If you're a baseball/sports fan, you know about Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Every year at the end of August, this small city in central Pennsylvania hosts the Little League Baseball World Series where Little League teams from around the world compete. Williamsport is not known for much more than the birthplace of Little League Baseball, so when the World Series comes around each year, it’s a big deal. As someone who was born and raised in the Williamsport area, however, the Little League World Series means so much more than just the baseball games that are played. This yearly tradition shows just how sports can unite people from all walks of life.

The Little League World Series hosts eight teams from around the United States and eight teams from different countries around the world each year. These teams stay in state of the art dorm complexes at the Little League headquarters, complete with game rooms and a swimming pool. This gives the players, 11 and 12 year olds, plenty of chances to meet new people and learn more about kids from all over the globe. However, the Little League World Series doesn’t just teach important lessons about baseball, life, and diversity to just the players. These lessons are learned by everyone who steps foot in the Williamsport area during these two weeks.

Normally, Williamsport is a fairly homogenous central Pennsylvania town. However, during the LLWS, it becomes a melting pot of background and culture. Local businesses thrive with people from everywhere experiencing the small city where the world’s largest youth organization was founded. Kids from Africa, Australia, and all over get to make the trip of a lifetime, seeing things they would have never seen without this experience. Memories are made as families from far and wide journey to Williamsport to see one of sports’ many great traditions.

The one uniting factor between all of these unique people is simply their love for baseball. The beauty of the LLWS is that baseball, America’s pastime, can be enjoyed in its raw form—for fun. In a world of professional athletes that make millions and millions of dollars playing the game, the Little League World Series is one of the few remaining places where those who love baseball can truly enjoy it. Here, it’s not about the money or the business. It’s about kids having fun and learning important life lessons playing a game that has meant so much to so many people. The Little League World Series has the amazing big league feel without any of the corruption that comes with giant corporations.

The Little League World Series is important for so many people. For Williamsport locals, it’s the time of year that our small town gets recognition for something so fun and unique. For the players, coaches, families, and fans, it’s a time where lifelong memories are made. But most importantly, for baseball fans far and wide, it’s a rare opportunity where baseball can be enjoyed in its intended form—a game that brings people from all nations, races, creeds, and backgrounds together.