 | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 |
| Commissioner | Ted Kalnins |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Welland Jackfish (1st 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.
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 Welland Jackfish, who defeated the Barrie Baycats 4-2 in the 2023 Dominico Cup Final.
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 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).[3]
Barrie hosted the league's All-Star Game on July 11, 2015, with the IBL All-Stars defeating Barrie Baycats 13–4.
| Intercounty Baseball League | ||||||
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | 2023 Record | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrie Baycats | Barrie | Vintage Throne StadiumatBarrie Community Sports Complex | 1,500 | 2001 | 26-16 | 3rd |
| Brantford Red Sox | Brantford | Arnold Anderson Stadium | 2,000 | 1911 | 8-34 | 8th |
| Chatham-Kent Barnstormers | Chatham | Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park | 1.100 | 2024 | N/A | N/A |
| Guelph Royals | Guelph | David E. Hastings Stadium at Exhibition Park | 1,400 | 1919 | 19-23 | 5th |
| Hamilton Cardinals | Hamilton | CARSTAR Field at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium | 3,000 | 1953 | 19-23 | 6th |
| Kitchener Panthers | Kitchener | Jack Couch Baseball Park | 1,400 | 1919 | 26-15* | 2nd |
| London Majors | London | Labatt Memorial Park | 5,200 | 1925 | 17-25 | 7th |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto | Dominico FieldatChristie Pits Park | 1,000 | 1969 | 21-20* | 4th |
| Welland Jackfish | Welland | Welland Stadium | 3,375 | 2018 | 31-11 | 1st |
* a game between Toronto and Kitchener on August 15, was rained out and not made up due to the game not having any effects on the standings
Source:[4]
Intercounty Baseball League teams
| Former Intercounty Baseball League Teams | |||||
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Folded/Moved | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Herd | Burlington | Nelson Park | 2016 | 2018; moved to Welland and renamed Welland Jackfish | |
| Burlington Bandits | Burlington | Nelson Park | 2012 | 2016; renamed Burlington Herd | |
| Burlington Twins | Burlington | Nelson Park | 2011 | 2012; renamed Burlington Bandits | |
| Galt/Cambridge Terriers | Galt | Dickson Park baseball field | 1919 | 1984 | |
| Guelph C-Joys | Guelph | Exhibition Park | 1964 | renamed Guelph Royals | |
| Hamilton Cardinals | Hamilton | Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium | 1958 | 2005; renamed Hamilton Thunderbirds | |
| Hamilton Thunderbirds | Hamilton | Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium | 2005 | 2012; renamed Hamilton Cardinals | |
| Kitchener Dutchmen | Kitchener | Jack Couch Stadium, Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex | 1957 | renamed Kitchener Panthers | |
| Kitchener Legionnaires | Kitchener | Victoria Park | 1957 | renamed Kitchener Dutchmen | |
| Kraven Knits | Stratford | National Stadium | 1974 | 1976; renamed Stratford Hillers | |
| Listowel Legionnaires | Listowel | John Bell – Listowel Memorial Park | 1957 | 1969 | |
| London Avcos | London | Labatt Park | 1970 | 1974; renamed London El-Morocco Majors | |
| London Chester Pegg Diamonds | London | Labatt Park | 1960 | 1963; renamed London Majors | |
| London El-Morocco Majors | London | Labatt Park | 1974 | 1975; renamed London Majors | |
| London Pontiacs | London | Labatt Park | 1964 | 1970; renamed London Avcos | |
| Mississauga Twins | Mississauga | Meadowvale Baseball Complex | 2009 | 2011; moved to Burlington as Burlington Twins | |
| Niagara Falls Mariners | Niagara Falls | Oakes Park | 1985 | 1989 | |
| Oakville Oaks | Oakville | 1956 | 1958 | ||
| Oshawa Dodgers | Oshawa | Kinsmen Stadium | 2002 | 2009 | |
| Ottawa Fat Cats | Ottawa | Ottawa Baseball Stadium | 2010 | 2012 | |
| Preston Riversides | Preston | Riverside Park | 1920 | ||
| St. Thomas Elgins | St. Thomas | Emslie Field, Pinafore Park | 1948 as the Legion until 1953 | 1961; re-emerged in 1976 and folded again in 1996 | |
| St. Thomas Storm | St. Thomas | Emslie Field, Pinafore Park | 2000 | Moved to Stratford in 2004 | |
| Stratford Hillers | Stratford | National Stadium | 1976 | ||
| Stratford Nationals | Stratford | National Stadium | 2006 | 2008; moved to Mississauga as Mississauga Twins | |
| Stratford Storm | Stratford | National Stadium | 2004 | 2006; renamed Stratford Nationals | |
| Strathroy Royals | Strathroy | 1938 |
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| Waterloo Tigers | Waterloo | Bechtel Park Ball Stadium | 2000 | 2003 | |
| Windsor Chiefs | Windsor | Mic Mac Park | 1979; 1969 in the Essex County Senior League | 1981; left for Detroit Federal League in 1982 | |
The winning team is awarded the Jack and Lynne Dominico Cup.
Other awards presented include:
 |
† Player is an inductee of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
