Little League to the pros - Who are the best athletes to play in the Little League World Series

Carney Lansford, 1991

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The Little League World Series is set to conclude with the championship game on Sunday. Take a good look at the players, because in a few years they just might be making a name for themselves on an even bigger stage. Here's a look at 10 former participants in the Little League World Series who went on to bigger things at the professional level.

10. Ed Vosberg, Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
While not a familiar name, Vosberg did play Major League Baseball and he is one of two athletes to play in a Little League World Series, a College World Series and an MLB World Series. He played in the 1973 LLWS with Arizona.

9. Carney Lansford, Wilcox (Santa Clara, Calif.)
A member of the California team in 1969, Lansford went on to play in the World Series for the Oakland A's, including a championship in 1989. He won the American League batting title in 1981 while with the California Angels.

8. Rick Wise, Madison (Portland, Ore.)
A member of the 1958 Little League World Series team, Wise earned his place in baseball trivia as the only player to ever pitch a no-hitter and hit two home runs in one game, which he did with the Phillies in 1971.

7. Brian Sipe, Grossmont (El Cajon, Calif.)
Before he won the Most Valuable Player Award in the NFL in 1980 as a quarterback with the Cleveland Browns, Sipe was a member of the 1961 California Little League team that made it to the World Series.

6. Gale Gilbert, Red Bluff (Red Bluff, Calif.)
Gilbert has been involved in a number of memorable sports highlights, including the 1974 Little League World Series with California. Gilbert also quarterbacked the Cal Bears in the famous "The Play" game of 1982 against Stanford. He also went on to be a member of five Super Bowl teams, four with the Buffalo Bills and one with the San Diego Chargers. He is also the father of SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert.

5. Boog Powell, Key West (Key West, Fla.)
A four-time all-star with the Baltimore Orioles, Powell played in the 1954 Little League World Series for Florida and reportedly pitched all 11 games for his team.

4. Chris Drury, Fairfield Prep (Fairfield, Conn.)
A Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, Drury led Trumbull, Conn., to the 1989 Little League World Series championship. He also won a state hockey title at Fairfield Prep, a NCAA Division I national championship at Boston University and two U.S. Olympic hockey medals.

3. Dwight Gooden, Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.)
Tampa had a number of great Little League World Series teams in the late 70s and early 80s. Gooden pitched for the 1979 team before debuting with the New York Mets just five years later in 1984. Gooden won the Cy Young award the next year in 1985.



2. Jason Varitek, Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.)
A member of two World Series championship teams with the Boston Red Sox, Varitek, like Vosberg, also played in a College World Series and a Little League World Series. He played for Florida in the 1984 LLWS.

1. Gary Sheffield, Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.)
The cousin of Dwight Gooden, Sheffield played on one of those talented Tampa teams in the 1980 LLWS. One of his teammates on that squad was Derek Bell, a future MLB player. Sheffield went on to lead the Florida Marlins to a 1997 World Series and hit over 500 home runs in his career.