresher” story each game, and allowed the choice of honorary commissioner to be tailored to the theme of the game.

For each game (other than Game 19 and Game 20, noted below), the Little League Communications Division consulted with the White House Communications Office to select a specific area from which a team will be chosen. The two local Little League programs were chosen by Little League International after it conducted a vetting process, ensuring the leagues were well-run and would be good representatives of Little League. One regular season team from each of the two league was then chosen, at random, to be one of the Tee Ball on the South Lawn teams.

Travel and hotel expenses were paid by the local leagues through donations from the community.

Game 19 and Game 20

For Game 19, Little League International solicited its leagues in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to apply for consideration to have a player from that league in a game. A committee at Little League International reviewed all of the applicants and chose one player from each state and the District. Travel and hotel expenses were paid by the local leagues in most cases.

For Game 20, Little League International solicited its leagues worldwide to apply for consideration to have a player from that league in a game, with the stipulation that the player be the child of an active duty member of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard. A committee at Little League International reviewed all of the applicants and chose a number of players from each service. Travel expenses were paid by the individual families in most cases.

Any local league was permitted to apply to be considered for participation in Tee Ball on the South Lawn. An on-line form that leagues and individuals could use in nominating a league or team for consideration in a future game was available at the Little League web site (www.LittleLeague.org). More than 600 forms were completed and submitted over eight years. Some supporting documents have included letters from the U.S. Congress, governors, mayors, etc.

Mr. Van Auken was the primary contact for the District Administrators, league presidents, managers, coaches and parents at the local level. A “Tee Ball on the South Lawn Information Kit” was prepared by the Little League Communications Division that was sent to the teams, once chosen, including tips on proper etiquette at the White House. Uniforms and caps were shipped by Little League International to the teams several days in advance of the games.

Russell Athletic Corp., supplied uniform tops for all the players, managers and coaches; New Era Cap Co. supplied hats; Wilson Sporting Goods supplies most items of baseball equipment.

Two to four days before each game, two or three Little League staff members traveled to the White House, delivering any needed equipment and overseeing the set-up of the field, which is located in the southwest corner of the South Lawn, near the Southeast Gate. The items used to construct the field consisted of four chain-link fence seconds that made up the backstop, several dozen eight-foot sections of portable white fencing, bases, home plate, a pitching plate, grass-friendly field marking paint, and wooden benches that were formerly used in the dugouts at the Little League Baseball World Series. A few days after each game, when the field marking paint faded, there was no evidence a baseball game had been played on the site.

Little League International also supplied all of the playing equipment for each game, except for the players’ individual fielding gloves. In this way, the teams did not need to bring any athletic bags that would have slowed down the security clearance process.

On the day of each game, Little League International personnel and several guests traveled to the White House to provide administrative support, such as ensuring the teams were outfitted properly, and to ensure Little League rules regarding safety were observed.

In no case were any leagues, or any of the more than 600 players or their families who participated in Tee Ball on the South Lawn, ever required to pay any sort of fee whatsoever to Little League International, or anyone else, in order to be considered for, or to participate in, this program.

Each year and without exception, personnel in the White House Communications Office provided friendly assistance to Little League in administering the game preliminaries and the games themselves. Little League maintains that the professionalism and willingness to provide open lines of communications reflected great credit upon the White House staff and our nation.

Game Day – In 2001, each game was preceded by the arrival of President Bush on the South Lawn of the White House via Marine One, with the teams and guests there to greet him (and in some cases, members of the Bush family). This was discontinued, for the most part, after the 2001 games.

Each game was played under modified Tee Ball rules. Every player on each team batted once and the games lasted one inning (about 30 minutes). Every player participated on defense, and no score was kept. Following the game, the White House provided a picnic for the participants, families and guests (underwritten by Little League). In most cases, guests were provided a tour of the East Wing and State Floor of the White House. An advance Little League International group of between six and 12 people was provided a brief “walk-through” tour of the West Wing a few hours before each game.

