PONY Baseball and Softball

PONY Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization with headquarters in Washington, Pennsylvania. Started in 1951,[2] PONY organizes youth baseball and softball leagues and tournaments, as over 500,000 players annually play PONY in over 4,000 leagues throughout the United States and over 40 countries world-wide. The televised Pony League World Series held annually in August at Washington's Lew Hays Pony Field attracts teenage teams from around the world.[3] Membership is open to children and young adults from age 4 to 23 and the leagues are organized in two-year age brackets with "and-under" programs.[2] Hundreds of PONY players have gone on to Major League Baseball careers, including Hall of Fame inductees Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr.[4]

This article is about the youth baseball and softball organization. For the professional baseball league founded in 1939 in Pennsylvania, Ontario, and New York, see New York–Penn League.
PONY Baseball and Softball
SportBaseball and softball
Founded1951
PresidentAbraham Key[1]
CountriesUnited States, Mexico, Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific
Most recent
champion(s)		Taipei City, Chinese Taipei
(2019)
Most titles Long Beach, CA (4)
Taipei, Taiwan (4)
TV partner(s)MLB.com
Sponsor(s)Dick's Sporting Goods
Official websitehttp://www.pony.org

Origin of name

Children at the Washington, Pennsylvania, YMCA named the organization PONY, which stood for "Protect Our Neighborhood Youth." This later became "Protect Our Nation's Youth."[2]

Levels of play
A 14-year-old Pony League pitcher

Distances shown are for baseball with players pitching; distances for other offerings (such as baseball with machine pitching, fast pitch softball, and slow pitch softball) may vary.

LeagueAgesDistancesRef.
BasesPitching
Shetland 6 and under50 feet (15.24 m)38 feet (11.58 m)[5]
Pinto 8 and under60 feet (18.29 m)40 feet (12.19 m)[6]
Mustang10 and under46 feet (14.02 m)[7]
Bronco12 and under70 feet (21.34 m)50 feet (15.24 m)[8]
Pony14 and under80 feet (24.38 m)54 feet (16.46 m)[9]
Colt16 and under90 feet (27.43 m)60 feet 6 inches (18.44 m)[10]
Palomino18 and under[11]
Thorobred23 and under[12]

Pony League World Series champions

The Pony League World Series is the flagship tournament of PONY Baseball and Softball. After the creation of the organization in 1951, there were already 505 teams across 106 leagues the following year. This prompted PONY to create the Pony League World Series in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The finals did not have a set location and took place in various states, including California, Nebraska, Texas, Illinois, Iowa, and Washington. In 1981, World Series Tournaments, Incorporated (WSTI) was put in charge of running the tournament and fixed the location to Washington County, Pennsylvania.

The first international team to appear in 1968, when both Venezuela and British Columbia, Canada, made appearances. The first non-Americas team to appear was Japan in 1986. The tournament is now sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods and the games are streamed on MLB.com,[13] the official site of Major League Baseball. The recent finals can also be found on YouTube.[14]

The format of the tournament has differed; for most years it has been double-elimination, while at least the first tournament (1952) was single-elimination, and the finals were a best of three at least twice during the 1970s.

