Little League cancels World Series, regional tournaments

Bowman Field, home of the MLB's Little League Classic. Photo: BrightView

Little League International said will cancel its seven World Series tournaments and 82 regional qualifying events due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the organization says a number of factors went into the decision to cancel the World Series and Regional Tournaments, including the difficulty in playing qualifying tournaments and challenges with travel to the tournaments.

“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,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League president and CEO. “After exhausting all possible options, we came to the conclusion that because of the significant public health uncertainty that will still exist several months from now, and with direction from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, senior public health officials and government leaders from locations where our other six World Series are held, as well as the qualifying regional tournaments, it will not be possible to proceed with our tournaments as we’ve hosted them for nearly 75 years.”

The organization also said its 75th Little League Baseball World Series celebration will now take place in 2022.

The 2020 MLB Little League Classic, originally scheduled for Aug. 23 between the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, has also been canceled.