After riding the blissful high of Little League champion greatness for months, Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West has been stripped of the title for foul play.
In the summer of 2014, America rallied behind the all-Black team, which defeated Las Vegas’ Mountain Ridge Little League to win the U.S. title.
Thought to be comprised of youth from the Windy City’s fourth district, an investigation has determined that was, in fact, a lie — one a board determined reprehensible and deserving of the aforementioned action.
Fingers point at Jackie Robinson West’s manager, Darold Butler, and local Illinois administrator, Michael Kelly, who drew players from outside the geographic area to build the strongest team possible.
“For more than 75 years, Little League has been an organization where fair play is valued over the importance of wins and losses,” Little League International CEO, Stephen D Keener, said. “This is a heartbreaking decision. What these players accomplished on the field and the memories and lessons they have learned during the Little League World Series tournament is something the kids can be proud of, but it is unfortunate that the actions of adults have led to this outcome.
“As our Little League operations staff learned of the many issues and actions that occurred over the course of 2014 and prior, as painful as this is, we feel it a necessary decision to maintain the integrity of the Little League program,” Keener continued. “No team can be allowed to attempt to strengthen its team by putting players on their roster that live outside their boundaries.”
Butler has been suspended, while Kelly, who facilitated the bending of the rules, lost his position all together.
Jackie Robinson West has also been stripped of its victories leading up to the big game. The Little League World series title now goes to Mountain Ridge.
—
Photo: YouTube
