NEW YORK -- No sooner had the news of Todd Frazier's signing with the Mets become public than Little League president Stephen Keener called to tell Frazier that his new team is scheduled to play in Williamsport, Pa. -- site of the Little League World Series -- for the second annual Little League Classic this August.
Frazier, whose Toms River, N.J., team won the Little League World Series in Williamsport in 1998, could hardly believe the serendipity.
"That is something that is really cool," Frazier said. "This is just unbelievable. It's very fortuitous, and we've got something really big planned over there."
An active proponent of youth baseball, Frazier has not been back to Williamsport since lifting the trophy as a 12-year-old in 1998. Even before signing with the Mets, he had plans to throw a party for his former Little League teammates after the season.
Now, Frazier can do that and more. On Aug. 19, the Mets will take part in the second annual Little League Classic, which highlights Major League Baseball's Players Weekend -- creative uniforms and childhood nicknames on the backs of jerseys highlighted last year's event. In addition to Frazier, Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is a former Little League World Series participant, as is Phillies prospect Scott Kingery, who could be in the Majors at that point.
The Pirates and Cardinals appeared in last season's Little League Classic, which was successful enough for MLB to schedule an encore. This year, the Mets will play two games against the Phillies in Philadelphia before taking the three-hour bus ride to Williamsport for Sunday Night Baseball.
"It's going to be a great couple days over there," Frazier said.