 In 1939, as the Great Depression was coming to an end, the first game of Little League Baseball was played on a sandlot along the west branch of the Susquehanna River. A local man hand-carved home plate with a pocket knife, and his sister sewed the bases full of salvaged wood shavings. Eight years later, the first World Series was held. Every summer since, players have converged in Williamsport, coming together, coming of age, in front of the whole world. Today, nearly 200,000 teams from all 50 states and more than 80 countries compete to get here. They remind us that in the game of life, win or lose, we must always play fair, respect each other, and do our best. To everyone participating, spectating and working, have fun, good luck, and welcome to Pennsylvania.