Coming Home to Williamsport After 51 Years

By John Reizer

There are moments in life that never leave you. For me, one of those moments came in the summer of 1975, when I was fortunate enough to be a member of the Lakewood, New Jersey, Little League team that won the Little League World Series.

Yours truly, on ABC National Television

This August, I will return to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the first time in 51 years.

It is hard to describe the emotions I might experience when I arrive there. As a 12-year-old boy, Williamsport was the biggest stage I had ever seen. Every game felt larger than life, and every pitch mattered. Our teammates believed in one another, but none of us realized that the memories we were making would stay with us for the rest of our lives.

Winning the Little League World Series was an incredible accomplishment, but what has stayed with me the most over the years are the lessons I learned from that experience and the pride of representing the community of Lakewood.

We were just kids playing the game we loved, yet we became part of baseball history.

Over the years, life took all of us in different directions. We built careers, raised families, and faced life’s joys and challenges. But no matter where life led, the memories of that magical summer in Williamsport never faded for me.

Now, after more than five decades, I have the opportunity to walk those same grounds again. I know the stadium has changed, and Williamsport has grown, but I also know that the spirit of Little League remains the same. I look forward to seeing the fields where our dreams came true, hearing the sounds of today’s young players, and remembering what it felt like to stand in their shoes.

This visit will be especially meaningful because I will be donating two pieces of memorabilia: a copy of the book I wrote about our team’s success when I was 14 years old, and one of the most treasured keepsakes from our championship season, the baseball that recorded the final out of the 1975 Little League World Series championship game. It was the very ball that was pitched and caught for the final out, securing our victory. After the game, it was signed by every member of our championship team and our coaches.

1975 LLWS  MEMORABILIA

A few years ago, it was generously sent to me by a sports memorabilia collector who purchased it as a collectible.

For more than five decades, that ball has remained in someone’s private residence. I believe this remarkable piece of Little League history belongs where future generations of players, families, and fans can see it and appreciate what it represents, not just a championship, but teamwork, dedication, sportsmanship, and the dreams of a group of young boys from Lakewood, New Jersey.

As I return to Williamsport, I know I won’t just be revisiting a place. I’ll be reconnecting with a special chapter of my life that helped shape the person I became. Donating this baseball is my way of giving back to the game that gave me so much and ensuring that a small piece of our team’s story will live on for generations to come.

Fifty-one years is a long time, but some moments never grow old. The excitement, the pride, and the honor of being part of the 1975 Lakewood Little League World Series championship team are as meaningful today as they were that unforgettable summer.

When I place that baseball in the museum’s care, I won’t simply be donating a piece of memorabilia; I’ll be passing along a piece of history, one that represents a championship, a team, and memories that have lasted a lifetime.



Once in a Lifetime

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The story of the 1975 Little League World’s Championship is told by one of its participants, young John Reizer. It’s the complete story of how the Lakewood, New Jersey All-Star team was picked, how they became a finely-honed playing unit and how they went on to win fifteen straight games, the fifteenth, the biggest win of all, at the Little League World Series.

John Reizer, the second baseman on that championship team, first introduces you to each member of the team, telling a little about their personalities and how they stacked up as ball players. Then comes a game-by-game account of how the Lakewood All-Stars did it, starting with the New Jersey championship, going on through the division tournament in Maryland, and their eventual coming out on top to be the Eastern representative in Williamsport against teams from California and Florida.

But there were none better out of over eight thousand teams that started after the title in the first place. No, Lakewood’s young men won it all, and in a fine way, too. Read all about it; it’s a baseball story worth repeating.


The One-Hour Diner

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Released July 4th, 2026

About the Book

Over sixty minutes in an isolated roadside diner in rural Montana, two strangers are forced to confront suppressed and traumatic memories, discovering that time, guilt, and truth are far more dangerous than the authorities awaiting them.

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Inventing a cancer cure was their first mistake!

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Sometimes fiction is not an escape from reality, but rather the only way to talk about it.

–John Reizer


Truth Engines

Pre-order Available at Select Retailers

What if fiction reveals the truths modern society refuses to face?

Truth Engines is a bold collection of science fiction shorts that acknowledges the hidden realities currently affecting humanity. Blending imagination with unique storytelling, these writings explore a wide range of important subjects currently impacting all human beings.

Releasing September 1st, 2026

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Science fiction has traditionally been a way for writers to discuss difficult ideas safely. It has allowed authors to examine dangerous possibilities before they become reality. Sometimes fiction entertains us, sometimes it warns us, and sometimes it says the necessary things that otherwise couldn’t be said.

These stories are not meant to preach or claim absolute answers. They are meant to encourage thought. They will hopefully inspire readers to ask questions about power, truth, freedom, artificial intelligence, corruption, media influence, medical ethics, surveillance, and the future direction of humanity itself.

Some readers may see these stories as pure fiction. Others may recognize pieces of the modern world hidden inside them. That choice belongs to you, the reader.

The goal of my writing is twofold: to entertain while also encouraging people to think more deeply about the systems shaping human life behind the scenes.

Whether these stories inspire agreement, debate, curiosity, or discomfort, I hope they stay with you long after the final page.

Sometimes fiction is not an escape from reality, but rather the only way to talk about it.

–John Reizer


Beta Reviews

It’s an amazing read! The stories in Truth Engines were born and live in the spaces between the 88 black-and-white notes on a piano keyboard. If you’re a fan of The Twilight Zone, you’ll really love this book!

A Beta Reader

Truth Engines is an incredible reading experience!

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Releasing October 31st

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Hunted by an all-seeing surveillance network and powerful forces desperate to recover three mysterious data chips he is carrying, Dave Morrison, a bike courier, is forced into the Smart city’s hidden underground tunnel system in an attempt to stay alive.


The Big Pharma Conspiracy Movie

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Critical Reviews

“Rachel Alig is terrific as Donna while Justin Ray as Clyde also manages to impress. Combining witty commentary with a constant threat to life, script writers Palo and Reizer develop a narrative that is funny and charming while ensuring that none of the thrill and danger is lost in the process.”

– INDIE WRAP MAGAZINE

“Drama, thrills, comedy and so much more: Directors Andrew Arguello and MJ Palo’s Target List has all the fixings of a great movie. Combining a fantastic cast with the witty writing of MJ Palo and John Reizer, whichever way you flip this film, it lands on its feet with feline agility.”

– INDY REVIEWS

“The script by Palo with John Reizer, for the most part, rides that perfect balance between its more dramatic moments and perfectly placed moments of humor that never distract. While they’re probably not going to get invited to any big pharma conventions anytime soon, Reizer and Palo have a point, and they make it beautifully.”

“Target List is a great view for anyone who wants a compelling and suspenseful flick with a message that matters.”

– RICHARD PROPES – THE INDEPENDENT CRITIC


Gareth Icke – Derby, England

“Target List had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Not the least because of its believability!

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