6 Innings with Ed Vosberg: A 1973 Little League Baseball® World Sequence Graduate
In 1973, Cactus Little League (Tucson, Ariz.) traveled to South Williamsport for the 26th Little League Baseball® World Sequence (LLBWS). On the group was retired Main League Baseball (MLB) participant Ed Vosberg, who led his group to the 1973 LLBWS Championship recreation in opposition to Chinese language Taipei.
This was the primary of three World Sequence the Tuscan-native would play in, making Mr. Vosberg the primary Little League® graduate to play within the LLBWS, School Baseball World Sequence (1980; College of Arizona), and Main League Baseball World Sequence (1997; Florida Marlins).
First Inning: Wanting again on Cactus Little League’s run within the 1973 LLBWS, what do you bear in mind feeling at the moment?
“It didn’t appear to be it was actual in any respect, it simply appeared like a dream. It appeared prefer it occurred so quick for us… It simply appeared like a fantasy, like a fairy story.”
- Eight groups participated within the 1973 LLBWS, together with 4 from america and 4 Worldwide groups (British Columbia, Germany, Mexico, and Chinese language Taipei).
- Cactus Little League beat the each the groups from New York (U.S. East) and Michigan (U.S. Central) earlier than dropping to Chinese language Taipei within the championship, 12 to 0.
Second Inning: You went on to compete within the 1980 School World Sequence with the College of Arizona, what was that have like?
“I didn’t notice how fortunate we had been going to be to go to the World Sequence after I was a freshman. We bought there, we misplaced the primary recreation, after which I bought requested to pitch the second recreation which we needed to win as a result of it’s double elimination. It was simply a tremendous expertise.”
- The College of Arizona’s 1980 School World Sequence look was the group’s 11th journey to the sequence. The group beat the College of Hawaii, 5-3, to win the varsity’s second nationwide title.
- Vosberg earned second-team All-America honors and was named first-team All-Pac-10 throughout his faculty profession and set Arizona profession information for video games began (60).
Third inning: What classes out of your Little League and faculty years do you suppose ready you to play for eight completely different MLB golf equipment?
“It was all part of the journey. It gave me confidence alongside the way in which, and it helped me notice life is about timing. I bought to the large leagues at 24 and didn’t get again for a couple of years, nevertheless it made me notice that every part in our life price something could be a battle, however giving up and quitting is the straightforward half. Sticking round and attempting to persevere – it’s harder. However Little League gave me confidence and faculty gave me confidence to understand, I might actually do that if I actually hold in there.”
- Vosberg was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1983. He made his first Main League debut for the Padres In 1986.
- Between 1983 and his final Main League look in 2002, Mr. Vosberg performed for eight golf equipment, received the World Sequence championship in 1997, and the 1981 World Video games in Santa Clara, California.
Fourth Inning: As you rejoice your 50th Anniversary of taking part in within the LLBWS, how do you’re feeling at present trying again in your time within the World Sequence and your profession to comply with?
“I can’t imagine it’s been 50 years. I imply I nonetheless am fortunate sufficient to work with youngsters now and I nonetheless throw a baseball virtually on daily basis. I really feel very lucky to be actually wholesome and, simply trying again, it blows me away that its been 50 years.”
Mr. Vosberg says he does his finest to remain in touch together with his teammates from the Cactus Little League group and hopes to return to South Williamsport quickly to expertise the World Sequence as a Little League fan.
Fifth Inning: What are the largest variations between the LLBWS if you performed versus the occasion at present?
“The most important distinction being the massive quantity of notoriety and press, and every part being so magnified.”
In 1973, the one recreation televised from the LLBWS was the championship recreation. Nonetheless, it was on a tape-delay and would air throughout the weekend. Mr. Vosberg says he had not watched any of Cactus Little League’s championship recreation in opposition to Chinese language Taipei till the early 2000s, when a reporter from Philadelphia attain out to him with video of the sport.
Sixth Inning: What recommendation do you’ve for the Little Leaguers® that will probably be coming to Williamsport, able to tackle groups from internationally?
“If you’re fortunate sufficient to get there, simply benefit from the second. Attempt to notice it’s not nearly successful and dropping. It’s about how troublesome it’s to get there and in case you are fortunate sufficient to get there, simply embrace it and revel in.”
To be taught extra in regards to the historical past of Little League, please try LittleLeague.org/Historical past.