Manchester Little League History
- 1963 Manchester Little League is formed.
- 1982 Joe Carter becomes President. 125 children enrolled.
- 1984 Gary Mason becomes President. 130 children enrolled.
- 1985 Joe Carter becomes president. T-ball league established.
- 1986 Senior League baseball established with 3 teams.
- 1987 New scoreboard installed on the Major field on Wilbur Avenue.
- 1988 Clubhouse addition on Wilbur Avenue. 2nd-floor room added.
- 1988 Joe Carter coach Blue Jays to Tournament Of Champions Beat Barnegat 4-3 to complete a 23-0 season.
- 1988 Joe Carter coach 15 yr olds to Dist. 18 title. A loss in sectional 4-3 to Franklin.
- 1989 Big League established for 16-18-year-olds.
- 1990 Girls softball established with 2 teams.
- 1991 Spring > 1st meeting w/president Carter and Britt Raynor - Vice President of Ocean County Landfill, on moving the complex from Wilbur Avenue to a plot of land on Rt 571.
- 1991 Fall > groundbreaking for John W. Hesse Memorial Complex.
- 1992 MLL 12-year-olds win District 18 Little League title.
- 1992 Fundraiser held to purchase lights for major and senior league fields on the new complex. Work continues on new complex now known as the “John W. Hesse Memorial Park”.
- 1992 July > BOD voted not to start play on new fields until April ’93.
- 1993 Long wait is over – John W. Hesse Memorial Park opens with a lavish ceremony; with the Hesse family, State Senator Connors, D18 AD Ed Scharnagal & Lenny Coleman Major League baseball President of the National League. Senator Connors presented our LL with a flag, given to us by President Bush, that was previously flown over the Capitol Building the week before.
- 1993 Joe Carter named Williamsport Little League volunteer of the year
- 1994 > The State LL President announces Manchester LL hosts the 1994 State Little League Finals. Charlie Hesse throws out the first ball.
- 1994 April > Major League field named after the current president, Joe Carter.
- 1994 July > Girls’ Softball wins District Title, loses in State Title.
- 1994 July > State LL Finals held at MLL. Millburn defeats Vineland 6-2. 10,000 spectators attend games at MLL over 4 days.
- 1995 April > Clubhouse dedicated in memory of Carrie-Anne Carter.
- 1995 April > 450 children enrolled.
- 1995 July > MLL hosts State Final Senior League. Lincroft wins, defeats Cinnaminson 11-6.
- 1995 Sept > Joe Carter retires as president.
- 1995-1996 MLL goes thru a change of 3 presidents, Mike Coogan, Lynn Primbernow & Cheryl Conklin
- 1996 460 children enrolled.
- 1996 > Girls’ Softball wins District 18 Title.
- 1996 September > Joe Carter returns as president.
- 1997 > League establishes planting of trees in honor of past members.
- 1998 > MLL hosts District 18 LL Finals. TR East American wins.
- 1999 > Safety guards put on all fencing around fields
- 2000 > Coach-Pitch League established for 7-8 year olds
- 2001 > New Mayor Mike Fressola throws out the first ball
- 2001 > 450 children enrolled.
- 2002 > New safety screening on major field backstop. All fields re-done w/new clay, sod, and breakaway bases. 400 children.
- 2003 > Opening day 420 children enrolled. Mayor Fressola declares April 3rd “Joe Carter Day” by proclamation. Councilman Sam Fusaro presented Joe Carter with a street sign naming the road into the complex as “Joe Carter Boulevard”
- 2004 > Senior League goes undefeated (21-0) in D18 Inter-League play
- 2004 June Festival Day > President Joe Carter officially retires and introduces new president Rich Zingaro.
- 2004 Aug > Tball field completed by Charlie Hesse & OC Landfill.
- 2004 Sept > New scoreboard installed on Minor League field purchased by the Toms River Elks.
- 2004 Sept > MLL and Charlie Hesse embark on a partnership to install concrete walkways throughout the complex on a yearly basis.
- 2004 Sept > Joe Carter donates 24'x36' storage garage to MLL.
- 2005 > Softball program resurrected at MLL.
- 2005 March > Two Announcing booths installed by MLL volunteers.
- 2005 June > Festival Day recognizes Chaz Hesse and family with Memorial and Tball field naming ceremony.
- 2005 Aug > MLL sponsors benefit 1 pitch softball fundraiser game for Derek Biederstadt.
- 2005 Aug > MLL & Lakewood Blue Claws announce "Manchester Little League Day" at Blue Claws stadium.
- 2005 Nov > Snack stand expansion and major improvements completed.
- 2006 Feb > MLL moves forward with the Musco Lights project for Field 3.
- 2006 Feb > MLL allows coaches to wear “Approved Only" MLL shorts.
- 2006 Mar > Manchester LL sign on Rt 571 gets lights.
- 2006 Apr > Flower gardens created for Joe Carter and Britt Raynor behind dugouts.
- 2006 June > TOC brought back to the LL level at MLL.
- 2006 June > MLL begins a new "Super 50/50" raffle.
- 2006 July > MLL hosts the 2006 District 18 twelve-year-old finals.
- 2006 July > MLL loses its dear friend, Mr. Gary Mason.
- 2006 Aug > MLL sponsors benefit 1 pitch softball fundraiser game for Brian Malast.
