A deep dive into Peninsula Little League history

It all started on the District 52 website, which has a lot of interesting information. My first reason was to see the last time Redwood City — which was in the 10s final against Alpine Monday — won a District 52 crown. Redwood City National won the 14s championship in 2008. The previous district title came in 1969, when the Redwood City Highlanders won the District 11 title.

I kept scrolling the District 52 website and found even more information, which led me to the Little League Baseball homepage, which led me into even deep Little League waters.

I mean, it is really fascinating stuff, just in District 52 alone, that has roots dating back 74 years. There have been seven teams from District 52 that have won Northern California titles — the first was Ravenswood in 1967, which went on to finish in second place in the West Regional. The most recent was the 2022 San Mateo American 10s team in 2022.

On the Peninsula, four teams in the Palo Alto area joined the Little League organization in 1951 — which was the first in the entire Bay Area, first in Northern California and just the second-ever Little League to incorporate in the state — or third or fourth, but the information seems convoluted.

South Pasadena LL claims to have started played in 1939 — the same year Carl Stotz founded and played the first-ever Little League game in Williamsports, Pennsylvania — which continues to be the home of the Little League World Series.

But research seems to indicate SPLL but didn’t become an official Little League affiliate until 1952. Menlo-Atherton LL states on its website it started play in 1949, but again, doesn’t appear it incorporated into actual Little League organization itself until later.

San Bernardino LL seems to be accepted as the oldest incorporated Little League in the state and is the answer to why the West Region of the Little League World Series is held in San Bernardino.

Palo Alto and the ensuing Little League charters around the Peninsula initially formed District 11. In 1966, District 52 was created, with several District 11 leagues folding into District 52. At this point, the District 52 website lists the champions from both districts — remember, this was a time when only the 12s tournament was being played. The 10s format didn’t begin until 1994 and the 11s didn’t come int0 play until 2004.

In 1984, the rest of District 11 joined District 52 as we know it today.

So while youth baseball players begin gearing up for the rest of the summer season, which includes a lot more club ball and for many, the pilgrimage to one of the Cooperstown, New York tournaments, just remember that Little League should not be an afterthought. It has a long, rich tradition that carries a lot more cache than people want to give it credit for.

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It became abundantly clear that girls’ flag football really is a different sport than regular, tackle football. And at times, there has been some confusion among, players, coaches and officials, who are all learning the ins and outs of the game game.

Hopefully some of that confusion will be alleviated with a new, official flag football rulebook from the National Federation of State High School Associations — the main regulatory body for high school sports rules.

There are currently 16 states that compete in flag football under the NFHS rules, including California.

There will still probably be questions about rules and whatnot, but at least now there is a rulebook referees can use.

Nathan Mollat has been covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal since 2001. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.