Western Canada Baseball, Intercounty League


		Intercounty League (Ontario)

		The Intercounty League has been a fixture in Southern Ontario since 1919. The 2007 edition comprised teams from Toronto, Barrie, Brantford, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Oshawa, and Stratford. Toronto Maple Leafs captured the 2007 crown August 29th with a 13-5 win over the defending champion Brantford Red Sox in the 7th and deciding game of the final series. Jeremy Walker clubbed a pair of two-run homers to lead the offensive outburst. Joe Colameco, selected as the playoff MVP, added a homer and single. Former Blue Jay Paul Spoljaric pitched into the 7th inning to capture the win. It was the Leafs first title since 2002 and the club's eighth championship since the team joined the league in 1969. Spoljaric (W), Craig (7) and xxx Hogeterp (L), xxx (5) and xxx 1946 Game Reports 1946 Photo Gallery 1946 Snapshots 1946 Stats 1947 Game Reports 1947 Photo Gallery 1947 Snapshots 1947 Stats 1948 Game Reports 1948 Photo Gallery 1948 Snapshots 1948 Stats 1953 Game Reports 1953 Photo Gallery 1953 Snapshots 1953 Stats 1954 Game Reports 1954 Photo Gallery 1954 Snapshots 1954 Stats 1955 Game Reports 1955 Photo Gallery 1955 Snapshots 1955 Stats 1956 Game Reports 1956 Photo Gallery 1956 Snapshots 1956 Stats 1957 Game Reports 1957 Photo Gallery 1957 Snapshots 1957 Stats 1958 Game Reports 1958 Photo Gallery 1958 Snapshots 1958 Stats 1959 Game Reports 1959 Photo Gallery 1959 Snapshots 1959 Stats 1960 Game Reports 1960 Photo Gallery 1960 Snapshots 1960 Stats 1961 Game Reports 1961 Photo Gallery 1961 Snapshots 1961 Stats 1962 Game Reports 1962 Photo Gallery 1962 Snapshots 1962 Stats 1963 Game Reports 1963 Photo Gallery 1963 Snapshots 1963 Stats 1964 Game Reports 1964 Photo Gallery 1964 Snapshots 1964 Stats 1965 Game Reports 1965 Photo Gallery 1965 Snapshots 1965 Stats 1966 Game Reports 1966 Photo Gallery 1966 Snapshots 1966 Stats Links : Intercounty League In 2009, the league welcomed the Mississauga Twins to the fold. Barrie Baycats Brantford Red Sox Guelph Royals Hamilton Thunderbirds Kitchener Panthers London Majors Oshawa Dodgers Mississauga Twins Toronto Maple Leafs MAJOR INTERCOUNTY BASEBALL LEAGUE ALL-TIME STANDINGS (to 2006) Windsor 93 69 24 .742 Oakville 54 39 15 .722 Toronto 1255 823 432 .656 Kitchener 1986 1158 828 .583 Niagara Falls 168 92 76 .548 Barrie 212 114 98 .538 Stratford 1247 668 579 .536 London 1964 1012 952 .515 Brantford 1879 945 934 .503 Guelph 1861 910 951 .489 Oshawa 337 156 181 .463 Listowel 285 134 151 .470 Cambridge 1092 472 620 .432 Waterloo 779 334 445 .429 St. Thomas 1361 535 826 .393 Hamilton 1560 555 1005 .356
		One of the league's most storied franchises is the London Majors. In their most successful season, the Majors captured the North American semi-pro title with a victory over the Fort Wayne (Indiana) General Electrics in a best-of-seven series. Fort Wayne was fresh from winning the National Baseball Congress title in the United States. The team featured such stalwarts as Tommy White (left) who won three games in the series and 15 straight over the season, catcher Jack Fairs and outfielder Joe Bechard. The London franchise has been in the forefront of maintaining the history of the team and its ballpark.
		Thanks to Len Hannam for compiling the following lists of Intercounty players who suited up in Major League Baseball and those from the Negro Leagues. IBL Team Major League Team(s) Jim Bagby P Galt 1938-47 - Boston, Cleveland, Pittsburgh Tim Burgess 1B London 1962 - LA Angels Rich Butler OF Toronto 1997-99 - Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays Rob Butler OF Toronto 1993-99 - Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies Frank Colman 1B London 1942-47 - Pittsburgh, NY Yankees George Copeland P Brantford 1942 - Philadelphia Conny Creeden OF Galt 1943 - Boston Braves Rob Ducey OF Cambridge 1987-2001 - 6 teams Harry Fisher P Brantford 1951-52 - Pittsburgh Pirates Tom Gamboa COACH Stratford Kansas City Mike Gardiner P Stratford 1990-95 - Seattle, Boston, Montreal, Detroit Preston Gomez SS Brantford 1944 - Washington Pete Gray OF Guelph 1945 - St. Louis Browns Fergie Jenkins P London 1965-83 - Philadelphia, Chicago Cubs, Texas & Boston Oscar Judd P Woodstock 1941-48 - Boston Red Sox & Philadelphia Phillies Mike Kilkenny P London 1969-73 - Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland, San Diego Joe Krakauskas P Brantford 1937-46 - Washington Senetors & Cleveland Indians Larry Landreth P Stratford 1976-77 - Montreal Expos Dave Lemanczyk P Guelph 1973-80 - Detroit, Toronto & California Phil Marchildon P Guelph 1940-50 – Philadelphia Denny McLain P London 1963-72 - Detroit, Atlanta, Oakland Scott Medvin P Kitchener 1988-90 – Pittsburgh Jesse Orosco P Cambridge 1979 - 2003 - Mets, LA Dodgers, Cleveland, Milwaukee & Baltimore Peter Orr 2B Toronto 2005 - Atlanta Braves Tommy Padden C Galt 1932-43 - Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia Jim Price C London 1971 – Detroit Ray Rippelmeyer P Oshawa 1962 – Washington Goody Rosen OF Galt 1937-46 - Brooklyn Dodgers, NY Giants Pat Serrey OF Guelph 1943-49 - Cleveland Indians & Chicago White Sox Chris Speier SS Stratford 1971-89 - SF Giants, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago Cubs & Montreal Paul Spoljaric P Toronto 1994-2000 - Toronto, Seattle, Philadelphia, KC Buck Tanner P Brantford Brooklyn Nick Testa C Guelph San Francisco Bob Thurman OF Brantford 1955-59 - Cincinnati Tom Warren P Galt 1944 - Brooklyn Dodgers Bob Whitcher P Brantford 1945 - Boston Braves Jeff Zahn P Stratford 1973-85 - LA Dodgers, Chicago, Minnesota, California Angels Negro League Team(s) Ted Alexander P London Homestead Grays, Kansas City Monarchs Barney Brown P Brantford Philadelphia Stars Luther Clifford P Brantford Wilmer Fields OF Brantford 1939-50 - Homestead Grays Ray Finch P Brantford Ed Finney 2B Brantford Doc Glenn C St. Thomas 1944-50 - Philadelphia Stars Jeep Jessup P Galt 1940-49 - Chicago American Giants Lester Lockett OF Kitchener 30's & 40's - Baltimore Elite Giants Lou Louden C Brantford 1942-50 - New York Cubans Max Manning P Brantford 1938-48 - Newark Eagles Eudie Napier C Brantford Tom Parker P Brantford 1938 - Homestead Grays John Richardson 2B Brantford Ed Steele OF Galt Birmingham Black Barons Bob Thurman OF Brantford 1955-59 - Cincinnati Reds, 1946 - Homestead Grays Jim Wilkes OF Brantford 1945-52 - Newark Eagles, Houston Eagles & Indianapolis Clowns Ed Steele Dick Wright Joe Yosurak Dan Jackson Ed Drapcho
		Among the Negro League stars who suited up in the Intercounty League were Jimmy Wilkes, Barney Brown and Wilmer Fields (left). During his final season (1955) in the loop, he was called Wilmer (The Great) Fields as he won another batting title (with a .425 mark) and led the league in hits, home runs, total bases and runs batted in. He led Oshawa to top spot in regular season play. In 1954, Fields had led the league in batting, .379, hits, doubles and was tied for the lead in homers. In his first Intercounty season, 1951, he led Brantford to the pennant and was named MVP as he led the circuit in hits, home runs, total bases, runs batted in and pitching (9-1).
		(July 21, 1945) London Majors notched their 13th straight victory Saturday night downing Waterloo Tigers 8-2 before 2,500 fans at Labatt Park. Versatile Tim Burgess was brilliant in leading Majors to the win. The young lefty, who patrols left field when not on the hill, fired a three-hitter. (September 16, 1945) The Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League edged the London Majors, champions of the Intercounty Baseball League, 4-2 at London. The winners capitalized on a jittery opening inning by the home team. (May 23, 1951) Waterloo Tigers 4-0 Brantford Red Sox 3-1 London Majors 2-1 Galt Terriers 3-2 Kitchener Legionnaires 2-2 Guelph Maple Leafs 1-4 St. Thomas Legion 0-5 (September 3, 1952) The Sporting News reported on the Inter-County League noting Pat Seerey, the former Cleveland and Chicago White Sox outfielder, had won the homer run title with 11, breaking the record of 10 shared by Wilmer Fields. Seerey hit .253 playing for Guelph. Phil Marchidon, a former major league pitcher, batted .371 and had a 2-4 record for Waterloo. All-Stars :