Intercounty Baseball League logo |
|
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Country(ies) | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Brantford Red Sox |
| Official website | www.theibl.ca |
The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919.
The level of Intercounty Baseball League play can be categorized as being at the "semi-pro" level.
Three London Majors players were drafted by 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.
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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.
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.
On August 21 and 22, in Ottawa, Ontario, the Ottawa Fat Cats will host the "New Era All-Star Classic" between the IBL All-Stars and the All-Stars from la Ligue de Baseball Senior Élite du Québec (LBSEQ).
| 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 | |
| Burlington Twins | Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Nelson Park | 2011 | |
| Guelph Royals (on hiatus for 2011) | Guelph, Ontario, Canada | David E. Hastings Stadium | 1919 | |
| Hamilton Thunderbirds | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium | 1953 | |
| Kitchener Panthers | Kitchener, Ontario, Canada | Jack Couch Baseball Park | 1919 | |
| London Majors | London, Ontario, Canada | Labatt Park | 1925 | |
| Ottawa Fat Cats | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Ottawa Baseball Stadium | 2010 | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Dominico Field at Christie Pits Park | 1969 | |
| Intercounty Baseball League | |||||
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Folded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galt Terriers – later as Cambridge Terriers | Galt, Ontario | Dickson Park | 1919 | 1984, after winning Intercounty Championship the previous season (1983). | |
| Guelph C-Joys | Guelph, Ontario | Exhibition Park | 1964 | renamed Guelph Royals | |
| Hamilton Cardinals | Hamilton, Ontario | Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium | 1958 | 2005 renamed Hamilton Thunderbirds | |
| Kitchener Legionnaires | Kitchener, Ontario | Victoria Park | 1957 | renamed Kitchener Dutchmen | |
| Kitchener Dutchmen | Kitchener, Ontario | Jack Couch Stadium | 1957 | renamed Kitchener Panthers | |
| Kraven Knits | Stratford, Ontario | National Stadium | 1974 | 1976; renamed Stratford Hillers | |
| Listowel Legionnaires | Listowel, Ontario | John Bell Memorial Park | 1940s? | ||
| 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 | |
| Mississauga Twins | Mississauga, Ontario | Meadowvale Baseball Complex | 2009 | 2011; moved to Burlington and became the Burlington Twins for the 2011 season | |
| Niagara Falls Mariners | Niagara Falls, Ontario | Oakes Park | 1985 | 1992? | |
| Oakville Oaks | Oakville, Ontario | ||||
| Oshawa Dodgers | Oshawa, Ontario | Kinsmen Stadium | 2002 | 2009; operations suspended for 2010 season pending buyer for team | |
| St. Thomas Elgins | St. Thomas, Ontario | Emslie Field | 1948 as the Legion until 1953 | 1961 - re-emerged in 1976 and folded again in 1996 | |
| St. Thomas Storm | St. Thomas, Ontario | Emslie Field | 2000 | Moved to Stratford in 2004 | |
| Stratford Hillers | Stratford, Ontario | National Stadium | 1976 | ||
| Stratford Storm | Stratford, Ontario | National Stadium | 2004 | 2006; renamed Stratford Nationals | |
| Stratford Nationals | Stratford, Ontario | National Stadium | 2006 | 2008; moved to Mississauga and became the Mississauga Twins for the 2009 season | |
| Waterloo Tigers | Waterloo, Ontario | Bechtel Park | 2000 | 2004 | |
| Windsor Chiefs[1] | Windsor, Ontario | Mic Mac Park | 1979; 1969 in the EssexCounty Senior League | 1981; left for Detroit Federal League in 1982 | |
The winning team is awarded the Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophy.
Other awards presented include: