"It all begins in Billtown."
August 17, 2018 11:02 PM Subscribe
Williamsport, Pennsylvania was once a booming lumber town that claimed to have more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world. The city is now primarily known as the home of the Little League Baseball World Series, but a pro team also calls Williamsport home. The town's minor league baseball history, which includes the infamous "potato incident", traces back to the late 19th century.
Nowadays, the New York-Penn League's Crosscutters, a Phillies minor league affiliate at the Class A Short Season level, play ball in Williamsport between June and September. With the Phillies and Mets coming to town to play in Major League Baseball's second annual Little League Classic, Phillies blogger Justin Klugh tells the story of a small town minor league franchise looking to add its own chapter to Williamsport's proud baseball history.
Nowadays, the New York-Penn League's Crosscutters, a Phillies minor league affiliate at the Class A Short Season level, play ball in Williamsport between June and September. With the Phillies and Mets coming to town to play in Major League Baseball's second annual Little League Classic, Phillies blogger Justin Klugh tells the story of a small town minor league franchise looking to add its own chapter to Williamsport's proud baseball history.
Wow. I did not expect to see a front page post on Williamsport.
I lived in Williamsport off-and-on for about ten years. When I first moved there, there was still a vibrant downtown but by the time I left it was mostly dead. When I return to visit now, it seems like downtown is bouncing back. One of the highlights of downtown is Otto's Bookstore which bills itself as "America's oldest independently owned bookstore."
I worked at the public library for a few years and I'm old enough that I used to regularly see Carl Stoltz, the creator of Little League Baseball, stop by. I suppose the library was where I first used a comptuer requesting interlibrary loans on the OCLC system.
I ended up going to Lycoming College as a non-traditional student and then my oldest son went there as well. He loved the area would have stayed in Williamsport if his job prospects had been better. Even though downtown Williamsport seems to be improving, the entire area is hurting. It's also a pale red island in a deep red sea.
I get back there a couple of times a year to see family. Our holiday dinner is always at The Peter Herdic House and I'll try to stop by the Bullfrog Brewery. I always enjoy seeing the town again, but I wouldn't want to move back there.
posted by maurice at 6:03 AM on August 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
I lived in Williamsport off-and-on for about ten years. When I first moved there, there was still a vibrant downtown but by the time I left it was mostly dead. When I return to visit now, it seems like downtown is bouncing back. One of the highlights of downtown is Otto's Bookstore which bills itself as "America's oldest independently owned bookstore."
I worked at the public library for a few years and I'm old enough that I used to regularly see Carl Stoltz, the creator of Little League Baseball, stop by. I suppose the library was where I first used a comptuer requesting interlibrary loans on the OCLC system.
I ended up going to Lycoming College as a non-traditional student and then my oldest son went there as well. He loved the area would have stayed in Williamsport if his job prospects had been better. Even though downtown Williamsport seems to be improving, the entire area is hurting. It's also a pale red island in a deep red sea.
I get back there a couple of times a year to see family. Our holiday dinner is always at The Peter Herdic House and I'll try to stop by the Bullfrog Brewery. I always enjoy seeing the town again, but I wouldn't want to move back there.
posted by maurice at 6:03 AM on August 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
Great post. I watch thee LLWS every year, but knew there was much more to it than what they show on TV. Have always wanted to make the pilgrimage to Williamsport, but, alas, have not yet.Combine the LLWS with minor league baseball and you have my dream summer days.
posted by AugustWest at 2:06 PM on August 18, 2018
posted by AugustWest at 2:06 PM on August 18, 2018
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posted by drdanger at 3:25 AM on August 18, 2018 [3 favorites]