During each game, Little League International personnel were stationed in the dugouts to help facilitate the event. Since the children as well as the managers and coaches were usually somewhat in awe of their surroundings, this helped to minimize delays and ensure the games were played safely. A Little League International staff member also was stationed near home plate to place the ball on the tee for each batter.

A program was printed by the White House for each game, listing the players, managers and coaches, as well as other dignitaries and other information as needed.

“Dugout,” Little League’s mascot, attended all but one game.

Prior to the start of each game, President Bush lead the players in the “Little League Pledge,” which he recited as a Little Leaguer in Texas.

Following each game, the President presented a baseball (or softball) bearing his signature and the Presidential Seal to each player, manager, and coach. In the games involving Challenger Division teams, the President also presented each “buddy” (a helper) with a ball. Certificates also were provided by the White House, bearing the President’s signature.

After the presentation, media personnel in attendance interviewed several players and parents in the area just beyond the right field fence. All in attendance (except media) are invited to the picnic.

Artifacts from each of the games are archived in the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum, and some have been donated by Little League to the Smithsonian Institution as well as the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Games of 2008 – The first game of the year was played on June 30, between teams from Cramer Hill Little League of Camden, N.J., and from José M. Rodriguez Little League of Manati, Puerto Rico. The theme highlighted the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the sport of baseball. … The honorary commissioner for the game was Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the late Baseball Hall of Famer. In his father’s honor, the number “21” was retired. … President Bush and Mrs. attended the game. … The base coaches were former Major Leaguer Jose Rijo, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez. … The public address announcer was Natalie Morales of NBC News and NBC’s Today Show. … Angel Macias, who in 1957 threw the only perfect game in Little League Baseball World Series championship game history for Monterrey, Mexico’s Industrial Little League team, and Jake T. Austin who portrays Mr. Macias in the feature film “The Perfect Game,” were on hand to present President Bush the baseball to place on the tee to start the game. … … The National Anthem was performed by Menudo. … This was the first and only Tee Ball on the South Lawn game to feature a team from outside the Continental U.S.

The second game of the year was played on July 16, between players from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia – dubbed the Tee Ball on the South Lawn All-Star Game. … The honorary commissioner for the game was Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who filled in for fellow Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who was ill and could not attend. … The 51 players were divided by region onto four teams, with each team playing one inning. … President Bush attended the game with Mrs. Bush, and the base coaches were Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, former Major Leaguer Rick Monday, and current Major Leaguers John Smoltz and Kevin Millar. … The National Anthem was performed by Kenny Chesney. … The public address announcers were ESPN Radio’s Mike Gollick and Mike Greenburg. … Little League, with generous support from Little League Foundation Trustee Jin Roy Ryu, provided a pre-game luncheon to about 300 game attendees, including the players and their families, at the nearby Marriott Metro Center.

The third and final game of the year, and the 20th and final game of President Bush’s administration, was played on September 7, between players from the five U.S. Military Branches. … The honorary commissioner for the game was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. … The 26 players, each with a parent serving on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, were divided into two teams of 13 players each. The ranks of the parents ranged from E-4 to o-6, with four of the parents unable to attend the game because they were deployed. … President Bush attended the game with Mrs. Bush. …The base coaches were former Major Leaguer Bernie Williams, and Marine Gen. Peter Pace, former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and member of the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence (as is President Bush). … The National Anthem was performed by Rascal Flatts. … The public address announcers were Brian Kilmeade of FOX News, and former Major Leaguer Tim McCarver of FOX Sports. … Also attending were: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates; General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, Rod McKinley; and U.S. Congressman Tom Davis of Virginia. … Presenting the ball to President Bush before the game were Ambassador Karen Hughes, and Stephen D. Keener, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball. … Little League, with generous support from Little League partner ChoicePoint, provided a pre-game luncheon to about 250 game attendees, including the players and their families, at the nearby Marriott Metro Center.

