Kids Again: MLB makes strides in attracting younger fans, ticket buyers in growing the game

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But Harper’s hopes extend well beyond a call to the Hall -- the Philadelphia Phillies slugger would love for Major League Baseball to stick one of its yearly attraction games -- akin to recent “Field of Dreams” and London trips -- in Cooperstown, New York, as part of Hall of Fame weekend. It’s a little bit of a different level than Williamsport, but it’s pretty cool.” Harper and the Phillies hit Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday to play the Washington Nationals in the annual Major League Baseball Little League Classic at 2,366-seat Historic Bowman Field. The field is just a 6-mile trip from the complex where the Little League World Series is underway with kids full of big league dreams, many of whom will attend the game ready to mingle with today’s stars and — perhaps like Harper did — find their way from one of youth baseball's biggest summer stages to MLB. Jacob MacKinnon, 11, from Springfield, Ohio, attended the Little League World Series and said he didn’t have a favorite baseball team.