2020 Little League World Series Canceled Due To Coronavirus

WILLIAMSPORT, PA — This summer's Little League World Series, along with its 82 regional qualifying tournaments and numerous associated events, has been canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. It's the first time in its 74-year history that it has been canceled.

All seven World Series events organized by the Little League, including the Little League Softball and intermediate, junior, and senior league baseball and softball events, will not be held in 2020.

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“This is a heartbreaking decision for everyone at Little League International, but more so for those millions of Little Leaguers who have dreamt of one day playing in one of our seven World Series events,” Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO, said in a statement Thursday.

Officials had held off on announcing the decision, even as numerous other major events slated for this late spring and summer, such as the Olympic Games, were canceled weeks ago.

Keener said the decision was made in consultation with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and the state Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.

Organizers cited three key reasons why the World Series events could not go on as planned: the inability to hold all of the qualifying tournaments; the complexity of coordinating international travel with teams from overseas; and the extensive testing and mitigation measures that would need to be in place for such a major public event.

To help assist its Little League programs globally, Little League International is providing credits back to all programs who paid their affiliation fees for 2020. It's a total in $1.2 million in support, they said.

The League has also cancelled the 75th Anniversary celebrations which were slated for 2021. Because 2020's events have been canceled, those celebrations will now be held in 2022.

The Aug. 23 MLB Little League classic, a game scheduled between the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Williamsport, has been canceled. Organizers said an MLB game would be held in association with the Little League World Series again in 2021.