Games of 2007 – The first game of the year was played on June 27, between girls softball teams from Allegany County Little League in Cumberland, Md., and from Luray (Va.) Little League. The theme was women in sports. … The honorary commissioner for the game was U.S. Olympic Softball Gold Medalist Michele Smith. … President Bush attended the game, along with the University of Arizona Women’s Softball National Champions. Taryne Mowatt and Caitlin Lowe of UA were the base coaches. … The public address announcer was Hannah Storm of CBS’ The Early Show. … This was the first and only Tee Ball on the South Lawn game to feature teams composed entirely of girls.

The second game of the year was played on July 15, between teams from Inner City Little League of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Wrigley Little League of Los Angeles, Calif. The theme of the game was to highlight the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s entry into the Major Leagues, to retire the number “42,” and to highlight the Little League Urban Initiative. … The honorary commissioner for the game was Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the first African-American to manage in the Major Leagues. … President Bush attended the game with Mrs. Bush, and the base coaches were former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda and former Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe. … Also attending was Len Coleman, former President of the National League, and current trustee of the Little League Foundation. … The public address announcer was ESPN’s Karl Ravech. … Helping to make the trip possible for the Los Angeles team were two trustees of the Little League Foundation (former Dodgers president Peter O’Malley, and Jin Roy Ryu), and the current owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Frank and Jamie McCourt). The New York Mets funded the Brooklyn team’s trip.

Games of 2006 – The first game of the year was played on June 23, between teams from McGuire Air Force Base (N.J.) Little League and Dolcom Little League of Naval Submarine Base New London, from Groton, Conn. The theme highlighted the American military. … The honorary commissioner for the game was U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Gen. Pace also is a Little League graduate, having played in Teaneck, N.J. He joined President Bush as an enshrinee of the Little League Museum Hall of Excellence when he visited the Little League Baseball World Series in 2003. … President Bush attended the game, and the base coaches were Air Force Col. Rick Martin and Navy Capt. Sean Sullivan, the respective commanding officers of the installations represented. … The public address announcer was ABC Sports personality Tim Brant, also a former Little Leaguer. … In addition to the usual sponsors, Little League corporate partner Subway Restaurants provided the funds for the transportation needs for the Little League Tee Ball team from Naval Submarine Base New London. The team and all parents and fans spent two nights at Little League’s camp facility in Hillsgrove, Pa., so they did not have any lodging expenses. … This was the third Tee Ball on the South Lawn game to feature teams composed largely of dependents of military personnel.

The second game of the year, on July 30, featured Challenger Division teams from Shady Spring (W.Va.) Little League and Thurmont (Md.) Little League. It was the sixth Challenger Division game played as part of the Tee Ball on the South Lawn program. The Challenger Division is Little League’s program for physically and mentally disabled children. … Guests included: President Bush and Mrs. Bush; Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays (honorary commissioner). … The honorary base coaches were former Major League pitcher Al Leiter, and former Major League catcher Dan Wilson. Mr. Wilson played in the Little League Baseball World Series for his Barrington, Ill., team in 1981. … Charlie Brotman, former stadium announcer for the Washington Senators, provided the play-by-play coverage on the public address system.

Games of 2005 – The first game of the year was played on June 26, between teams from Jackie Robinson South Ward Little League (Newark, N.J.) and South Side Little League (Chicago, Ill.). The theme highlighted the Little League Urban Initiative, as well as the President’s and First Lady’s “Helping America’s Youth” initiative. … President Bush attended, along with former Major Leaguer Barry Larkin (honorary commissioner). The base coaches were U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson. … Fred Hickman of ESPN provided the play-by-play coverage on the public address system. … As a result of this event, Little League was asked to take part in the White House Conference on Helping America’s Youth.

