CHICAGO (AP) -Forty years after he helped make college basketball a national television staple, Eddie Einhorn is hoping to give a boost to youth baseball.
The vice chairman of the Chicago White Sox is creating a national tournament that will overlap the Little League World Series, although he insists the only competition will be between the players.
While champions from eight governing bodies will descend on the Memphis suburb of Cordova, Tenn., for the inaugural the National Youth Baseball Championship Aug. 21-24, the 62nd Little League World Series will be wrapping up. That event runs Aug. 15-24 in Williamsport, Pa.
“It’s going to be considered we’re laying down the gauntlet, but what can I do?” Einhorn said.
Einhorn started work on this project about two years ago and recently formed the formed the Major Youth Baseball Alliance, LLC., which is made up of: the American Amateur Baseball Congress, Babe Ruth Baseball, Dixie Baseball, National Amateur Baseball Federation, PONY Baseball, Super Series Baseball of America and United States Specialty Sports Association.
Little League is not included.
“It’s not really trying to compete. They’re their own thing,” Einhorn said. “Little League is like Kleenex. Some of the parents call what their kids are playing Little League.”
Einhorn said scheduling issues forced the overlap with the Little League World Series. His tournament will feature teams in 10-under and 12-under age brackets, with more divisions to be added in the coming years.
At 72, Einhorn acknowledges he’s a little too old for this, but he wants the other leagues – some of which have been around longer than him – to get recognition.
Einhorn helped college basketball do just that 40 years ago, as the founder and chairman of the TVS Television Network. He showed the 1968 Houston-UCLA game at the Astrodome that helped make college basketball a fixture on national television.
Now, he’s working with a different medium – the Internet.
The plan at the moment is to stream the tournament games on each association’s Web site, although Einhorn would also like a TV deal.
“We have a media plan,” he said. “Our strength is the Internet.”
Add A Comment