Baseball Ontario
Encyclopedia
Baseball Ontario, officially known as the Ontario Baseball Association (OBA), is the provincial governing body for baseball
in Ontario. The Ontario Baseball Association was founded under the name “Ontario Baseball Amateur Association” which was organized at a meeting held in Hamilton
at the Central YMCA
on Saturday, May 4, 1918. In 1938, the name was changed to “Ontario Baseball Association”, and in 1982, the organization was incorporated as “Ontario Baseball Association, Inc”. Baseball Ontario currently has its headquarters in Cambridge
, Ontario.
teams. From the 1521 players drafted, forty were Canadian, with fourteen coming from Ontario
. First, the Toronto Blue Jays
selected Newmarket
native Jake Eliopoulos as their second pick and number 68th overall. In total, the Toronto Blue Jays
selected four players from Ontario. Furthermore, in the 41st round the Detroit Tigers
selected Chatham
’s Larry Balkwill, who was named Baseball Ontario’s 2008 Adult Player of the Year.
Listed below are all of the Ontario players selected in the 2009 First Year Player Draft.
, charitable foundation in October 1983, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
has been dedicated to preserving Canada’s rich baseball
heritage. Originally located in Toronto at both Exhibition Place
and then Ontario Place
until 1989, the Hall then moved to its current location in St. Marys
in 1994 and opened in 1998.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum has 90 Inductees (including the 2010 Inductees). They range from players
to administrators to amateurs
to umpires
to trainers and to builders
.
Listed below are the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum Inductees from Ontario
:
On June 4, 1838, a year before Abner Doubleday
was recognized with inventing baseball
in Cooperstown
, New York, two teams from Oxford and Zorra
townships met in Beachville, Ontario
in what is now known as the first documented game in North American history. It was Dr. Adam Ford, a former resident of St. Marys
, Ontario, now home to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
, who later reported details of this game in a letter published in the May 5, 1886 issue of Sporting Life magazine.
While living in Denver
, Colorado, he wrote of his recollections that the match was played on a square field
in a pasture. The game included five bases, fair
and foul
balls, players using a hand hewn stick as a bat
and a ball made of twisted yarn and covered with calf skin. Ford's account was researched by the Beachville District Historical Society and it was concluded that the information in his letter is authentic.
The following are the names of the players on the Beachville and Zorra teams that participated in the historic game:
Treasurer, Life Members, Honourary Members, Past Presidents and one appointed Director from each Affiliated Association who is appointed by his or her own Affiliated Association. Each member is responsible, through a series of meetings, for making various decisions that affect the OBA, including but not limited to organizing league tournaments, coaches, sponsorships, and management of funds. The Board of Director meeting minutes for both current and past meetings can be found at Baseball Ontario's official website. The following table lists the current members of the OBA's Board of Management.
The following list names the OBA's current Affiliated Associations.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in Ontario. The Ontario Baseball Association was founded under the name “Ontario Baseball Amateur Association” which was organized at a meeting held in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
at the Central YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
on Saturday, May 4, 1918. In 1938, the name was changed to “Ontario Baseball Association”, and in 1982, the organization was incorporated as “Ontario Baseball Association, Inc”. Baseball Ontario currently has its headquarters in Cambridge
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
, Ontario.
Objectives
In order of priority, the objectives of the OBA as clearly stated in the Constitution & By-Laws of Baseball Ontario are:- a) To foster and improve baseball at all levels in the Province of Ontario.
- b) To protect and promote the mutual interests of the members.
- c) To institute and regulate competition for the Ontario championships.
- d) To institute and regulate competition for determining the Ontario representative(s) in the national or Canadian play-offs.
Age and category
To be eligible to play in a particular category, a player must fall within the age group indicated next to the category listed in the table below. It is possible for a younger player to play with an older age category, such as a Mosquito-aged player with a Peewee-aged team; however, the player will be considered as a player of the older series and cannot be called up to the younger series team.| Category | Age Group |
|---|---|
| T-Ball | 8 and under |
| Junior Rookie Ball | 8 and under |
| Senior Rookie Ball | 9 and under |
| Minor Mosquito | 10 and under |
| Mosquito | 11 and under |
| Minor Peewee | 12 and under |
| Peewee Girls | 13 and under |
| Peewee | 13 and under |
| Minor Bantam | 14 and under |
| Bantam | 15 and under |
| Bantam Girls | 16 and under |
| Minor Midget | 16 and under |
| Midget | 18 and under |
| Junior | 21 and under |
| Women’s | Unlimited |
Baseball Ontario Rules
The links below provide summaries and approved interpretations of the following Baseball Ontario rules.Special Playing Rules
- Bat Rules
- Extra Player
- Trips to the Mound
- Coaches and Managers
- Re-Entry Rule
- Contact Rule
- Designated Hitter
- Uniforms and Equipment
- Catch and Carry
- Prohibition on the use of Tobacco Products, Alcohol and Drugs
- Substitutions
- Pitching Rules
- Malicious Contact
- Base Running Rules
- Fielding Rules
Specific Playing Rules
General Rules
Please note that as a result of the Board of Directors meetings held April 15, and May 27, 2007 the following clarifications are being provided to the membership:- Glasses/Sunglasses are not prohibited, and therefore may be worn by any player, including the pitcher.
