An appearance by Hall of Fame pitching great, Randy Johnson highlights the Grand Slam Parade Slated for August 14. The Lycoming County Visitors Bureau is encouraging the community to come out as we welcome the 16 Little League World Series teams and their families here for the 73rd Little League World Series to Williamsport with the 15th Annual Grand Slam Parade. Activities in the downtown involving the parade festivities will begin at 4:00 p.m. with the parade stepping off at 5:30 p.m.

The parade will also be broadcast live on WBRE TV-28, the local NBC affiliate. WBRE will be set-up in various locations along the parade route.

UPMC Susquehanna has continued its support of the parade as this year’s official health care sponsor for the Grand Slam Parade. They will be working with the parade planners in helping to address all health needs that may arrive to those participating in this year’s event.

There will once again be a collectible parade pin. The pin will be of the 2019 parade logo with the parade pin sponsor’s logo incorporated onto it. Pepsi Bottling Company of Williamsport has come forward for the eighth straight year as pin sponsor. A limited number of pins will be available. As with last year, they will be available at various businesses the Thursday after the parade. They will also be available at local Weis Markets.

Wegmans is stepping forward once again in their support of the parade with help to cover the costs for bringing the local high school bands to the parade. This year all eight high school bands from Lycoming County will be in it along with bands Sullivan County and Central Mountain.

The nine floats that will be carrying the 16 team participants and umpires will also be completely decorated. This year’s planning committee has once again contracted with Datman Entertainment of Williamsport to design and decorate the floats.

The parade route begins at the intersection of Susquehanna and West Fourth Streets and proceeds east through the historic district and finishes in downtown Williamsport and the intersection of Market and West Fourth Streets.

Here is the background of this year’s Parade Grand Marshal, Randy Johnson.

Johnson played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1988 to 2009, for six teams. He played primarily for the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. His 303 career victories rank as the fifth-most by a left-hander in MLB history, while his 4,875 strikeouts place him second all-time behind Nolan Ryan and are the most by a left-hander. He holds five of the seven highest single-season strikeout totals by a left-hander in modern history. Johnson won the Cy Young Award five times, second only to Roger Clemens’ seven, and he is one of only two pitchers (the other being Greg Maddux) to win the award in four consecutive seasons (1999–2002). In 1999, he joined Pedro Martínez and Gaylord Perry in the rare feat of winning the award in both the American and National Leagues (a feat since accomplished by Clemens, Roy Halladay, and Max Scherzer). He is also one of five pitchers to pitch no-hitters in both leagues. On May 18, 2004, at the age of forty, Johnson became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game and is one of seven pitchers who have thrown both a perfect game and a no-hitter in their careers. He is also one of eighteen pitchers in history to record a win against all 30 MLB franchises. On May 8, 2001, Johnson achieved the feat of striking out 20 batters in one game, doing so against the Reds. The Liberty Group is sponsoring his appearance in the parade.

The sponsors who help underwrite in bringing this event to the community are Official Health Care Sponsor: UPMC Susquehanna; Randy Johnson – Hall of Fame Sponsor: Liberty Group; Parade Pin Sponsor: Pepsi Bottling of Williamsport; High School Band Sponsor: Wegmans; Float Safety Sponsors: Energy Transfer Partners and PPL; Award Sponsors: Moff and Associates, Allison Crane and Rigging, Weis Markets, Williams Energy and Panda Patriot; Entertainment Sponsors: Genetti, Muncy Bank & Trust, Highmark, ESS/Source4Teachers, Waste Management, Chief Oil & Gas, Fish Real Estate, Riverview Bank and Comcast; Float Sponsors: Giant Food Stores, Cabot Oil & Gas, Lycoming College, Stallion, Jersey Shore State Bank, Pennsylvania General Energy, Stroehmann’s, Sun Gazette, Ciocca Dealerships, Alta, HRI, Southwestern Energy, Keystone Advertising/Harder’s Sporting Goods, Inflection, FNB Bank, Zartman Construction and Energy Transfer Partners; Division Sponsors: Pennsylvania College of Technology, Seneca Resources, Range Resources, Rettew, Valley View, Amerihealth, AristaCare, Coastal Chemical, Cummins Sales & Service, Faxon Bowling, and Covia Corporation; T-shirt Sponsor: M&T Bank.

Parade officials state they have a great line-up of music for this year’s parade. It includes two drum corps, the White Sabers and Saints Brigade each out of New York state, Aqua String Band and Polish American String Band both from Philadelphia, along with local favorites including the Billtown Blues and Repasz Band. There will also be many dance performers and floats to round out the parade. Note that in accordance with safety procedures to serve the safety of all participants and those spectators enjoying the parade, bags or items of any kind are not permitted to be given to the players on any of the Little League Team Floats. Also, all spectators should refrain from going into the path of the parade as it processes along the street. Bicyclists, skateboarders, and others in the street during the time of the parade will be removed as a safety precaution for themselves and others enjoying the parade. This is being done in connection with local and state authorities to ensure an enjoyable event for all.

“This event is just the start of all of the wonderful activities that will take place during the 11 days of the 73rd Little League World Series. It is great to see the hard work of all of the volunteers who help in planning this parade to those that put the time and effort in building floats and providing entertainment for the event. It truly is Williamsport and Lycoming County coming together to help in providing a high energy welcome to all of the players, coaches, families and Little League fans as they get ready for the games which start the following day. Our organization is proud to be able to provide this event to the community in helping to welcome those that are coming here to enjoy the Little League World Series.” stated Jason Fink, President/CEO of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s planning committee for the Grand Slam Parade is Carole Smith, Dwain English, Michael Seitzer, Chip Plankenhorn, Jeanette Kirkpatrick, Lou Hunsinger Sr., Lou Hunsinger Jr., Heather Reuther, Dave Frey, Sergeant Jody Miller, and Lieutenant Dave Pletz.