Lawsuits Dropped In Jackie Robinson West Little League Scandal

CHICAGO, IL— In 2014, the Jackie Robinson West Little League team won the Little League national championship, a first for the group of young boys from the South Side.

The next year, however, Little League International took the title and trophy after it was revealed the Jackie Robinson West team used "ineligible" players from outside of its neighborhood boundaries. The scandal encompassed blame and finger-pointing from team coaches, an athletic association and even ESPN.

Now, six years later, Little League International announced it had reached a settlement with the baseball players that agrees their title will not be reinstated.

“Little League International stands by its decision to disqualify the 2014 JRW team, and the JRW League now acknowledges that certain players from the 2014 Little League International Tournament team did not meet Little League’s residence and school attendance player eligibility requirements, unbeknownst to the JRW Players,” the league announced.

With the announcement, Little League dropped its lawsuit against two of the team's coaches, Darold Butler and Jerry Houston. Both men claim they weren't aware some of their players were from outside their boundaries.

“We did nothing wrong,” Butler told reporters at a press conference. “When someone wants to be a bully, stand up to that bully. ... They knew we had nothing to do with it.”

An attorney for both the coaches said he filed a motion arguing that evidence discovered in the lawsuit showed Little League International's culpability in the entire case. While coaches normally sign statements to verify each player, the league has responsibility for setting and certifying team boundaries.

The story originally broke and was reported by Mark Konkol, a former DNAinfo reporter and current Patch columnist. Konkol reported that Jackie Robinson West leaders worked with Chicago District 4 to secretly alter geographical boundaries to create a dream team of players, some of whom were from as far as the suburbs.

RELATED: Coach Who Accused Jackie Robinson West Team of Cheating Sues Little League Baseball

While the outcome is a sad end for the 2014 players, some of the older children on the team have gone on to play at the college and even pro level.

One player, Mount Carmel High School shortstop Ed Howard, was drafted 16th overall by the Cubs in the 2020 amateur draft. Another, Pierce Jones, is a prospect for the San Diego Padres.