- Lightning: Please remember, the baseball season is a prime time for thunder storms, so be aware of lightning and remember the 30–30 Rule.
- 30–30 Rule: Determine the threat of lightning in your area.
- 30 Seconds: Count the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. If this time is less than 30 seconds, lightning is still a potential threat. Seek shelter immediately.
- 30 minutes: After the last lightning flash, wait 30 minutes before leaving shelter. Half of all lightning deaths occur after the storm passes. Stay in a safe area until you are sure the threat has passed.
- Baseball Ontario recognizes NOCSAE as their standard for Baseball Helmets. NOCSAE states that possible problems can be created from the painting and/or placing of stickers on helmets. Therefore, Baseball Ontario recommends that no modifications to a helmet be made, other than what is done by the manufacturer or is completed at the explicit directions of the manufacturer.
Baseball Ontario Umpires Committee
The Baseball Ontario Umpires Committee is one of the hardest working committees in the OBA, working year-round to improve umpiring across the province. They are always available to answer any questions or comments about the Ontario Baseball Association’s umpiring program. The following individuals currently form the Baseball Ontario Umpires Committee.- Ed QUINLAN, Supervisor of Umpires
- Ray MERKLEY
- Lisa TURBITT
- Chris WILHELM
- Rob STEVENSON
Umpire Certification
The following chart describes the OBA’s umpire certification program, and how one would go about becoming an umpire. First, one must be certified as a Level 1 umpire. At this level, no previous experience is necessary, and to meet the requirements one must simply attend a Level 1 clinic. The chart also demonstrates final examination requirements; the levels of baseball that a Level 1 umpire is certified to umpire; and, the requirements necessary to maintain certification. The evaluation column refers to required live evaluations from highly trained umpires during an actual game.| Level | Experience | Requirements | Examination | Application | Evaluation | Maintaining Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | Attend a level 1 clinic | None | All levels of House League and up to and including Peewee Rep | None | Attend clinic yearly |
| 2 | Have a Level 1 for a min. of 2 years | Attend a level 2 clinic | Obtain 60% or more (yearly) | Provincial level baseball up to and including Midget | None | Attend clinic yearly |
| 3 | Have a level 2 for a min. of 3 years | Submit a level 3 exam yearly and attend a level 3 clinic every three years | Obtain 76% or more (yearly) | All levels of provincial baseball | 1 base and 1 plate evaluation recommended | Submit an exam and registration fee yearly. Attend a clinic every three years |
| 4 | Have a level 3 for a min. of 1 year | Attend a level 4 clinic by invitation (need to be evaluated first) | Obtain 86% or more | All levels of baseball in Canada | Obtain 86% on 1 base and 1 plate evaluation | Attend clinic yearly and complete base and plate evaluation yearly |
| 5 | Have a level 4 for a min. of 1 year | Attend a Level 4 clinic by invitation | Obtain 86% or more | All levels of international baseball | Obtain 86% on 1 base and 1 plate evaluation | Attend clinic yearly and complete base and plate evaluation yearly |
MLB's First Year Player Draft (2009) – Ontario Players
By the end of the First Year Player Draft in 2009, 1521 players were drafted by the 30 Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams. From the 1521 players drafted, forty were Canadian, with fourteen coming from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. First, the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
selected Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
native Jake Eliopoulos as their second pick and number 68th overall. In total, the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
selected four players from Ontario. Furthermore, in the 41st round the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
selected Chatham
Chatham, Ontario
Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...
’s Larry Balkwill, who was named Baseball Ontario’s 2008 Adult Player of the Year.
