American Legion Baseball Canceled For 2020

In South Dakota, there was hope that American Legion baseball would occur this summer. Both the South Dakota Athletic Legion Commission and State Legion Commander Fred Nelson approved of the Mt. Rushmore State having a season, but the National Headquarters for American Legion baseball decided against it – meaning no sanctioned legion baseball for 2020 in the United States.

Earlier this spring, the national office made the decision to cancel the American Legion World Series and its Regional tournaments, but this didn’t close the door on individual states still holding their own regular season that would culminate with a state tournament. Because each state is under the umbrella of authority from the national American Legion office, any decision that comes from the national level can trump any rulings from an individual state. Hence why Sunday's ruling from the National Headquarters affected the cancellation of legion ball in all states.

“I feel bad for the players and the coaches that were looking forward to the American Legion baseball season. South Dakota took a quick turn from yesterday’s announcement,” explained South Dakota State American Legion Commander Fred Nelson. “[The National Headquarters] has elected to suspend the remaining 25 states from playing American Legion baseball, thus canceling the South Dakota 2020 season.”

Sunday’s ruling to cancel the 2020 American Legion season throughout the nation takes away the option of teams participating in a sanctioned baseball organization. In other words, teams could still play, they just wouldn’t be sponsored by or affiliated with legion baseball.

The Sioux Empire Baseball Association in Sioux Falls hinted that the show could still go on in an unofficial, non-organized league of baseball for any community who may still be looking to play.

Prior to Sunday’s announcement to cancel the American Legion season, Post-22 out of Rapid City had posted June 9 or 10 for a potential opening day date. It’s likely they would side with Sioux Falls in doing some sort of a non-sanctioned baseball season.