- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Chicago Little League Team's 'Golden Summer' Story Spotlighted in New Documentaries
TNT and OWN to air films chronicling the rise and controversy surrounding an all-Black squad's historic 2014 Little League Championship win.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:36pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
More than a decade after an all-Black Chicago Little League team captured national attention by winning the U.S. Championship, only to have the title stripped due to residency concerns, the players' story is being reclaimed through two new documentaries airing on TNT and OWN. The films, titled 'One Golden Summer,' provide an intimate look at the team's historic run, the pressure they faced, and the lasting impact of the controversy that followed.
Why it matters
The documentaries aim to shift the narrative around the team's accomplishments, giving the former players a chance to reflect on their experience and the deeper societal issues that shaped how their story unfolded publicly. The films also explore the lasting bond formed by the team during that transformative summer, regardless of the trophies and headlines.
The details
Directed by Kevin Shaw, the documentaries feature rare footage and present-day interviews with the former players, now adults, as they unpack the joy of their championship run and the fallout that followed. The films do not stop at the title-winning moment, but dig into the pressure placed on the young athletes and the broader systems that influenced how their story was told.
- The documentary 'One Golden Summer' premieres on April 7, 2026 on TBS following a Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays broadcast.
- The film will air again on May 7, 2026 on OWN as part of the network's Spotlight series.
The players
Kevin Shaw
The director of the documentaries 'One Golden Summer,' which chronicle the story of the historic Chicago Little League team.
Chicago Little League Team
An all-Black youth baseball squad from Chicago's South Side that won the U.S. Little League Championship in 2014, only to have the title stripped months later due to residency concerns.
What they’re saying
“The documentaries aim to shift the narrative around the team's accomplishments, giving the former players a chance to reflect on their experience and the deeper societal issues that shaped how their story unfolded publicly.”
— Kevin Shaw, Director
What’s next
The documentaries 'One Golden Summer' are expected to generate significant interest and discussion around the team's historic run and the lasting impact of the controversy that followed.
The takeaway
The 'One Golden Summer' documentaries provide a powerful platform for the former players to reclaim their story and shine a light on the broader societal issues that influenced how their remarkable achievement was perceived and remembered. By centering the voices of the players themselves, the films offer a compelling exploration of the lasting bonds forged during that transformative summer, regardless of the trophies and headlines.