Listed below are all of the Ontario players selected in the 2009 First Year Player Draft.
| Team Pick | Overall | MLB Team | Position | Name | Home Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | (68th) | Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... |
LHP Pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... |
Jake ELIOPOULOS | Newmarket Newmarket, Ontario Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9... |
| 12th | (359th) | Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890.... |
OF Outfielder Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder... |
Josh GARTON | Guelph Guelph, Ontario Guelph is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Waterloo and west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but is politically independent of it... |
| 15th | (445th) | Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions... |
C Catcher Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to... |
Peter BAKO | Mississauga Mississauga, Ontario Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades... |
| 15th | (457th) | Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... |
3B Third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run... |
Jeff HUNT | Cambridge Cambridge, Ontario Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of... |
| 19th | (569th) | Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890.... |
LHP Pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... |
Mitch CLARKE | Kitchener Kitchener, Ontario The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census... |
| 20th | (604th) | Texas Rangers Texas Rangers (baseball) The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have... |
RHP Pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... |
Jerome WERNIUK | Toronto |
| 29th | (886th) | Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
OF Outfielder Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder... |
Chandler McLAREN | Guelph Guelph, Ontario Guelph is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Waterloo and west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but is politically independent of it... |
| 30th | (903rd) | Oakland A’s | OF Outfielder Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder... |
Royce CONSIGLI | Welland Welland, Ontario Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,... |
| 41st | (1230th) | Detroit Tigers Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant... |
C Catcher Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to... |
Larry BALKWILL | Chatham Chatham, Ontario Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on... |
| 42nd | (1270th) | Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... |
C Catcher Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to... |
Mike REEVES | Peterborough Peterborough, Ontario Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks... |
| 43rd | (1300th) | Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... |
INF Infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles... |
Maxx TISSENBAUM | Toronto |
| 45th | (1345th) | Seattle Mariners Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... |
2B Second baseman Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base... |
Kevin MAILLOUX | Tecumseh Tecumseh, Ontario Tecumseh is a town on Lake St. Clair east of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It has a population of just over 24,000.Tecumseh enjoys long summers and mild winters... |
| 48th | (1434th) | San Diego Padres San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times... |
OF Outfielder Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder... |
Andrew RUCK | Pickering Pickering, Ontario Pickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :... |
| 48th | (1450th) | Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League .... |
RHP Pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... |
Jeffrey GIBBS | Toronto |
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees from Ontario
Since its inception as a non-profitNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, charitable foundation in October 1983, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
has been dedicated to preserving Canada’s rich baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
heritage. Originally located in Toronto at both Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place is a mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197–acre area includes expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial,...
and then Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
until 1989, the Hall then moved to its current location in St. Marys
St. Marys, Ontario
St. Marys is a town in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Thames River southwest of Stratford in Perth County, and surrounded by the Township of Perth South. The town is also known by its nickname, "The Stone Town", due to the abundance of limestone in the surrounding area, giving...
in 1994 and opened in 1998.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum has 90 Inductees (including the 2010 Inductees). They range from players
Player (game)
A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
to administrators to amateurs
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
to umpires
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
to trainers and to builders
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
.
Listed below are the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum Inductees from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
:
| Year | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Philip Joseph “Fidgety Phil” “Babe” Phil Marchildon Philip Joseph "Babe" Marchildon was a Canadian Major League Baseball pitcher.Born in Penetanguishene, Ontario, Marchildon pitched 1,214 innings with a record of 68 wins and 75 losses and a career ERA of 3.93 for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox from 1940 to 1942 and from 1945 to... MARCHILDON |
|
| 1983 | James Edward "Tip" “The Woodstock Wonder” O'NEILL | |
| 1983 | George Alexander “Twinkletoes” George Selkirk George Alexander Selkirk was a Canadian outfielder and front office executive in Major League Baseball. In 1935, Selkirk succeeded the legendary Babe Ruth as the right fielder of the New York Yankees... SELKIRK |
|
| 1984 | John Gladstone “Jack” Jack Graney John Gladstone Graney was a Canadian left fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians . He was born in St. Thomas, Ontario.100px|thumb|left|... GRANEY |
|
| 1984 | Goodwin George "Goody" “The Toronto Tidbit” Goodwin Rosen Goodwin George "Goody" Rosen was a Canadian center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1937 through 1946, Rosen played outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants... ROSEN |
|
