Intercounty Baseball League

Last updated
Intercounty Baseball League
Intercounty Baseball League Logo.png
Sport Baseball
Founded1919
CommissionerTed Kalnins
No. of teams9
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)
Barrie Baycats (8th title)
Most titles Brantford Red Sox (15)
Official website theibl.ca

The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is a Canadian baseball league, comprising teams of college players and former professionals from North America and beyond. The teams are located in Southern Ontario.

Contents

The league was formed in 1919 and has enjoyed much success over its long history. [1] Teams are run similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions, using wooden bats and minor league specification baseballs. Teams play 42 scheduled games from early May to late-August. The playoffs are best-of-five series with the championship series typically played around Labour Day. The most recent champions are the Barrie Baycats who defeated the Guelph Royals 4-0 in the 2024 Dominico Cup Final.

History

The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) was founded in 1919 with just four cities represented — Galt, Guelph, Stratford and Kitchener, and is the oldest amateur men's league in Canada. [2] During the early years, the league expanded to include the cities of Waterloo, Brantford, Preston, London, and St. Thomas.

It was previously known as the Intercounty Major Baseball League and the Senior Intercounty Baseball League. Teams compete for the Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophy, which is awarded to the league champions. The trophy is named for the late owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, husband and wife Jack and Lynne Dominico.

On December 3, 2024, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced they had signed Ayami Sato, making her the first female player in the league as well as the first female player chosen to play professional baseball in Canada. [3]

Labatt Park in London, Ontario, home of the London Majors. Labatt Memorial park.JPG
Labatt Park in London, Ontario, home of the London Majors.

All-Star Game

On July 8, 2006, in Barrie, the league's New Era IBL All-Star Classic game between the Barrie Baycats and the IBL All-Stars; Barrie won 7–2.

On August 21 and 22, 2010 in Ottawa, the Fat Cats hosted the New Era All-Star Classic between the IBL All-Stars and the All-Stars from Ligue de Baseball Senior Élite du Québec (LBSEQ). [4]

Barrie hosted the league's All-Star Game on July 11, 2015, with the IBL All-Stars defeating Barrie Baycats 13–4.

Following a several-year hiatus the IBL announced they will be hosting a mid summer classic on July 20, 2024 in Welland. [5]

Teams

Intercounty Baseball League
TeamCityStadiumCapacityFounded2024

Record

Finish
Barrie Baycats Barrie Vintage Throne Stadium at Barrie Community Sports Complex 1,500200127-152nd
Brantford Red Sox Brantford Arnold Anderson Stadium 2,000191111-319th
Chatham-Kent Barnstormers Chatham Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park1.100202420-225th
Guelph Royals Guelph David E. Hastings Stadium at Exhibition Park 1,400191924-184th
Hamilton Cardinals Hamilton CARSTAR Field at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium 3,000195318-246th
Kitchener Panthers Kitchener Jack Couch Baseball Park 1,400191914-288th
London Majors London Labatt Memorial Park 5,200192526-163rd
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Dominico Field at Christie Pits Park 1,000196917-257th
Welland Jackfish Welland Welland Stadium 3,375201832-101st

Source: [6]

Map of teams

Black pog.svg Intercounty Baseball League teams

Past teams

Former Intercounty Baseball League Teams
TeamCityStadiumFoundedFolded/Moved
Burlington Herd Burlington Nelson Park20162018; moved to Welland and renamed Welland Jackfish
Burlington Bandits Burlington Nelson Park20122016; renamed Burlington Herd
Burlington Twins Burlington Nelson Park20112012; renamed Burlington Bandits
Galt/Cambridge Terriers Galt Dickson Park baseball field19191984
Guelph C-Joys Guelph Exhibition Park1964renamed Guelph Royals
Hamilton Cardinals Hamilton Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium 19582005; renamed Hamilton Thunderbirds
Hamilton Thunderbirds Hamilton Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium 20052012; renamed Hamilton Cardinals
Kitchener DutchmenKitchenerJack Couch Stadium, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex1957renamed Kitchener Panthers
Kitchener Legionnaires Kitchener Victoria Park 1957renamed Kitchener Dutchmen
Kraven Knits Stratford National Stadium 19741976; renamed Stratford Hillers
Listowel Legionnaires Listowel John Bell – Listowel Memorial Park19571969
London AvcosLondon Labatt Park 19701974; renamed London El-Morocco Majors
London Chester Pegg Diamonds London Labatt Park 19601963; renamed London Majors
London El-Morocco MajorsLondon Labatt Park 19741975; renamed London Majors
London PontiacsLondon Labatt Park 19641970; renamed London Avcos
Mississauga Twins Mississauga Meadowvale Baseball Complex20092011; moved to Burlington as Burlington Twins
Niagara Falls Mariners Niagara Falls Oakes Park19851989
Oakville Oaks Oakville 19561958
Oshawa Dodgers Oshawa Kinsmen Stadium20022009
Ottawa Fat Cats Ottawa Ottawa Baseball Stadium 20102012
Preston RiversidesPrestonRiverside Park1920
St. Thomas Elgins St. Thomas Emslie Field, Pinafore Park1948 as the Legion until 19531961; re-emerged in 1976 and folded again in 1996
St. Thomas StormSt. ThomasEmslie Field, Pinafore Park2000Moved to Stratford in 2004
Stratford Hillers Stratford National Stadium 1976
Stratford Nationals Stratford National Stadium 20062008; moved to Mississauga as Mississauga Twins
Stratford StormStratford National Stadium 20042006; renamed Stratford Nationals
Strathroy RoyalsStrathroy1938
Waterloo Tigers Waterloo Bechtel Park Ball Stadium20002003
Windsor Chiefs Windsor Mic Mac Park1979; 1969 in the Essex County Senior League1981; left for Detroit Federal League in 1982

Champions

The winning team is awarded the Jack and Lynne Dominico Cup.

Other awards presented include:

Notable players

Player is an inductee of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Notable executives

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References

  1. "An Intercounty Baseball League Primer". Mop-Up Duty. 14 June 2010.
  2. "IBL signs lease for Ottawa Stadium". Ballpark Digest. 18 March 2010.
  3. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/justine-siegal-womens-baseball-league-united-states-1.7400275
  4. "New Era All-Star Classic, Intercounty Baseball League". Ottawa Citizen. 21 August 2010.
  5. "Welland Jackfish to Host 2024 IBL All-Star Showdown - Classic 1220AM CFAJ Radio" . Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  6. "Standings: IBL 2021". theibl.ca. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  7. Boughner, Barry (2021). "London Majors' History 1925–2021". London Majors' Alumni Association. Retrieved November 15, 2021.