Breaking Chuckie Howard’s report and different tales of Cubs’ Little League days

PITTSBURGH — The recollections come flooding again. Ask a significant leaguer what he did final week on the plate, and he may want to take a look at a field rating to remind himself. However ask about his Little League experiences, and boy, does he have recollections.

“My 12-year-old season, I broke the house run report for our Little League,” Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant mentioned not too long ago. “Earlier than the season began, I informed my mother and father I wished this drum set. Actually unhealthy. They mentioned for those who break — his identify was Chuckie Howard — for those who break his report of 18 house runs, we’ll get you the drum set. I hit 19, however I modified my thoughts on the final minute and requested for golf golf equipment. That was my first set of golf golf equipment.”

Bryant and his teammates will get to expertise Little League another time — and eventually make it to Williamsport, Pennsylvania — after they and the Pittsburgh Pirates absorb a recreation on Sunday earlier than enjoying one another later that evening within the hometown of the Little League World Collection. It is a dream come true — even when it comes many years later for some.

“To win a district playoff recreation again then and advance was a reasonably large deal,” Cubs supervisor Joe Maddon mentioned. “It was arduous to think about being ok to get that far.”

For Bryant, breaking Chuckie Howard’s native report of 18 house runs as a Little Leaguer netted him his first set of golf golf equipment. Courtesy of Little League Baseball

“That far” wasn’t very far in any respect for Maddon. He grew up in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, simply 73 miles from Williamsport, however he has by no means been there. Not till Sunday, not less than.

“As a group, we have been extra football- and basketball-oriented,” Maddon mentioned. “However as baseball gamers, we actually wished to go.”

Throughout the nation, in Las Vegas, Bryant had the identical dream. But it surely was his brother who really acquired nearer.

“He made it to regionals, in San Bernardino, [California],” Bryant mentioned. “I do not even bear in mind the sport. I used to be busy buying and selling pins. I nonetheless have that assortment.”

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo additionally dreamed of creating it to Williamsport. In Parkland, Florida, he watched yearly.

“We by no means acquired shut,” Rizzo mentioned with a little bit of a disappointment that also lingers. “But it surely was all the time a purpose.”

What’s left are these recollections of making an attempt to get there.

“In my first Little League recreation [T-ball], I ran the bases backward,” Bryant mentioned, laughing. “I did not know what route to go. And there have been no bogs as a result of it was Saturday, and the college was closed. So my grandma had a bucket in her automobile, and that is the place I went to pee.

“You bear in mind the silly issues, however they’re nice.”

Rizzo’s dad, John, right here together with his son, was additionally his Little League coach. Courtesy of Little League Baseball

“I bear in mind going from my first Communion straight to my Little League recreation and enjoying in my swimsuit, simply with a jersey over it,” Rizzo mentioned.

Like Bryant, Rizzo was coached by his dad. Each profess theirs have been the nice type — the sort who did not care about something however ensuring the youngsters had enjoyable.

“My dad’s indicators have been fairly straightforward,” Rizzo mentioned with fun. “He would simply scream from the third-base coach’s field, ‘Steal!’ or ‘Bunt!’

“We had a play, if I used to be pitching or catching. We had, like, a padded backstop, so if there was a man on third, we might purposely pitch it again there, and it might bounce again to the catcher, and we’d nail the man attempting to steal house. My good friend Christian and I’d do this.”

Ask the gamers and even Maddon how good they have been as Little Leaguers, they usually aren’t shy — or forgetful.

“Once I was 12, you would solely pitch in each different recreation,” Maddon mentioned, smiling. “I used to be Eight-Zero, and the opposite man was Zero-7, so we went Eight-7 for the 12 months. … I hit .500 once I was 9. They used to put up the stat sheet within the clubhouse.”

MLB and the Little League World Collection come collectively as two Nationwide League Central foes take the sector in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Little League World Collection, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN
Sunday Evening Baseball: Cubs-Pirates, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Stated Bryant: “My final 12 months in Little League, I hit .720 with 19 house runs. … I wished to go to Williamsport so we may miss some faculty in August. It was a fairy story to get there. It did not occur for us.”

But it surely’s taking place now — for them and the lucky Little League groups nonetheless within the match. Maddon and his gamers promised to soak within the recreation they attend earlier than taking up the Pirates. It is certain to convey again much more recollections.

“There was a water tank out in left-center area, and there was a dude by the identify of Brown that used to hang around there,” Maddon mentioned. “Simply an outdated man by the identify of Brown. He would sit there and yell, ‘Hit the water tank!’ Lastly, I hit the water tank, and I knew that for those who may hit the water tank, it was a fairly important growth in your Little League profession.”

Bryant loves all that he has now as a professional ballplayer, however his Little League days can by no means be replicated.

“I actually get pleasure from watching now, nonetheless,” he mentioned. “It is very harmless. A batter will get hit, and also you go over and shake fingers. You miss these days. That is when it actually felt like a recreation. … A few of my favourite recollections are from Little League and my dad teaching me. It did not matter for those who gained or misplaced, you have been simply glad to be on the market enjoying.”