PEARLAND, Texas – As support continues to grow for the Pearland Little League team, there is one Pearland resident in particular who will be keeping a close eye on this week's big game.
Earl Thompson grew up in a small town about 15 minutes away from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the location of the Little League World Series. In the 1940s he played catcher for a team called the 4th Ward, named after the area where he lived.
"Everyone had fun," Thompson said. "The players, the managers, baseball was a big game for us."
In 1947 his team played in the first ever Little League World Series. He had no clue the event would become such a popular annual tradition.
"There wasn't the hype that you see today," Thompson said.
Unfortunately his team lost, but Thompson would continue watching the games in years to come. In 1997 he retired and he and his wife moved to Pearland. In 2010 when the Pearland Little League team made it to Williamsport, he kept close tabs on the team. In fact, in his Pearland home you'll find nearly every newspaper article written about the team's adventure that year.
Now as the team prepares for a another chance at a championship, Thompson will once again be cheering them on.
"All of Pearland is behind them," Thompson said.
He may be a player from another decade, but just like the current players, he still calls the field his home.
Pearland Little League team takes the field Friday night in Williamsport. KPRC Local 2 will be sending a crew to cover the game.