Little League Cancels Regional Tournaments, World Series for 2020
For the first time ever, the Little League World Series will not be played. Little League International announced the “difficult and disappointing decision” on Thursday morning.
The cancellation also includes “82 regional qualifying tournaments” including the seven World Series events (Little League Baseball and Softball, Intermediate Baseball, Junior League Baseball and Softball and Senior League Baseball and Softball).
2021 was supposed to be the 75th anniversary of the Little League Baseball World Series, but that will now be celebrated in 2022.
Little League International also canceled the 2020 MLB Little League Classic, but both MLB and the MLB Player’s Association remain committed to returning for the 2021 playing of the game. The organization also committed $1.2 million to support local leagues around the globe.
To assist the local Little League programs as they continue to assess their local operations, Little League International will be crediting all chartered programs with the affiliation fees paid for their chartered teams in 2020, which totals approximately $1.2 million in support to local leagues. These funds will be credited through Little League’s Data Center and be available for local leagues to use on current balances, future affiliation and insurance fees, tournament enrollment, and other Little League-related expenses.
With the professional leagues throughout the world on pause or canceled, it was only a matter of time before the Little League events were also canceled.
