Etc.
Baseball rarity: players who hit youth and adult heights
For young boys who play baseball, making it to the major leagues is often a dream. Imagine, therefore, how exciting it must be to play in both the Little League World Series and the big-league World Series. Only nine players have ever achieved this rare "double," a goal certainly of many of about 250 in the 62nd annual Little League World Series, which culminates Aug. 24 with a nationally televised championship game on ABC from Williamsport, Pa. The nine players who've participated in both the Little League and major-league World Series, the year(s) they made it to Williamsport, and the city each represented:
鈥� Jim Barbieri, Schenectady, N.Y.* 1954
鈥� Boog Powell, Lakeland, Fla. 1954
鈥� Rick Wise, Portland, Ore. 1958
鈥� Carney Lansford, Santa Clara, Calif. 1969
鈥� Ed Vosberg, Tucson, Ariz. 1973
鈥� Charlie Hayes, Hattiesburg, Miss. 1977
鈥� Gary Sheffield, Tampa, Fla. 1980
鈥� Derek Bell, Tampa, Fla. 1980-81
鈥� Jason Varitek, Altamonte Springs, Fla. 1984
* - Little League championship team