The second game of the year, on July 24, featured Challenger Division teams from District 12 of Williamsport, Pa., and West University Little League of Houston, Texas. It was the fifth Challenger Division game played as part of the Tee Ball on the South Lawn program. … Guests included: President Bush and Mrs. Bush; former Major League umpire and Little League Distinguished Graduate Award recipient Steve Palermo (honorary commissioner); and Houston Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte. … The base coaches were Baseball Hall of Famers Paul Molitor and Ozzie Smith. … Dave Feldman, a local sports announcer in the Washington, D.C., area, provided the play-by-play coverage on the public address system.

A third game was tentatively scheduled for September, but was cancelled. Teams were to be military-based Tee Ball teams from Texas and/or surrounding states, with the game to be played at Waco, Texas. Two leagues were identified but not notified.

Games of 2004 – The first game of the year was played on June 13, between teams from Bolling Air Force Base (Washington, D.C.) and Cherry Point (N.C.) Marine Corps Air Station, continuing a theme established in 2003 to honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. … Guests included: President Bush and Mrs. Bush; Marine Gen. Peter Pace (then Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff); and Baseball Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. … The base coaches were commanding officers from the two military installations: Marine Col. John Gumbel and Air Force Col. Duane Jones. … Joe Buck of FOX Sports provided the play-by-play coverage on the public address system.

The second game of the year, on July 11, featured Challenger Division teams from Middletown-Odessa-Townsend (MOT) Little League of Delaware, and from the leagues of District 23 in Lancaster County, Pa. It was the fourth Challenger Division game played as part of the Tee Ball on the South Lawn program. … Guests included: President Bush and Mrs. Bush; former Major League pitcher Dennis Eckersley (who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame later in the summer); Dale Petroskey (then the president of the Baseball Hall of Fame); and former Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. (honorary commissioner). … The base coaches were former Major Leaguer pitchers Dave Dravecky and Jim Abbott. … Matt Winer of ESPN provided the play-by-play coverage on the public address system.

A third game was scheduled for September, but was cancelled because of the President’s schedule. Teams were not chosen for the September game that was cancelled.

Games of 2003 – The first game of 2003 was played on June 22, between the Naval Base Little League of Norfolk, Va., and the Fort Belvoir (Va.) Little League. The theme of “Army vs. Navy,” originally proposed by Little League in 2001, helped President Bush honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. … Guests included: President Bush and Mrs. Bush; Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson and Billy Williams, as well as Craig Counsel of the Arizona Diamondbacks, former NFL player Darrell Green, and Mr. Ripken (honorary commissioner). … The commanders of the two installations (Capt. Jerry Becker of Naval Station Norfolk, and Col. Thomas Williams of Fort Belvoir) coached the bases. … ESPN’s Kenny Mayne was the public-address announcer.

The second game, on July 27, featured Challenger Division teams from Leedom Little League in Ridley Park, Pa., and Marley Area Little League in Glen Burnie, Md. It was the third Challenger Division game played as part of the Tee Ball on the South Lawn program. The game coincided with the same weekend as the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. President George H.W. Bush signed the act in a ceremony July 26, 1990 – also on the South Lawn – calling it a “historic new civil rights act … the world’s first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities.” … Guests included: President Bush, Mr. Green, Paralympic Games Silver Medallist Pamela Danberg, and Paralympic Games Bronze Medallist Jim Leatherman, and Mr. Ripken (honorary commissioner). … The YES Network’s Fred Hickman was the public-address announcer.

