The Chicago Little League team that won the 2014 national championship — a much-celebrated, all-black team — has now seen its title stripped, the result of an investigation into the team for rules violations.
The team, the Jackie Robinson West — the first all-black team to win the U.S. championship and then be honored at the White House — was suspected shortly after the 2014 title was bestowed of recruiting players who lived outside the allowable geographical areas, ESPN reported.
On Wednesday, Little League International stripped the team of its title.
“This is a heartbreaking decision,” Stephen Keener, the Little League International president and CEO, said in a statement. “As painful as it is, we feel it is a necessary decision to maintain the integrity of the Little League program. No team can be allowed to attempt to strengthen its team by putting players on their roster that live outside their boundaries.”
The team’s manager, Darold Butler, has also been suspended, The Associated Press reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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