Sports
Jackie Robinson West Campaigns to Get Title Back and Ponders Other Big Moves
Could JRW join the Babe Ruth League or Cal Ripken Baseball? Could a lawsuit follow the letter-writing campaign now under way?
Jackie Robinson West Little League is not about to go away quietly. The team is now waging a letter-writing campaign to get its national title back, and the son of the league’s founder has approached other youth baseball organizations — the Babe Ruth League and Cal Ripken Baseball — about possible membership.
And if Bill Haley is allowed to keep control of Jackie Robinson West as a member of another baseball organization, he could also retain control of almost $200,000 in donations collected by JRW in the last year, including money raised through the widespread sale of iconic yellow Jackie Robinson West championship T-shirts, as well as cash donated by Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.
Also on deck, the possibility of a lawsuit against Little League International remains.
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In recent weeks, the team has been visiting churches in Chicago and asking congregations to send letters to Little League International seeking restoration of the national championship. The team was stripped of its title in February because the coaches stocked the roster with boys from the suburbs in violation of the league’s boundary rules. The league management and coach also were suspended.
» RELATED: Jackie Robinson West Little League Stripped of U.S. Title for Cheating
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Last Sunday, the boys and coach of Jackie Robinson West visited St. Sabina Church in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood. The Rev. Michael Pfleger has been a staunch supporter of the team since Little League International revoked the championship.
“What was done to the Jackie Robinson boys was racism,” Pfleger said from the pulpit. “They made it to the top of the nation and people got mad. ... They are not going to rob this from them. They will not tear down our young black boys when they make it to the top.”
Pfleger has even gone so far as to suggest racism was primary motive of the Evergreen Park Little League official, Chris Janes, who set in motion the events that led JR West to have its national championship revoked and league officials suspended. Janes, whose wife and children are black, subsequently endured death threats.
Haley, whose father founded Jackie Robinson West, wants JRW to join another league. He’s met with officials from both Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken, and reportedly has told them Little League International betrayed Jackie Robinson West.
“JRW parents and coaches feel strongly that Little League International inappropriately treated JRW children and parent volunteers, especially when Little League intentionally decided to announce the proposed change regarding the championship title to their corporate partner, ESPN, before speaking with JRW parents, coaches and children,” reads a statement by JRW’s law firm, Henderson Adam LLC. “This insensitive act by Little League International is a critical factor affecting JRW’s decision to explore other opportunities.”
If JRW joins one of these organizations, the team could very well compete against other South Side teams for players.
Little League International isn’t standing still, either. Little League International has discussed disbanding the six-team district in which JRW competed.
“After a thorough review of operations within Illinois District 4 and in consultation with local volunteers, the Little League International Charter Committee has decided to dissolve Illinois District 4 and assign the leagues that were previously a part of the district to neighboring Little League Districts,” Little League spokesman Brian McClintock said in a statement to DNAinfo Chicago, the news outlet that broke the story of Jackie Robinson West’s cheating.
Three teams, Near South, Bronzeville and JRW, would compete with teams on the North and West Sides as part of District 12. South Side, Roseland and Rosemoor leagues would compete with teams in the south suburbs and South Side in District 7.
South Side Ald. Anthony Beale told DNAinfo Chicago’s Mark Konkol that he will fight the decision to disband the district.
“They’re punishing the entire district, and I think that’s unfair to do. And in doing so they diluted the power base of ... the African-American leagues in the community,” Beale said. “Instead of trying to fix the problem, they’re throwing out the baby with the bath water. And I think that was strategic. ...
“They need to rethink this. This is a bad decision. They didn’t consult with the district before making this move. They didn’t give the district a chance to fix the problem,” Beale said. “We’re not going to stand by and let Little League baseball dictate to us in our community without consulting our community on what we think is best.”
Little League International has said a decision about dissolving District 4 is pending.
But its decision about the title is final regardless of any campaigns.
JRW’s attorney, Victor Henderson, is gathering information about the charges lodged against JRW. He said a lawsuit is premature until his work is done.
GET THE FULL STORY
The Jackie Robinson West story, as reported by DNAinfo:
» read more by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mark Konkol
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