Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 1964 |
Affiliation | WBSC |
Regional affiliation | WBSC Americas |
Headquarters | 2212 Gladwin Crescent Ottawa, Ontario |
President | Jean Boulais |
Official website | |
baseball |
Baseball Canada is the national governing body for baseball in Canada. [1] They are members of the Canadian Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
Incorporated in 1964 as the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball, it is made up of 10 provincial associations which represent players, coaches, and umpires across Canada.
They are funded and recognized by Sport Canada and Heritage Canada, and is recognized by Revenue Canada as having charitable status. [2]
Canada competes in all WBSC sanctioned events. They were part of the inaugural World Baseball Classic tournament in 2006, where they recorded their best ever result of ninth place. They have sent teams to two Olympic Games, finishing in fourth place at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Canada has also been part of two WBSC Premier12 tournaments, losing in the quarterfinals in 2015.
Canada competes in the Women's Baseball World Cup, a WBSC sanctioned events. The inaugural Women's Baseball World Cup was held in Edmonton. Their best results are a pair of runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2016.
Baseball Canada's sole mission is "dedicated, through collaborative leadership, to develop, promote and deliver ethical athlete centred programs which allow individuals to maximize their potential." [3]
Founded in 1999; the Junior National Team began an elite selection process in developing baseball players in North America. Canada Baseball organizes numerous teams composed of high school, college, and professional baseball players competing nationally and internationally.
Canada Baseball also fields the Junior National Team featuring the best under-18 prospects. The Mizuno Elite Development Camp which selects the top under-16 prospects in Canada every September to play at the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays; evaluated by top coaches in the country. [4] Another event that takes place annually is the Baseball Canada Cup. This event takes place every August within Canada. The competition features the under-17 players from each of the 10 provinces in Canada contending for a national championship. [5] The final stage of the Junior National Team eventually leads to the World Junior Baseball Championship which takes place every other year. In the past this tour has included games against top collegiate summer teams, elite travel or club teams, and national teams from other countries both at the high school and college level. [6] Since 1981, Canada has tallied one gold, one silver, and seven bronze medals with their most recent silver medal coming at the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship, held in Seoul, South Korea. [7]
The Junior National Team has produced numerous players that have gone on to play professional and college baseball, along with players who have represented Canada in the World Baseball Classic, and also the Olympics. Some of these players include 2006 American League MVP Justin Morneau, 2004 National League Rookie of the Year Jason Bay, National League MVP Larry Walker and Joey Votto, first round picks Adam Loewen and Jeff Francis as well as current Major League Baseball players: Brett Lawrie, Russell Martin, Ryan Dempster, and John Axford. [8]
The program was created in 2008 in order to give local baseball associations across Canada the chance to apply for accreditation with the RBI Program. According to Baseball Canada, by becoming accredited through the RBI Program, an association gain credibility in their community. Parents signing their children up for baseball will be able to tell if the association they are signing up with is well-run and meets the high standards Baseball Canada sets for its programs. In order to apply for membership in the RBI Program, an association must at least meet the minimum standards in these five areas: [9]
If an organization does not deal with young children (ages 5–8) and would still like to be a member of the program, they can gain membership through a points system that evaluates their association. They must meet at least 5 of the core criteria that Baseball Canada has set, a few of which are, having the Challenger Program for special needs children in place, a girls specific program, and hosting both umpire and coaches clinics. Based on how relevant each of these criteria are, the RBI Program awards the association points. If they meet the 5 necessary criteria but are awarded less than 10 points, they receive a bronze designation, if they are awarded 10-16 points they receive a silver designation, and if they are awarded 16-22 points they receive a gold designation.
The following associations have all received accreditation through the RBI Program: [10]
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Baseball Canada's Challenger Program [11] is designed to ensure that children with special needs get the opportunity to participate in organized baseball. Whether they have mental or physical disabilities, children are given the opportunity to play at a level that is suited to their abilities. It is a safe, fun and positive environment where no score is kept, and each child is assigned their own personal "buddy" who aids them during a game. Whether it be learning the rules, aiding them around the base path, or teaching them how to play, these buddies help to ensure that each child has an enjoyable experience. Maintaining the team aspect of conventional baseball is a key part of this program, as is ensuring that each participant is treated the same way as they would be in a regular baseball program.