- 2006 Oct > Charlie Hesse & OC Landfill install needed retaining wall for Feld 3.
- 2006 Nov > MLL completes the installation of the Musco Lights project on Field 3.
- 2007 Jan > D18 announces that MLL will host the Junior League Sectionals Championship games.
- 2007 Feb > Plans begin to install a new bathroom facility on LL complex.
- 2007 Feb > League begins planning the Indoor Training Facility project.
- 2007 Mar > Newly created "Mason Memorial" is completed near Field 3.
- 2007 Mar > 1st Annual Mandatory Parent Meeting
- 2007 Apr > Field 4 Clubhouse & new bathroom facility completed.
- 2008 > Concrete sidewalks installed to various fields.
- 2008 June > Joseph Pushkal Sportsmanship Award (yearly) established at MLL.
- 2008 July > League continues working on groundbreaking of an Indoor Training Facility.
- 2009 > League creates the Mason Invitational Tournament in honor of their dear friend, Gary Mason
- 2009 > ITF project breaks ground on MLL site
- 2009 > Wall ball area installed on complex
- 2009 July > 13-year-old District 18 Baseball champions
- 2009 July > 12-year-old District 18 Softball champions
- 2009 July > “The Shack” is installed for the selling of MLL clothing
- 2010 > ITF Grand opening on Festival Day
- 2010 > ITF Dedication ceremony for Charles J Hesse III.
- 2010 > Equipment storage sheds installed throughout the complex.
- 2011 > Mezzanine wall murals installed in ITF.
- 2011 > ITF Training and Workout schedules introduced to all players.
- 2011 > Complex security lighting installed throughout the complex.
- 2011 > CFBL Fall program established at MLL and District 18.
- 2011 > ITF Parking lights donated and installed.
- 2012 > Mason Invitational Tournament expands to the Big Field
- 2012 > Field 2 infield skinned for the girls softball program.
- 2012 > Brick paver fundraiser begins for MLL members in Monument Park.
- 2012 > Brand new scoreboards purchased and installed on 3 fields.
- 2012 > Field 1 transformed into Joe Carter Stadium with brick walls in left & right field and simulated Yankee stadium and Monument Park in center field.
- 2012 > Monument Park named after Carrie-Anne Carter
- 2013 > Manchester Little League is 50 years old.
- 2013 > Clubhouse Expansion Project.
- 2013 > MLL JR Baseball wins; Districts, Sections & State Championships.
- 2013 > MLL JR Softball wins District 18 Championship.
- 2014 > Expansion of Clubhouse 1 bathrooms and Concession Stand completed.
- 2014 > MLL Softball 10/11 District Champions.
- 2014 > CFBL Junior Champions - Manchester Hurricanes.
- 2014 > CFBL Major Champions - Manchester Black Falcons
- 2015 > MLL Softball 10/11 District, Sectional, and State Champions.
- 2015 > CFBL Major Champions - Manchester Black Falcons
- 2015 > CFBL Senior Champions - Manchester Seals
- 2015 > CAC 20th year anniversary, recognized with custom one of a kind CAC Patches
- 2016 > CFBL Major Champions - Manchester Black Falcons
- 2016 > CFBL Big League Champions - Manchester Seals.
- 2017 > Raynor Field (Fld 4) Infield Redone with New Sod & Clay.
- 2018 > Manchester Little League is 55 years old.
- 2018 > Joe Carter Stadium Infield Redone with New Sod & Clay.
- 2018 > 10 year Anniversary of the Mason Invitational Tournament
- 2018 > Manchester Junior Yankees Interleague North Champions.
- 2018 > Manchester LL 8U All-star team is District 18 Champions.
- 2018 > Manchester LL AAA All-star team is District 18 Champions.
- 2018 > 1-Pitch Softball Fundraiser in Honor of Dear Friend Captain Robert Kiefer
- 2019 > Manchester LL Hosts 8-9-10 New Jersey State Finals
- 2020 > Manchester LL Presents the opening of the Robert Kiefer Pavilion to the Kiefer & Bakker Family.
- 2020 > Manchester LL Presents the Carrie-Anne Carter Clubhouse "Overhang" to the Carter Family.
- 2020 > Senior League Champions in District 18 & the NJ Section 3 Champs.
- 2020 > Mason Invitational Tournament Majors Champions.
- 2021 > Newly installed home plate Halo on Carter Stadium Field. Thank you Mr. Carter!
- 2021 > Senior League Champions in District 18.
- 2021 > MLL continues its tradition with its 13th Annual Mason Invitation Tournament.
- 2021 > Field 2 Announcing Booth Project. Thank you Mr. Carter!
- 2021 > The Hesse Family & OCL Sidewalk Project continued this Fall.
- 2022 > Manchester Little League runs its 14th Annual Mason Invitation Tournament
- 2022 - 1-Pitch Softball Fundraiserfor- Together For Thomas
- 2022 - Successful Gift Auction held at Manchester Little League!
- 2022 - Field 2 gets overhauled to build it back to a baseball field. Thank you Mr. Carter!
- 2023 - Manchester Little League is 60 Years Old. Congratulations!!!
- 2023 - Manchester Little League play on complex for the 30th year. Congrats!!!
- 2023 - Joe Carter announces Field 2 renamed to "Zingaro Field".
- 2023 - The Mason Invitation Tournament "MIT" has it 15th year Anniversary for the tournament.