Protect Our Nation’s Youth
PONY
PONY VS LITTLE LEAGUE
The primary features that distinguish Pony baseball from Little League baseball are those of a two year age bracket system and scaled diamonds. Additionally, Pony teaches lead offs and base stealing starting at age 9 (Mustang Division), or earlier while pitchers learn pick off moves and holding runners on base to counter the potential steal.
In organizations such as Little League player age can differ by as much as 3 years within a division. As a result, the younger players, because of their lack of maturity, ability and size, find it hard to communicate with the older players. They often find themselves spending a disproportionate amount of time on the bench and may feel disconnected from their team. With players of only two ages involved, as is the case with Pony baseball, it is far easier to permit every player to play more positions since the difference in skills within the age groups is not that great.
In addition, Pony baseball scales the size of the diamonds to match the physical capabilities of the players within each division. The base and pitching dimensions for Pony baseball are:
- 50ft bases for Shetland 5 & 6 year olds
- 60 ft bases and 38ft pitching for Pinto 7 & 8 year olds
- 60 ft bases and 46 ft pitching for Mustang 9 & 10 year olds
- 70 ft bases and 50 ft pitching for Bronco 11 & 12 year olds
- 80 ft bases and 54 ft pitching for Pony 13 & 14 year olds
These base dimensions are the result of extensive experimentation to determine the size on which players of each age group can properly play the game of baseball. Pitching distance is also scaled to the ability of the player and in proportion to the size of the diamond.
The scaled diamonds allow the players to make the plays made by major leaguers. Home runs become a possibility. Outfielders can play in a position proportionate to that played by a major leaguer. The double play, squeeze play and various strategies and tactics, difficult for adults and nearly impossible for youngsters on a full size diamond, become a probability rather than impossibility.
Comparison: Pony League Baseball and Little League Baseball
- Two Year Age groups P = Yes LL = No
- Scaled Age Appropriate Diamonds P = Yes LL = No
- Scaled Age Appropriate Pitching Distances P = Yes LL = No
- Play by Major League Rules P = Yes LL = No
- Mix of Softball and MLB Rules P = No LL = Yes
- Limit 5-6 year olds to T Ball Only P = No LL = Yes
- Limit 7-8 year olds to Coach/Machine pitch P = No LL = Yes
- Competitive baseball starting at age 7 P = Yes LL = No
- Challenges Kids at every age group P = Yes LL = No
- Drafting up or down during season P = No LL = Yes
- Teaches base stealing earlier P = Yes LL = No
- Teaches Pitching sooner P = Yes LL = No
- Teaches Leading off Sooner P =Yes LL = No
- Prepares kids for High School Baseball P = Yes LL = No
Orangevale Pony Baseball has as its goal the preparation of your child for the next level of baseball, from Shetland to Pony.
If you want your child to learn the game of baseball, Orangevale Pony Baseball is the league for you!
HISTORY OF PONY BASEBALL
A Short History of Pony Baseball In the summer of 1951, PONY Baseball began with the organization of the Pony League in Washington, PA.
On June 8th, 6 managers participated in the first player "auction." More than 130 boys were purchased at that auction.
On June 18th the first regular season Pony Baseball game was played between the Redwings and the Chiefs with the Redwings winning in 7 innings. The game was played at Wash High field, with an estimated 800 people in attendance. The original teams were named: the Bisons, the Chiefs, the Colonels, the Orioles, the Redwings and the Royals.
The first season ended with a match game between the season's first and second half champions. The Orioles were the first half champions and the Redwings were the second half champs. In the best of 3 series, the Orioles came out on top winning Pony Baseball's first championship.
The growth of Pony Baseball, primarily by word of mouth, was rapid. By the end of the second season, 1952, the original six teams in Washington were joined by 505 others in 106 leagues across the country. A national tournament was conducted, and the first Pony League World Series was held that year.
In 1952 the first Pony World Series was played sharing headlines with the Korean War. It was an 8 game event over a 4 day period. North Charleston, South Carolina won the first game, defeating a team from Hagerstown, Maryland; 3 to 1. San Antonio, Texas became the first official Pony Baseball World Series winner by defeating Brockton, Massachusetts in the final game by a score of 2 to 1.
Lew Hays, among the founders of the Pony League, was named Commissioner of the new league when it was incorporated for national organization in early 1953 and held that post until 1964 when he became president of PONY Baseball.
In 1953, John Laslo, long time mayor of Martin's Ferry, Ohio, visited with Hays and discussed organization of a league similar to Pony League for 15 and 16 year-old players. The purpose was to permit players in this age bracket to compete with players of like experience in their first years on the regulation diamond. Laslo guided the development of Colt League, and in late 1959, Pony League and Colt League were merged into a single organization.
Now nearly 30,000 teams, over 450,000 players, and 4,000 leagues make up Pony Baseball in almost 30 different countrie There are currently over 375 Major League Baseball players who are graduates of PONY Baseball.
Mark McGuire, Tony Gwynn, Bobby Bonilla, Jeff Cirillo, Roger Clemens, Alex Fernandez, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Brett Saberhagen, Alex Rodriguez and J.T. Snow are just a few of the Major League players who have participated in PONY Baseball.
PONY Baseball is organized with two-year age brackets. Shetland League - ages 5 and 6 Pinto League - ages 7 and 8 Mustang League - ages 9 and 10 Bronco League - ages 11 and 12 PONY League - ages 13 and 14 Colt League - ages 15 and 16 Palomino League - ages 17 and 18