Intercounty Baseball League

The Intercounty Baseball League exists so that baseball players who are not signed by a Major or Minor League organization could have a chance at playing competitive men's baseball. Although the level of Intercounty Baseball League play can be categorized as being at the "Single A" level, players in independent baseball are usually not scouted heavily by Major League teams, although in recent years that has changed somewhat.

For example, three London Majors players were drafted into the 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.

History

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.

In June of 2006, the league unanimously endorsed establishing an IBL Hall of Fame at Labatt Park in London, Ontario, home to the London Majors. This proposal is still unfolding and may take several years to implement.

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.

Current member teams

Past teams

Team	City	Stadium	Founded	Folded
Intercounty Baseball League
Galt Terriers ? later as Cambridge Terriers	Galt, Ontario	Dickson Park	1919	1984, after winning Intercounty Championship the previous season (1983).
St. Thomas Storm	St. Thomas, Ontario	Pinafore Park/Emslie Field	2000	Moved to Stratford in 2004
Waterloo Tigers	Waterloo, Ontario	Bechtel Park	2000	2004
Guelph C-Joys	Guelph, Ontario	Exhibition Park		renamed Guelph Royals
Hamilton Cardinals	Hamilton, Ontario	Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium		2005 renamed Hamilton Thunderbirds
Kitchener Legionnaires	Kitchener, Ontario	Victoria Park	1957	renamed Kitchener Dutchmen
Kitchener Dutchmen	Kitchener, Ontario	Jack Couch Stadium		renamed Kitchener Panthers
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
Kraven Knits	Stratford, Ontario	National Stadium	1974	1976; renamed Stratford Hillers
Stratford Hillers	Stratford, Ontario	National Stadium	1976
Stratford Storm	Stratford, Ontario	National Stadium	2004	2006; renamed Stratford Nationals
Listowel Legionnaires	Listowel, Ontario	John Bell Memorial Park
Oakville	Oakville, Ontario
Niagara Falls	Niagara Falls, Ontario
Windsor	Windsor, Ontario