The third and final game of the year, on Sept. 7, highlighted women in sports, and featured a team from Milwood Little League of Kalamazoo, Mich., and a Babe Ruth team from Hamilton, N.J. The Kalamazoo team, parents, league officials and all guests (about 100 people) traveled by bus from Kalamazoo to Williamsport, where they were housed over two nights in the Dr. Creighton J. Hale International Grove at Little League International’s expense. Meals at International Grove also were provided by Little League at no charge. … Guests at the game included: President and Mrs. Bush; several former players in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (Delores “Dolly” Brumfield White, Gloria Cordes Elliott, Jean Fantry, Karen Violetta Kunkel, Ruth “Ritchie” Richard, “Lou” Stone Richards, and Helen “Gig” Smith), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez, Olympic Softball Gold Medallist Dot Richardson, Olympic Gymnastics Gold Medallist Kerri Strug, “Raven” of Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven, Mr. Green, and Mr. Ripken (honorary commissioner). … Linda Cohn of ESPN and USA Softball pitcher Jennie Finch were the public-address announcers. … This was the only game in the history of the Tee Ball on the South Lawn program in which one team did not wear red, white and blue, and which was not limited to players age 8 or under, or the disabled. (The Babe Ruth team wore orange shirts, and included some players who were nine years old.)

Games of 2002 – The first game of the year was played on May 5, between the 6-11 Little League of Trenton, N.J., and Uniondale Little League of Long Island, N.Y. The two teams were to have played on Sept. 16, 2001. However, the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crash of a hijacked plane in Southwestern Pennsylvania, led to the postponement of the game. … The Little League International Board of Directors attended this game, coinciding with the board’s annual spring meeting, which was held in Washington, D.C. … Guests included: President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez; White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card; White House Counselor Karen Hughes; Kansas Congressman Jim Ryun; Dale A. Petroskey, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum; Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the Board, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and trustee of the Little League Foundation; the Apopka (Fla.) National Little League team that won the U.S. Championship in the 2001 Little League Baseball World Series; Rich Eisen and Alvaro Martin of ESPN (public address announcers); Hall of Famers Tony Perez and Orlando Cepeda; 26-year Major League veteran pitcher Tommy John; and former Major Leaguers Cal Ripken (honorary commissioner), Billy Ripken and Jim Morris.

The second game on June 23, 2002, featured a Tee Ball team from South Berkeley Little League of Inwood, W.Va., and a Babe Ruth team from Washington, D.C. Guests included: President Bush; former Pennsylvania Governor and then Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge; White House Counselor Karen Hughes; West Virginia Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito; Washington Mayor Anthony Williams; ABC’s Renee Knott (public address), and Cal Ripken Jr. (honorary commissioner).

The third and final game of the year, on Sept. 22, featured a Challenger Division team from the Waynesboro (Va.) Little League, and a Babe Ruth team from East Brunswick, N.J. Guests included: President and Mrs. Bush; Congressman Ryun; ESPN’s Harold Reynolds (public address); and Major Leaguers Brady Anderson, David Segui, Mark Prior and Geoff Jenkins; and former Major Leaguer Cal Ripken Jr. (honorary commissioner).

Games of 2001 – The first game was played on May 6, 2001, between the Satchel Paige Little League’s Memphis Red Sox and the Capitol City Little League’s Rockies. Both teams were from the Washington, D.C., area. President Bush and Mrs. Bush attended, and Bob Costas was the public address announcer. Other guests included Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, and Mrs. Hughes. There was no honorary commissioner.

The second game, on June 3, was played between Ward 7 – 6th District Little League and the Lincoln Park Brewers of the Senators Little League, both from the Washington, D.C., area. … President Bush and Mrs. Bush attended the game, as well as former President George H.W. Bush, former First Lady Barbara Bush, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, Mrs. Hughes, Vice-Presidential Counselor and Presidential Assistant Mary Matalin, Mr. Card, Congressman Ryun, National High School Mile Record Holder Andy Webb, Washington Redskins defensive back Darrel Green, and Baseball Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Lou Brock. Baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks was the public address announcer. There was no honorary commissioner.

The third game was a Challenger Division Tee Ball game, played on July 16, between the Springfield Little League Challenger Hawks, and the District 8 Virginia Beach Little League Challengers. Both teams are from Virginia. President Bush attended the game, as well as Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Mr. Card, Mrs. Hughes, Congressman Ryun, U.S. Senator George Allen (Va.), National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum President Dale Petroskey and Chairman of the Board of Directors Jane Forbes Clark, and former U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North. The public address announcer was George Michael.

