Qualification for the Little League World Series in Mexico, whereby teams based in Mexico compete to select a champion to participate in the Little League World Series (LLWS), has occurred since 2001. In 2001, when the LLWS expanded to 16 teams, the Mexico Region was created as one of eight international regions, resulting in Mexico's Little League champion receiving an automatic berth in the LLWS. Mexico previously competed as part of the Latin America Region, from 1958 to 2001, whereby the champion from Mexico had to compete against teams from other countries in order to secure a berth in the LLWS.
Mexican teams have won three LLWS championships (1957, 1958, 1997) and have been runner-up three times (1964, 1985, 2008). The country currently[when?] has about 450 active leagues, making it the third-largest country in terms of Little League participation.[1]
Mexican championships
Finals
Since 2001, when then Mexico Region was created
Regions
Mexico in the Little League World Series
The table below lists the records of teams from Mexico that have competed in the LLWS in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Participation before 2001 was inconsistent (for example, only one appearance during the 1970s), as teams from Mexico had to qualify via the Latin America Region. Since 2001, Mexico receives an automatic berth in the LLWS, with the exception of 2020 (when no LLWS was held) and 2021 (when the LLWS was restricted to teams based in the United States) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, teams from Mexico have twice represented regions of the United States in the LLWS:
In 1957, Industrial Little League of Monterrey represented the South Region of the United States. The team defeated Biloxi LL, 13–0, and Owensboro LL, 3–0, in the regional final.[2] Monterrey then defeated teams from Connecticut and California to win the LLWS.
In 1985, Mexicali Little League of Mexicali represented the West Region of the United States. Because of its proximity to the El Centro/Calexico area in Southern California (the potential players from that region could have played for that city's leagues), Mexicali competed in and represented California's District 22 in the Southern California division and won the West Region tournament. They defeated Green Valley LL, 10–0, Fairbanks LL, 8–0, Raleigh Hills LL, 10–0, and finally Danville LL, 2–0, in the regional final.[3] Mexicali went on to become the United States champion, and was LLWS runner-up to the international champion (National Little League, Kaohsiung, Taiwan). After the 1985 Series, Mexicali Little League was shifted from California leagues to Mexico leagues.
^"Regions Realigned for 2014: MEA to Play in Little League Baseball World Series" (Press release). Little League Baseball. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
^"South Region Tournament 1957". Unpage.org. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
^"West Region Tournament 1985". Unpage.org. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
^Young, Matt (August 17, 2018). "Every big leaguer who played in the Little League World Series". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
^"Boletín Electrónico #59 Exposición Ligas Pequeñas". Salon de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano. May 30, 2007.[permanent dead link]
External links
Fundación LLB México (Ligas Pequeñas de Beisbol en México) (Little League Baseball in Mexico) official website (in Spanish)
LPB Región UNO (Region 1, Little League Baseball in Mexico) official website (in Spanish)
