New Jersey's best Little League baseball teams all-time, ranked

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...

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →