RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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New Jersey has caught Little League baseball fever again with Bayonne reaching the Little League World Series and winning its first two games.
More: Bayonne Little League wins again in LLWS. When, who does NJ play next?
Which 12u Little League baseball teams are the best in state history? Here's how they rank:
The Top 10 (all reached the Little League World Series)
1. 1998 Toms River East American (Little League World Series champion)
“The Beast from the East” had a murderer’s row of hitters that drew a then-LLWS record of 38 walks and hit five home runs in the 12-9 victory over Japan in the final (the game produced 11 home runs in all, with Japan swatting six). Todd Frazer, who homered and was the winning pitcher in the final, went on to play at Rutgers and 11 MLB seasons, where he was a two-time All-Star and won the Home Run Derby in 2015.
2. 1970 Wayne American (Little League World Series champion)
In Williamsport, Wayne shut out all three of its opponents – 10-0, 4-0 and 2-0 – and did not commit an error. The team was managed by 20-year-old college junior Gene Cancellieri.
3. 1975 Lakewood (Little League World Series champion)
International teams were banned from the World Series for 1975 after Taiwan among others were suspected of skirting residency restrictions. Lakewood prevailed in a four-team playoff led by the pitching and hitting of Dion Lowe, who was also a key player on the Lakewood High School team that won the 1980 NJSIAA Group III championship. He was a 12 th -round draft choice of the Texas Rangers in the 1980 MLB Draft.
4. 1949 Hammonton (Little League World Series champion)
Hammonton was the first team outside Pennsylvania – where the Little League World Series is held – to win the tournament. A estimated crowd of 9,500 that included National League President Ford Frick watched the New Jersey squad beat Florida 5-0 in the final.
5. 2021 Toms River East
Team was led by Carson Frazier, who kept up the family tradition by becoming the third Frazier to play in the Little League World Series, joining his uncles Todd and Jeff Frazier. Carson is currently a rising junior who plays outfield at Toms River East High School
6. 1956 Delaware Township
Delaware Township (the town’s name was changed to Cherry Hill in 1961) in its second straight trip to the World Series finished as the runner-up in the 10th Little League World Series, losing the final 3-1 to Roswell, New Mexico. Earlier in the tournament Delaware pitcher Fred Shapiro pitched the first perfect game in Little League World Series history, striking out 14 of the 18 batters he faced.
7. 1992 Nottingham (Hamilton Square)
Nottingham made history by in the first night game ever played in the Little League World Series, beating Louisiana 5-0. The game was played before 20,500 people.
8. 1999 Toms River East American
Despite only having two players back from the 1998 team, Toms River East American made it all the way to the U.S. championship game at the World Series, falling 3-2 to Alabama. Toms River East American became only the third defending champion to make it back to the LLWS. The squad was led by pitcher Casey Gaynor, who had a standout career at Rutgers and pitched in the Cleveland Indians’ organization.
9. 2010 Toms River National
A team that did its best work from the “loser’s bracket” – Toms River National won 10 straight elimination games during the postseason. The team slugged 80 home runs in district, section, region and World Series play.
10. 2019 Elmora Youth Little League (Elizabeth)
Elmora was the first Elizabeth team to reach the World Series since 1978. The Elmora Troopers program and home complex (Hanratty Field) are named in honor of Trooper Thomas J. Hanratty Jr., an Elizabeth native and former league player who died in the line of duty in 1992
Honorable mention: The 'Big Al' team
Alfred "Big Al" Delia achieved viral fame during the 2018 Little League World Series following his memorable "I hit dingers" introduction on ESPN. Representing Middletown, the young player captured national attention and appeared on television during the tournament. Alas, Middletown after winning the state championship was eliminated in regional play and didn't make it to Williamsport.
The next 11 (the rest of the New Jersey teams that reached the Little League World Series):
1947 Hammonton Little League
1948 Hammonton Little League
1952 Hackensack American Little League
1955 Delaware Township Little League
1962 Pitman Little League
1966 West New York American Little League
1979 Ridgewood National Little League
1995 Toms River East American Little League
2012 Par Troy East Little League (Parsippany)
2017 Holbrook Little League (Jackson)
2026 Bayonne Central Little League
Here are all the New Jersey champions since the state tournament began in 1957
Source: Unpage.org
2026 - Bayonne Central
2025 - Jackson Holbrook
2024 - Morristown Area
2023 - East Hanover
2022 - Toms River East
2021 - Toms River East
2020 – No tournament
2019 - Elmora Youth (Elizabeth)
2018 - Middletown
2017 - Holbrook (Jackson)
2016 - Freehold Township
2015 - Jackson Township
2014 - Toms River
2013 - East Greenwich (Clarksboro)
2012 - Par Troy East (Parsippany)
2011 - Paramus
2010 - Toms River National
2009 - Somerset Hills (Bernardsville)
2008 - Bordentown
2007 - Randolph East
2006 - Livingston American
2005 - Toms River American
2004 - HTRBA (Hamilton)
2003 - Freehold Township American
2002 - Nottingham (Hamilton Square)
2001 - Randolph West
2000 – Pequannock
1999 - Toms River East American
1998 - Toms River East American
1997 - North Hunterdon (High Bridge)
1996 - Millburn-Short Hills
1995 - Toms River East American
1994 - Millburn-Short Hills
1993 - Nottingham (Hamilton Square)
1992 - Nottingham (Hamilton Square)
1991 - South Vineland
1990 - Brick National
1989 - Cherry Hill American
1988 - Roberto Clement...
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