CHICAGO (AP) — Little League International has stripped Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West of its national title after finding the team falsified its boundary map.
The league made the announcement Wednesday morning, saying the Chicago team violated regulations by placing players on the team who didn’t qualify because they lived outside the team’s boundaries. Little League International also suspended Jackie Robinson West manager Darold Butler from league activity.
The announcement comes after an investigation that started when a suburban coach alleged the Jackie Robinson West team violated rules by poaching top players from nearby suburbs.
Little League had said in December that an investigation into the Chicago team found no violations.
Jackie Robinson West’s championship run captured the attention of the nation and turned the all-black team into heroes in their hometown.
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