Deltona Little League: DLL History

DLL History



With the help of other volunteers, Arnold “Lefty” Vann founded Deltona Little League in 1966. The same year, Deltona Corp. built Elgrove Park in the First Housing District in the rural community of Deltona. Lefty Vann, who played semi-pro baseball in the 1920s and 1930s and who later served as a semi-pro manager and a pro baseball scout, managed the first game played at the new park. Vann had retired to Deltona. Vann's assistant coach was George Duffy, who was also a former pro ballplayer.

The first game in Elgrove Park featured Deltona and DeBary. During the first season of Deltona Little League, only boys ages 9 to 13 played. Later, the league expanded to include both baseball and softball and expanded to include younger and older children.

Arnold “Lefty” Vann died in February 1974. In April 1974, the park was renamed Vann Park in his honor. Lefty Vann's wife, Lillian Vann, was present for the commemoration ceremony. Lillian Vann died in June 1984 at age 87. Before Vann's death, Deltona Little League began awarding the annual Lefty Vann Award to the best all-around youth player from the league. According to local newspaper archives, the earliest known recipient of the award was Charlie Krawczynski, who received the award in 1973. Other award winners include Brian Erwin (1977), Jimmy Peters (1980) and Gary Zdanciewicz (1981).

In 1975, Deltona Corp. deeded newly-named Vann Park to Deltona Little League. At the time, the park covered 14 acres. The league continued to own the park until 1981, when the park was deeded to Volusia County. The county maintained Vann Park until 1997, when the county deeded the title to 11 parks to the City of Deltona. The city was then just one year old. Deltona was incorporated in 1996. Vann Park, listed then at 24 acres, was the largest of the 11. 

Vann Park has received numerous upgrades over the years. This included the construction of a softball field and the addition of lighting. Most recently, the City of Deltona upgraded the lighting system and added a new concession stand in 2005. The upgrades came following storm damage. The lighting system allows the Parks and Rec Department to operate the lights by cell phone. The upgrade cost approximately $300,000. The new concession stand replaced an aging two-story structure. The new concession stand cost approximately $40,000.