SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT- Players on the 16 Little League World Series teams will take home much more than they brought.
Each gets to keep his or her full uniform, glove, bat and supporting apparel while catchers are provided a set of catcher’s gear.
The supporting apparel includes batting gloves, helmet, a warm-up jacket, and a T-shirt.
Outside of the uniform and cap, players may use equipment of their choosing during the series including their own bats as long as they meet Little League regulations.
The managers and coaches also get to keep the apparel they are issued for the series.
The design of series uniforms changes annually, said Little League spokesman Kevin Fountain, in explaining why they are not reused.
He did not have an estimate of how much it costs to outfit a player for the world series.
Official Little League sponsors provide equipment items for players regardless of their economic status in all seven baseball and softball world series, he said.
“Without their help Little League Baseball and Softball would not be able to provide the type of experience offered to each and every player and coach at our world series tournaments,” said Liz DiLullo Brown, senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
The gifts all adhere to the amateur status guidelines outlined in Little League’s official regulations.
The organization also provides resources to participating teams on the amateur status and commercialization guidelines for Little League, the National Federation of State High Schools, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
In addition to what Little League provides, it is likely most players picked up souvenirs on their own to remember their world series experience.
Many got the autographs when the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs visited the series Sunday.
Three teams got the opportunity to see a second major league game at the invitation of the Pirates, as British Columbia, Canada; Guadalupe, Mexico; and New South Wales, Australia saw Pittsburgh defeat the Washington Nationals, 4-1, Tuesday night.
Players came home with more autographs, batting gloves, and one with a bat.