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Both Little Leaguers and fans had the chance to meet players and mascots from the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at the Little League Complex, whether they lined the fences up the hill or waited for their chance during a Little League game.
Garrett Stubbs, Phillies catcher, asked Little Leaguers if they could trade signatures, giving his back after signing balls, cards and hats so they could sign his number 21.
Alex Hanlon, New England third baseman, pitcher and catcher, carried around a white cleat to have the Major Leaguers sign--but said he wasn't even sure why he picked that. The experience was a great one for him though.
"It all just happened really quick," Hanlon said. "It was awesome meeting everyone."
After getting as many autographs as he could, Hanlon started walking with his team back to their seats to watch the Mid-Atlantic vs Metro game until he heard someone shout the Philly Phanatic was coming and ran back to meet the mascot.
Australian second baseman and pitcher Zachary Martyn also had positive things to say about meeting the Major Leaguers.
"It was really, really, really, really good," Martyn said.
He enjoyed seeing all of the players and getting them to sign his ball and hat.
Riley Adams, Washington Nationals catcher, said he did not know what to expect would happen when he walked up the hill of Little League Complex to rows of fans cheering and asking for autographs.
"It's been great," Adams said. "The energy is just incredible. It certainly exceeded my expectations."
Cam Beckwith, New England pitcher, catcher and first baseman, had a few signatures on his baseball, but his ultimate goal was to get the Major Leaguers to sign their baseball cards whenever he got more time to sit with the players.
"I'm going to put (the signed cards) in a sleeve and I'm going to put them somewhere safe," Beckwith said.
Great Lakes first and third baseman Cole Mueller had the players sign a baseball. He was most excited about the signatures of Phillies players Trea Turner and Bryce Harper. If he got the chance, he wanted to ask both of them for advice.
"I want to ask Harper how to bat better and I want to ask Trea Turner how to run faster," Mueller said.
Fences on both sides of the hill leading to Section 5 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium ushered the Phillies players into the middle of the Mid-Atlantic vs Metro game as they tried to sign as many autographs as they could. Once the Phillies entered the game, moving stalled as many children and adults raced down to the walkway to ask for autographs they didn't receive while watching the game.
"Thank you!" A fan shouted at Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm. "I love you!"
"Did you get Bohm?" A man asked a child as the player walked by him.
"Yeah," the boy answered, holding up his signed baseball.
"Nice," the man said.