A fourth game was scheduled for Sept. 16, 2001, featuring Tee Ball teams from 6-11 Little League of Trenton, N.J., and Uniondale Little League of Long Island, N.Y. However, the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crash of a hijacked plane in Southwestern Pennsylvania, led to the postponement of the game by President Bush. These two teams later participated in the first game of 2002.

Tee Ball on the South Lawn Participants, 2001-2008

2008
Game 20: September 7 – Salute to the Troops
Players who are children of active duty U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard personnel (26 players)

Game 19: July 16 – All-Star Game
Players from all 50 U.S. States and the District of Columbia (51 players)

Game 18: June 30 – Hispanic Americans theme
José M. Rodriguez Little League, Manati, Puerto Rico (13 players)
Cramer Hill Little League, Camden, N.J. (13 players)

2007
Game 17: July 15 – Jackie Robinson theme
Wrigley Little League, Los Amgeles, Calif. (14 players)
Inner City Little League, Brooklyn, N.Y. (11 players)

Game 16: June 27 – Girls softball theme
Allegany County Little League, Cumberland, Md. (12 players)
Luray Little League, Luray, Va. (11 players)

2006
Game 15: July 30 – Challenger game
Thurmont (Md.) Little League (13 players)
Shady Spring (W.Va.) Little League (12 players)

Game 14: June 23 – Military theme
McGuire (N.J.) Air Force Base Little League (12 players)
Dolcom Little League, Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn. (11 players)

2005
Game 13: July 24 – Challenger game
District 12 Little League, Williamsport, Pa. (15 players)
West University Little League, Houston, Texas (12 players)

Game 12: June 26 – Little League Urban Initiative/“Helping America’s Youth” initiative.
Jackie Robinson South Ward Little League, Newark, N.J. (15 players)
South Side Little League, Chicago, Ill. (12 players)

2004
Game 11: July 11 – Challenger game
Middletown-Odessa-Townsend (MOT) Little League, Delaware (12 players)
District 23 of Lancaster County, Pa. (15 players)

Game 10: June 13 – Military theme
Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. (13 players)
Cherry Point (N.C.) Marine Corps Air Station, Havelock Little League (15 players)

2003
Game 9: September 7 – “Women in sports” theme
Milwood Little League of Kalamazoo, Mich. (12 players)
Babe Ruth team from Hamilton, N.J. (13 players)

Game 8: July 27 – Challenger game
Leedom Little League, Ridley Park, Pa. (14 players)
Marley Area Little League, Glen Burnie, Md. (15 players)

Game 7: June 22 – Military theme
Naval Base Little League, Norfolk, Va. (13 players)
Fort Belvoir (Va.) Little League (15 players)

2002
Game 6: September 22 – Challenger game
Waynesboro (Va.) Little League (19 players)
Babe Ruth team, East Brunswick, N.J. (12 players)

Game 5: June 23 – No theme
South Berkeley Little League, Inwood, W.Va. (12 players)
Babe Ruth team, Washington, D.C. (15 players)

Game 4: May 5 – Teams were originally scheduled to play on September 16, 2001
6-11 Little League, Trenton, N.J. (15 players)
Uniondale Little League, Long Island, N.Y. (12 players)

2001
Game 3: July 16 – Challenger game
Springfield (Va.) Little League (12 players)
District 8 Virginia Beach Little League (12 players)

Game 2: June 3 – No theme
Ward 7 – 6th District Little League, Washington, D.C. (15 players)
Senators Little League Washington, D.C. (19 players)

Game 1: May 6 – First Tee Ball on the South Lawn game
Satchel Paige Little League, Washington, D.C. (17 players)
Capitol City Little League, Washington, D.C. (15 players)

Total Players: 563