Following the example of Harlem, where Little League baseball has been blossoming for decades, there is now a desire brewing to bring the sport to North Philadelphia, writes Ajay Patel for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
However, creating Harlem Little League, which involves as many as 850 children, did not happen easily or overnight. The effort was spearheaded by the late Dwight Raiford, and his wife Iris, who wanted to fulfill their son Joshua’s dream to play baseball. But the organization became something much more to a neighborhood riddled with crime.
During its inaugural year in 1989, 129 kids signed up. The league’s presence was felt immediately in Harlem by becoming a sanctuary for children.
The most important cog needed when starting a league is people willing to put time and effort into it.
“All you need is volunteers — that’s the engine,” said Iris.
John Maher, president of the Philadelphia Dragons Sports Association, who created an expansive Little League affiliate in the city thirty years ago, is hoping somebody takes up the mantle for North Philadelphia.
“We’d be more than happy if someone wanted to start a league up there,” he said. “We’d offer start-up instructions, equipment, and advice on how to run a league. Believe me, I am a big believer in getting kids to play.”
Read more about the evolution of Little League baseball in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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