Stan Brooks founded the Hollywood Indies Little League (H.I.L.L.) in 1994 to bring Little League baseball back to Helen Keller Park in South Central Los Angeles after a five-year absence caused by county budget cuts. An independent film and television producer and lifelong baseball fan, Brooks contacted the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation and was told the solution was simple: funding.

Brooks reached out to friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry, sending 20 letters in hopes of securing four sponsors. He received 14. With $14,000 raised, the Hollywood Indies Little League was born. In its first year, more than 200 boys and girls ages 5–16 took the field. Actor Corbin Bernsen threw out the Opening Day first pitch, officially returning baseball to a park with a storied history—one where Eddie Murray and Eric Davis once played.

In 1999, the league expanded to Jesse Owens Park (Western Ave. & Century Blvd.), revitalizing the park through the dedication of volunteers, families, and players. Participation has always been free, with uniforms and equipment provided at no cost. Since celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2004, the league has made major improvements to its permanent home, including new bleachers, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and expanded staffing. By 2009, the league supported 21 teams of players ages 5–15.

Before H.I.L.L., neither Helen Keller Park nor Jesse Owens Park had hosted Little League play in over a dozen years. Today, they are home to the largest Little League program in Los Angeles County.

Support has continued to grow, including the dedication of two state-of-the-art scoreboards in 2006 by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke. The league’s partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers has flourished, with former players hosting clinics and participating in Opening Day celebrations. Annual field trips to Dodger Stadium have become a cherished tradition.

In 2012, H.I.L.L. hosted its first Little League Invitational Tournament, welcoming over 20 teams across four age divisions. In 2014, the Dodgers dedicated two Dodger Dreamfields at Jesse Owens Park, transforming the facilities with new grass, fencing, scoreboards, and bleachers.

Now in its 31st season, the Hollywood Indies Little League serves 300 children annually with the support of coaches, umpires, families, and sponsors. Every dollar raised goes directly to uniforms, equipment, and league operations. As community needs continue to grow, H.I.L.L. remains committed to keeping the dream of baseball alive for the youth it serves.