Pony League World Series logo
Year Winner Score Runner–Up Ref.
1952 San Antonio, Texas 2–1 Brockton, Massachusetts [15]
1953 Fairmont, West Virginia 7–6 North Charleston, South Carolina [16]
1954 Monongahela, Pennsylvania 8–2 Chicago, Illinois [17]
1955 Washington, Pennsylvania 4–0 Youngstown, Ohio [18]
1956 Joliet, Illinois 9–1 Hamtramck, Michigan [19]
1957 Lufkin, Texas 5–2 Maywood, Illinois [20]
1958 Miami, Florida 3–2 Hamtramck, Michigan [21]
1959 Long Beach, California 8–0 Greene County, Pennsylvania [22]
1960 Oak Park - River Forest, Illinois 5–4 West Covina, California
1961 Hamtramck, Michigan 2–1 San Antonio, Texas
1962 Houston, Texas 4–1 Greensboro, North Carolina
1963 Evansville, Indiana 3–1 Canoga Park, California
1964 Campbell-Moreland, California 8–2 Gadsden, Alabama
1965 Long Beach, California 8–0 Joliet, Illinois
1966 Greensboro, North Carolina 6–0 Gadsden, Alabama
1967 Chula Vista, California 2–0 Tulsa, Oklahoma
1968 Greensboro, North Carolina 4–1 Covina, California
1969 Honolulu, Hawaii 8–5 Arcadia, California
1970 Buena Park, California 1–0 Cayce/West Columbia/Lexington, South Carolina
1971 Orange, California 6–5 Denver, Colorado [23]
1972 Monterrey, Mexico 2–0, 2–3, 3–1 Honolulu, Hawaii [24][25][26]
1973 Santa Clara, California 4–3 Fort Worth, Texas [27]
1974 West Covina, California 11–2 Charlotte, North Carolina [28]
1975 Covina, California 7–3, 4–3 Wilmette, Illinois [29][30]
1976 Tampa, Florida 14–0 Monongahela, Pennsylvania
1977 New Bedford, Massachusetts 5–4 Lake Worth, Florida
1978 Campbell-Moreland, California 2–0 Joliet, Illinois
1979 Campbell-Moreland, California 10–3 Houston, Texas
1980 Maui, Hawaii 3–2 Greensboro, North Carolina
1981 West Covina, California 16–10 Miami, Florida [31]
1982 West Covina, California 5–4 Washington, Pennsylvania
1983 Santa Susana, California 8–4 Houston, Texas
1984 Caguas, Puerto Rico 3–0 Miami, Florida
1985 Marietta, Georgia 7–0 Washington, Pennsylvania
1986 Valencia, Santa Clarita, California 3–2 Edogawa, Japan
1987 Caguas, Puerto Rico 9–4 Houston, Texas
1988 Seoul, South Korea 15–0 La Mesa, California
1989 Seoul, South Korea 10–0 Encino, California
1990 Seoul, South Korea 4–2 Lakewood, California
1991 San Juan, Puerto Rico 8–2 Fountain Valley, California
1992 Bourbonnais, Illinois 4–3 Pasadena, Texas
1993 Joliet, Illinois 4–2 Bayamon, Puerto Rico
1994 Taitung, Taiwan 6–1 Chambersburg, Pennsylvania [32]
1995 Bayamon, Puerto Rico 11–2 Hagerstown, Maryland
1996 Tainan, Taiwan 4–0 Evansville, Indiana
1997 Danville, California 7–0 Hamilton, Ohio
1998 Taitung, Taiwan 4–0 Washington, Pennsylvania
1999 Covina, California 9–1 Taitung, Taiwan
2000 Taipei, Taiwan 8–3 West Covina, California
2001 Ponce, Puerto Rico 10–4 Richmond, Virginia
2002 Norwalk, California 10–0 Levittown, Puerto Rico
2003 Lakewood, California 4–3 Humacao, Puerto Rico
2004 Marietta, Georgia 3–1 Mililani, Hawaii
2005 Taichung, Taiwan 2–1 San Diego, California
2006 Caguas, Puerto Rico 4–2 Simi Valley, California
2007 Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico 8–3 Long Beach, California
2008 Long Beach, California 3–2 Taichung, Taiwan
2009 Taitung, Taiwan 12–1 Riverside/Victoria, California
2010 Midlothian, Virginia 3–1 West Tokyo, Japan
2011 Laredo, Texas 10–9 Taipei County, Chinese Taipei
2012 Long Beach, California 9–7 Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei
2013 Okinawa, Japan 5–4 Los Mochis, Mexico
2014 Hilo, Hawaii 5–3 Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei [33]
2015 Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei 12–1 San Bernardino, California [34]
2016 Taipei County, Chinese Taipei 12–2 Maui, Hawaii [35]
2017 Covina, California 3–1 Seoul, South Korea [36]
2018 Taipei County, Chinese Taipei 3–1 Long Beach, California [37]
2019 Taipei City, Chinese Taipei 9–1 Bay County, Michigan
Year Winner Score Runner–Up Ref.

Source: [38][39] (in cases of conflicting records, contemporary news reports have been given priority)

Championship totals
The 2016 championship team from Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)

By US state or non-US country. Updated through the 2019 championship.

