Intercounty Baseball League

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Intercounty Baseball League
Sport Baseball
Founded 1919
No. of teams 9
Country(ies) Flag of Canada Canada
Most recent
champion(s)		 Toronto Maple Leafs

The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is an amateur, independent baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919.

The Intercounty Baseball League exists so that baseball players who are not signed by a Major or Minor League organization could have a chance at playing competitive men's baseball. Although the level of Intercounty Baseball League play can be categorized as being at the "Single A" level, players in independent baseball are usually not scouted heavily by Major League teams, although in recent years that has changed somewhat.

For example, three London Majors players were drafted into the MLB in 2007: catcher Chris Dennis and pitcher Adam Arnold by the Milwaukee Brewers, and first-baseman/third-baseman/outfielder Mitch Delaney by the Chicago White Sox. Colin Buckborough, pitcher with the Brantford Red Sox, was also drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2007.

Contents

[edit] History

The IBL was founded in 1919 with just four teams—Galt, Guelph, Stratford and Kitchener—and is believed to be the oldest amateur men's league in Canada and also one of the best, regarding quality of play. During the early years, the league expanded to include the cities of London, Brantford, Preston and St. Thomas, Ontario.

The league's first commissioner in the 1950s was John Gillies, a London, Ontario, lawyer and former pitcher in the league for the London Majors.

It was previously known as the Intercounty Major Baseball League and the Senior Intercounty Baseball League. The teams play for the Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophy, which is awarded to the league champions. Jack and Lynne Dominico are the co-owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club.

In June of 2006, the league unanimously endorsed establishing an IBL Hall of Fame at Labatt Park in London, Ontario, home to the London Majors. This proposal is still unfolding and may take several years to implement.

On July 8, 2006, in Barrie, Ontario, the league's "New Era IBL All-Star Classic" game between the Barrie Baycats and the IBL all-stars was played with Barrie defeating the IBL all-stars 7–2.

[edit] Current member teams

Intercounty Baseball League
Team City Stadium Founded
Barrie Baycats Barrie, Ontario, Canada Barrie Metals Stadium at Barrie Community Sports Complex 2001
Brantford Red Sox Brantford, Ontario, Canada Arnold Anderson Stadium 1911
Guelph Royals Guelph, Ontario, Canada David E. Hastings Stadium 1919
Hamilton Thunderbirds Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium
Kitchener Panthers Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Jack Couch Baseball Park 1919
London Majors London, Ontario, Canada Labatt Park 1925
Oshawa Dodgers Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Kinsmen Stadium 2002
Stratford Nationals Stratford, Ontario, Canada National Stadium 1919
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto, Ontario, Canada Christie Pits 1969

[edit] Past teams

Intercounty Baseball League
Team City Stadium Founded Folded
Galt Terriers – later as Cambridge Terriers Galt, Ontario Dickson Park 1919 1984?
St. Thomas Storm St. Thomas, Ontario Pinafore Park/Emslie Field 2000 Moved to Stratford in 2004
Waterloo Tigers Waterloo, Ontario Bechtel Park 2000 2004
Guelph C-Joys Guelph, Ontario Exhibition Park renamed Guelph Royals
Hamilton Cardinals Hamilton, Ontario Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium 2005 renamed Hamilton Thunderbirds
Kitchener Legionnaires Kitchener, Ontario Victoria Park 1957 renamed Kitchener Dutchmen
Kitchener Dutchmen Kitchener, Ontario Jack Couch Stadium renamed Kitchener Panthers
London Chester Pegg Diamonds London, Ontario Labatt Park 1960 1962; renamed London Majors
London Pontiacs London, Ontario Labatt Park 1963 1970; renamed London Avcos
London Avcos London, Ontario Labatt Park 1970 1974; renamed London El-Morocco Majors
London El-Morocco Majors London, Ontario Labatt Park 1974 1975; renamed London Majors
Kraven Knits Stratford, Ontario National Stadium 1974 1976; renamed Stratford Hillers
Stratford Hillers Stratford, Ontario National Stadium 1976
Stratford Storm Stratford, Ontario National Stadium 2004 2006; renamed Stratford Nationals
Listowel Legionnaires Listowel, Ontario John Bell Memorial Park
Oakville Oakville, Ontario
Niagara Falls Niagara Falls, Ontario
Windsor Windsor, Ontario

[edit] League staff

[edit] Champions

Main article: List of Intercounty Baseball League champions

[edit] Standings

[edit] Notable past players

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] References

  • Intercounty Major Baseball League's 1998 Record Book by Editor Herb Morell and Dominico Promotions Inc.

[edit] External links