A Little League controversy erupted this week after an unfortunate image began circulating online.
It all began this weekend when ESPN’s broadcast of the MLB Little League Classic showed a Davenport, Iowa, baseball team putting cotton atop a young black boy’s head.
Given the stark visual, people became enraged by the image:
Did anyone else just see this on the Little League World Series?! They was stuffing the black boy hair with cotton!!! #LLWS pic.twitter.com/nRVJpw6FJj
— Smitty (@BullCityHeel) August 22, 2022
Black people assemble https://t.co/PTR8of7Zyj pic.twitter.com/iz3LcKjyHY
— Viola Wit Da Lips (@DanieJWavy) August 23, 2022
What in the daggone frig is this horsecrap?!!! https://t.co/CQp6orNw8X pic.twitter.com/iOWAR09WWo
— Kenya Daggone Robinson (@KenyaTheMighty) August 23, 2022
At least once a day I am reminded of how much I hate people. This is clearly todays reminder. https://t.co/nmfaLzRjlW
— The Comfort Stick™️ (@FixinYourUglies) August 23, 2022
What in the AF? I’ve always known LLWS is a bunch of racist test momagers and hot headed dads living vicariously through their children. They ain’t even tryna hide it. I hope this child has the support he needs. https://t.co/WBlmNRczvx pic.twitter.com/RQH8W6SA32
— Percy The Dog. – (@CdnPercy) August 23, 2022
On Tuesday, additional photos came out that provide fresh context to what transpired:
Here’s the context. Lancaster from Hawaii is a straight stud baseball player. All the kids are getting his autograph. pic.twitter.com/pEuu1R8h37
— Author, K.E. Ganshert (@KEganshert) August 23, 2022
They were imitating the stud pitcher from Hawaii who has a pretty sweet white dyed Mohawk. Jarron Lancaster. There’s even a video where the player under such scrutiny is flexing and smiling with the words “the new jarron lancaster”
— Author, K.E. Ganshert (@KEganshert) August 23, 2022
Many of the teammates were participating, Black and white. They were imitating the stud pitcher from Hawaii who has an awesome white-dyed Mohawk. There’s a video where the player making headlines is flexing and smiling with the words “the new Jarron Lancaster” pic.twitter.com/kode6vT3oD
— Author, K.E. Ganshert (@KEganshert) August 23, 2022
That aligns with a statement from the boy’s mother and team which also seemed to suggest that there was no ill-intent involved with this particular incident.
“During the broadcast of the MLB Little League Classic, a Midwest player was shown with filling from a stuffed animal given away at the game on his head,” a statement from Little League read.
“After speaking with the team, as well as reviewing photos, multiple players on the Midwest Region team were taking part in this while enjoying the game. As only one player appeared on the broadcast, Little League International understands that the actions shown could be perceived as racially insensitive.
“We have spoken with the player’s mother and the coaches, who have assured us that there was no ill-intent behind the action shown during the broadcast.”
This has been a crazy week for the world of baseball. Between a couple getting busted getting intimate in the stands of a MLB game and Kate Upton’s provocative photos — it has been one thing after another.
Yikes. https://t.co/QZf8dFSmaK
— Game 7 (@game7__) August 23, 2022
The Little League incident is just par for the course.
Will this new photo’s release and the additional context it provides settle this matter once and for all?
Time will tell.
Related: Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union’s Intimate Video Goes Viral
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
