Stratford Nationals

Last updated
Stratford Nationals
Information
League Intercounty Baseball League
Location Stratford, Ontario
BallparkNational Stadium
Founded 1919
League championships14 (5 Ontario Baseball Association titles)
  • 1934
  • 1938
  • 1939
  • 1940
  • 1946
  • 1974
  • 1976
  • 1977
  • 1980
  • 1986
  • 1987
  • 1989
  • 1991
  • 1992
Former name(s)
  • St. Thomas Storm
  • Stratford Kraven Knits
  • Stratford Hillers
  • Stratford Nationals
ColoursRed, white
  
OwnershipJohn Gillespie
Shawn Gillespie
ManagerMud Grasby
General ManagerShawn Gillespie
Website www.stratfordnationals.com

The Stratford Nationals were a semi-professional baseball team based in Stratford, Ontario, that competed in the Intercounty Baseball League, an independent baseball league.

Contents

Early history

For many years, Stratford was a premier franchise in the Intercounty Baseball League and one of the league's founding members in 1919 (along with Galt, Guelph, and Kitchener). The team operated at various times as the Stratford Nationals, the Stratford Kraven Knits, and Stratford Hillers.

Late history

The team was moved from St. Thomas, Ontario, to Stratford in 2004 after several years of dwindling fan support in St. Thomas. They played their home games at National Stadium.

Prior to its re-location, the team changed its name from the Storm to the Nationals for the 2006 season, in view of the Canadian National Railway's historical importance to Stratford. The Nationals struggled in their final seasons, missing the playoffs regularly.

On November 25, 2008, the team announced that the league had approved the sale of the Stratford Nationals to Elliott Kerr, president of the Landmark Sports Group, and the transfer of the franchise to the City of Mississauga, where it became the Mississauga Twins.

Championships

Intercounty League

The Stratford Nationals also won the Ontario Baseball Association title in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labatt Park</span> Baseball stadium in London, Ontario

Labatt Memorial Park is a baseball stadium near the forks of the Thames River in central London, Ontario, Canada. It is 8.7 acres (35,000 m2) in size, has 5,200 seats and a natural grass field. From home plate to centre field the distance is 402 feet (123 m); from home plate to left and right field down the lines, it is 330 feet (100 m). The park is currently home to the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League and the Western Mustangs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto St. Michael's Majors</span> Canadian junior ice hockey team (1906–2012)

The Toronto St. Michael's Majors were a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The most recent franchise was revived on August 15, 1996. In 2007, the team relocated to Mississauga, Ontario and became the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors until 2012. The hockey program was founded and operated by St. Michael's College School in 1906, and adopted the name "Majors" in 1934, and was commonly referred to as St. Mike's Majors.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Majors</span> Minor league baseball team based in London, Ontario

The London Majors are an independent, minor league baseball team of the Intercounty Baseball League. The team was founded in 1925, and is based in London, Ontario. They play their home games at the 5,200 seat Labatt Memorial Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Cardinals</span> Canadian collegiate baseball team

The Hamilton Cardinals are a Canadian baseball team based in Hamilton, Ontario and a member club of the Intercounty Baseball League. Founded in 1958, the club is the second oldest sports team in the city of Hamilton. Many are former major leaguers and minor professionals, as well as current and former NCAA or U Sports players. Home games are played at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Maple Leafs (International League)</span> Minor league baseball team

The Toronto Maple Leafs were a high-level minor league baseball club located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which played from 1896 to 1967.

In 1970, the Junior A level was divided into two more levels, Tier I and Tier II. In 1974, the "Major Junior A" division of the OHA became the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL) and began to operate independently of the OHA. Finally in 1980, the OMJHL became the Ontario Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississauga Chargers</span> Junior "A" ice hockey team from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

The Mississauga Chargers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. They are the product of a 1990 merger of two former Metro Junior B franchises, the Thornhill Thunderbirds and the Markham Connection. After the 1990 merger the team spent one year in Markham known as the Markham Thunderbirds, and in 1991 they returned to their Thornhill Thunderbirds name for one season. In 1992, the team moved to Mississauga. As a member of the Metro Junior A Hockey League they participated for 3 seasons. They left for the OPJHL in 1995. They have had a glim past few years, but in the 2007–08 season they saw a rare light when team captain Bruce Crawford lead the entire OPJHL in scoring (41-57-98).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niagara Falls Canucks</span> Ice hockey team in Ontario, Canada

The Niagara Falls Canucks are a junior ice hockey team based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Ontario Junior Hockey League which they joined in 2023. For most of the teams history they had played in the Golden Horseshoe division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League until leaving for the OJHL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitchener Panthers</span> Minor-league professional baseball team in Kitchener, Ontario

The Kitchener Panthers are an independent, minor league baseball team of the Intercounty Baseball League based in Kitchener, Ontario. They play their home games at Jack Couch Baseball Park. The Panthers used to play at a ballpark in Victoria park before Jack Couch Park was built to replace the old Victoria Park stadium in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guelph Royals (baseball)</span>

The Guelph Royals are a baseball team based in the downtown area of Guelph, Ontario, and are a member of the Southern Ontario-based Intercounty Baseball League. The club was founded in 1861 as the Guelph Maple Leafs, and after winning the "Canadian Silver Ball Championship" three times between 1869 and 1872, went on to become world semi-professional champions in 1874, and hold brief membership in the International Association for Professional Base Ball Players during the 1877 season, rivalling National League teams.

Arden Eddie is a Canadian former baseball player, team owner and manager who played in the Intercounty Baseball League. He holds several Intercounty records, including most games played (834), most bases on balls (668) and most stolen bases (170). In 2007, Eddie was inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Colman</span> Canadian baseball player (1918-1983)

Frank Lloyd Colman was a Canadian professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees during the 1940s. He batted and threw left-handed, was 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) tall and weighed 188 pounds (85 kg).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Thomson</span> Canadian baseball player, coach, and manager

Robert Lewis Thomson is a Canadian professional baseball manager for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Carroll</span> Canadian ice hockey coach (1885–1952)

Richard Leo Carroll was a Canadian ice hockey coach. He led the Toronto team in the National Hockey League to the Stanley Cup championship in 1918 and the Toronto Canoe Club junior hockey team to the Memorial Cup win in 1920.

Kraven may refer to:

Welland Jackfish

The Welland Jackfish an independent, minor league baseball team based in Welland, Ontario, Canada. The Jackfish are a member of the Intercounty Baseball League, an independent baseball league established in 1919 which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Ridley</span> Canadian baseball player and scout

James Beswick Ridley was a Canadian professional baseball outfielder, coach, and scout. He played two seasons in Minor League Baseball, then had a lengthy career as a scout. He coached the Canada national baseball team at both the Summer Olympic Games and Pan American Games, and was inducted to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 170 pounds (77 kg), he batted and threw right-handed.

References