State / CountryWinsLossesAppearancesMost recent championship
California2215372017
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)105152019
Puerto Rico73102007
Texas46102011
Illinois4591993
Hawaii3362014
South Korea3141990
Pennsylvania2681955
Florida2351976
North Carolina2351968
Georgia2022004
Michigan1341961
Japan1232013
Indiana1121963
Massachusetts1121977
Mexico1121972
Virginia1122010
West Virginia1011953
Alabama022—
Ohio022—
South Carolina022—
Colorado011—
Maryland011—
Oklahoma011—
  • PONY Headquarters with Flag Plaza in view in foreground
  • PONY Headquarters dedication plaque, located on building entrance
  • PONY Headquarters Main Hall / Museum

See also

References
  1. "Abraham Key". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  2. "About PONY". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  3. Crawley, Dave. "Teens Flock To Play Ball In Pony League World Series (August 5, 2016)". KDKA-TV. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  4. "History Of Pony Baseball". ovpb.net. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  5. "SHETLAND 6U™ LEAGUE". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  6. "PINTO 8U™ LEAGUE". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  7. "MUSTANG 10U™ INFORMATION". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  8. "BRONCO 12U™ INFORMATION". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  9. "PONY 14U™ LEAGUE". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  10. "COLT 16U™ LEAGUE". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  11. "PALOMINO 18U™ LEAGUE". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  12. "THOROBRED 23U™ LEAGUE". pony.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  13. "PONY World Series | 08/14/2018". MLB.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  14. "PONY Baseball and Softball". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  15. "San Antonio Nips Brockton 2-1 for Pony League Title". The Boston Globe. AP. August 17, 1952. p. 47. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  16. "Pony League Title Won By Fairmont". The Morning Herald. Hagerstown, Maryland. AP. August 22, 1953. p. 12. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  17. "Monongahela Wins PONY Title, 8-2". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 21, 1954. p. 9. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  18. "Washington Wins Pony League Title". The News-Herald. Franklin, Pennsylvania. UP. August 26, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  19. "PONY Title Goes to Joliet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 29, 1956. p. 20. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  20. "Texans Capture Pony Loop World Series". The Muncie Evening Press. Muncie, Indiana. AP. August 31, 1957. p. 8. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  21. "Miami Wins Pony Crown". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. AP. August 28, 1958. p. 19. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  22. "Pony Loop Title For Long Beach". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. AP. August 28, 1959. p. 20. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  23. "Orange Tips Denver 6-5 For Crown". Jacksonville Journal-Courier. Jacksonville, Illinois. August 29, 1971. p. 23. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  24. "Monterrey Hurler Cools Honolulu Bats". Tyrone Daily Herald. Tyrone, Pennsylvania. UPI. August 29, 1972. p. 5. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  25. "Honolulu Evens Pony Series With 3-2 Win". Tyrone Daily Herald. Tyrone, Pennsylvania. UPI. August 30, 1972. p. 7. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  26. "Monterrey Wins Pony World Series On 11th-Inning HR". Tyrone Daily Herald. Tyrone, Pennsylvania. UPI. August 31, 1972. p. 5. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  27. "Santa Clara Takes Pony League Series". Indiana Gazette. Indiana, Pennsylvania. AP. August 27, 1973. p. 16. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  28. Ward, Mike (August 29, 1974). "W. Covina Wins the Big One for Baseball Crown". Los Angeles Times. p. VII-1. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  29. "Covina Grabs Pony League Series Lead". The Decatur Daily Review. Decatur, Illinois. AP. August 27, 1975. p. 15. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  30. "Covina Wins Pony League Baseball Title". The Decatur Daily Review. Decatur, Illinois. AP. August 28, 1975. p. 14. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  31. "West Covina Wins Pony Series". Santa Cruz Sentinel. August 30, 1981. p. 57. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  32. "Chinese Taipei takes Pony League title". News Record. North Hills, Pennsylvania. August 21, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved August 17, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  33. Pacheco, Josh (August 14, 2014). "Hilo 13-14 PONY All-Stars Win World Series". bigislandnow.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  34. "San Bernardino falls to Chinese Taipei in Pony League World Series final". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Rancho Cucamonga, California. August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  35. Osher, Wendy (August 10, 2016). "Maui Finishes Runner-Up in Pony League World Series". mauinow.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  36. "Covina rallies for Pony League title". Observer–Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania. August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  37. Campbell, Luke (August 15, 2018). "Chinese Taipei, Tien shut down Long Beach to win 9th PLWS title". Observer–Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  38. Series, Pony World. "PLWS Records". www.plws.org. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  39. Series, Pony World. "All-Time Scores". www.plws.org. Retrieved 2018-08-14.

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