Baseball Canada's website provides this list of objectives [12] they hope to meet through their Challenger Program:
Their website also provides this list of benefits [13] they feel families and children will receive from participating in this program:
Originally a program that was launched by Baseball Ontario, and with the help of Baseball Canada, Major League Baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays, it has become a nationwide program that helps get kids (primarily aged 6–12) involved with baseball in a fun and easy way. The program is set up with schools and local communities and is free of charge. It contains simple and entertaining games that a child can play by themselves or in groups. These games are designed specifically for each age group and focus on developing the key skill sets used in baseball: hitting, throwing, and fielding. The non-competitive aspect of these games ensures that each child has fun and doesn't feel that baseball isn't for them if they don't succeed. In addition to the physical benefits of the program, Winterball also teaches children valuable social skills, such as how to play fair, how to play as a team, and proper etiquette. [14]
Some of the games included in the program are: [15]
Burleigh Arland Grimes was an American professional baseball player and manager, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. Grimes made the most of this advantage, as well as his unshaven, menacing presence on the mound, which earned him the nickname "Ol' Stubblebeard." He won 270 MLB games, pitched in four World Series over the course of his 19-year career, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964. A decade earlier, he had been inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field, with only underhand pitches permitted. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hancock.
Tee-ball is a team sport based on a simplified form of baseball or softball. It is intended as an introduction for children aged 4 to 6 to develop ball-game skills and have fun.
Little League Baseball and Softball is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States, that organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the United States and the rest of the world.
Richard Keith "Stubby" Clapp is a Canadian professional baseball coach and former second baseman and Triple-A manager who is the first base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for 11 years, most notably within the Cardinals organization, including a brief stint in MLB with the Cardinals. In his native Canada, he is best remembered for his performance at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, where he hit a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning to beat a more experienced U.S. team and put Canada in the semifinals. Canada eventually won the bronze medal.
Justin Ernest George Morneau is a Canadian former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago White Sox. At 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 220 pounds (100 kg), Morneau was drafted as a catcher by the Twins in 1999. He converted to first base in the minor leagues and made his MLB debut in 2003. Morneau held that position throughout his career and in 2007 became the first Twin since Gary Gaetti in 1987–1988 to hit 30 home runs in consecutive seasons.
Women's baseball is played in several countries. The strongest and most organized women's baseball leagues are in the United States, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Cuba, Hong Kong, and Canada. Those countries have national governing bodies that support girls' and women's baseball programs. Other countries/regions that currently have organized women's baseball are Germany, France, Netherlands, Croatia, India, South Korea, Venezuela, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Pakistan. There also is a handful of women playing baseball in Vietnam currently on the Fishanu team at Hanoi University and on the Hanoi Baseball Club.
Baseball in Canada dates back to the 19th century, and is played at various levels of competition throughout the country. There is currently one Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Toronto Blue Jays, founded in 1977. Canada's first MLB team, the Montreal Expos, formed in 1969 and relocated to Washington, D.C., in 2005.
Yurendell Eithel DeCaster is a Dutch professional baseball third baseman. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played for Team Netherlands in the 2019 European Baseball Championship, and at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament, in Italy in September 2019.
Baseball PEI is the provincial governing body for baseball in Prince Edward Island. It is a member of Baseball Canada and Baseball Atlantic.
Jonathan Joseph Malo is a Canadian professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. Malo has competed for the Canada national baseball team.
Michael R. Crouse is a Canadian professional baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He has also been a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization, and has competed for the Canadian national baseball team.
Kellin Lee Deglan is a Canadian professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He was drafted out of R.E. Mountain Secondary School in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers.
Gareth Broderick Morgan is a Canadian professional baseball outfielder in the Los Angeles Angels organization.
Tristan Gabriel Pompey is a Canadian professional baseball outfielder for the Guelph Royals of the Intercounty Baseball League. The Miami Marlins selected him in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft after his college baseball career for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Evan P. Rutckyj is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Niigata Albirex of the Baseball Challenge League. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 16th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.
Eric Elliot Wood is a Canadian professional baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Chinatrust Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
Andrew Jacob Yerzy is a Canadian professional baseball catcher and first baseman in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.
Claire Eccles is a Canadian baseball player. She is a left-handed pitcher who throws three pitches, including a knuckleball. She has been a member of the women's national baseball team of Canada, and has competed in the 2014 and 2016 Women's Baseball World Cups as well as the 2015 Pan American Games. In 2017, she joined the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League and became the first woman to play in that league. She was also a member of the softball team at the University of British Columbia.
Wayne Norton was a Canadian professional baseball outfielder, coach, and scout. He played 10 seasons in Minor League Baseball, then had a lengthy career as a coach and scout. Noted for his impact on baseball in Canada, Norton was inducted to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 188 pounds (85 kg), he threw right-handed and batted left-handed.