The Jackie Robinson West Little League team may take its ball and find a different home.
The team that had its national title stripped over residency rules announced Wednesday it is looking into switching leagues, as originally reported by DNAinfo.
A statement issued by the Henderson Adam law firm, which had been representing the team in the wake of the residency controversy, said the Cal Ripken-Babe Ruth League offers services similar to Little League International.
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“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,” the statement reads.
“This insensitive act by Little League International is a critical factor affecting JRW’s decision to explore other opportunities.”
The league has 300 to 400 youth players and 90 to 100 parent volunteers, according to the statement.
Little League International announced in February it would strip the South Side baseball team of the national championship because the adults running the program tried to steal territory that was home to talented players from neighboring programs by falsifying and backdating maps.
That meant some of the boys on the team Chicago fell in love with — who were feted from Millennium Park to the White House — were not eligible to play on the team.
After JRW was stripped of its national title, Mountain Ridge Little League from Las Vegas was awarded the U.S. title.