| 1985 | Richard John “Dick” Dick Fowler Richard John Fowler was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics . Fowler batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.... FOWLER |
|
| 1985 | John Frederick John Hiller John Frederick Hiller is a former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. After suffering a heart attack in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000... HILLER |
|
| 1985 | Ronald Wesley “Ron” Ron Taylor (baseball) Ronald Wesley Taylor is a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of 11 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Diego Padres. Taylor was a member of two World Series-winning teams: the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals and the... TAYLOR |
|
| 1986 | Robert Daniel Bob Emslie Robert Daniel Emslie was a Canadian pitcher in Major League Baseball who went on to set numerous records for longevity as an umpire... EMSLIE |
|
| 1986 | Thomas William Oscar “Ossie” “Lefty” Oscar Judd Thomas William Oscar Judd was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies . A native of London, Ontario, Canada, the left-hander stood 6'0" and weighed 180 lbs.Judd was primarily used as a starting pitcher during his eight-season career... JUDD |
|
| 1987 | George C. “Mooney” GIBSON | |
| 1987 | Ferguson Arthur “Fergie” “Fly” Ferguson Jenkins Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a Canadian former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1971 NL Cy Young Award winner. In 1991, Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 19-year career, he pitched for four different teams,... JENKINS |
|
| 1988 | Reno Peter Reno Bertoia Reno Peter Bertoia was an Italian-Canadian professional baseball player, playing infield for the Detroit Tigers , Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Athletics .... BERTOIA |
|
| 1988 | John Geoffrey “Jeff” Jeff Heath John Geoffrey Heath was a Canadian left fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Cleveland Indians. He was one of the American League's most promising power hitters of the late 1930s and early 1940s, twice leading the AL in triples, and batting at least .340 with over... HEATH |
|
| 1989 | Arthur Albert “Foxy” “Doc” “Sandy” Arthur Irwin Arthur Albert Irwin , nicknamed Doc or Sandy, was a Canadian-American shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball during the late nineteenth century... IRWIN |
|
| 1991 | James Bernard “Jimmy” Jimmy Williams (coach) James Bernard Williams is a Canadian former outfielder, coach and manager in minor league baseball and coach in Major League Baseball. Williams threw and batted right-handed, stood 5'10" tall and weighed 180 pounds... WILLIAMS |
|
| 1992 | Thomas Roland “Tim” Tom Burgess (baseball) Thomas Roland Burgess was a Canadian baseball player, coach and manager. An outfielder and first baseman, Burgess had two trials in Major League Baseball — a 17-game stint with the St. Louis Cardinals and a full season with the Los Angeles Angels... BURGESS |
|
| 1996 | Jay Justin "Nig" Nig Clarke Jay Justin "Nig" Clarke was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball. He is best known for, in 1902 playing for Texas League's Corsicana Oil Citys, going 8 for 8 with 8 home runs... CLARKE |
|
| 1996 | James Francis “Frank” “Blackie” Frank O'Rourke (baseball) James Francis O'Rourke was a Canadian infielder in Major League Baseball. He played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the Boston Braves , Brooklyn Robins , Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and St... O’ROURKE |
|
| 1998 | George "Knotty" LEE | |
| 1998 | Sylvan "Ron" RONCETTI | |
| 1999 | Frank Lloyd Frank Colman Frank Lloyd Colman , was a Major League Baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees.... COLMAN |
|
| 1999 | George SLEEMAN | |
| 2002 | William Henry “Bill” Bill Slack William Henry Slack is a retired Canadian baseball pitcher, manager and coach, and a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Although he never played Major League Baseball, Slack spent 50 years at the minor league level, and was a longtime member of the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves... SLACK |
|
| 2003 | Kirk Edward Kirk McCaskill Kirk Edward McCaskill is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher and a retired professional hockey player.... McCASKILL |
|
| 2006 | Ronald Duncan ”Ron” STEAD | |
| 2009 | Roy Oscar “Doc” Doc Miller Roy Oscar "Doc" Miller was a Major League Baseball outfielder from -. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies. His interment was located in North Bergen's Garden State Crematory.-External links:... MILLER |
|
| 2009 | Bernie SOULLIERE | |
| 2010 | Paul “Q” Paul Quantrill Paul John Quantrill is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He earned a reputation for being very durable and having impeccable control. He regularly appeared in 80 or more games a season and did not walk more than 25 batters in a season since... QUANTRILL |
|
First Recorded Baseball Game
| 1838 | Beachville & Zorra Amateur Teams – First Recorded Baseball Game |
| 1988 | Induction year into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame |
On June 4, 1838, a year before Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. He fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, the opening battle of the war, and had a pivotal role in the early fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg. Gettysburg was his finest hour, but his...
was recognized with inventing baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in Cooperstown
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, New York, two teams from Oxford and Zorra
Zorra, Ontario
Zorra is a township in Oxford County, situated in south-western Ontario, Canada. A predominantly rural municipality, Zorra was formed in 1975 through the amalgamation of East Nissouri, West Zorra and North Oxford townships.-Government:...
townships met in Beachville, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in what is now known as the first documented game in North American history. It was Dr. Adam Ford, a former resident of St. Marys
St. Marys, Ontario
St. Marys is a town in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Thames River southwest of Stratford in Perth County, and surrounded by the Township of Perth South. The town is also known by its nickname, "The Stone Town", due to the abundance of limestone in the surrounding area, giving...
, Ontario, now home to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
, who later reported details of this game in a letter published in the May 5, 1886 issue of Sporting Life magazine.
While living in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Colorado, he wrote of his recollections that the match was played on a square field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
in a pasture. The game included five bases, fair
Fair ball
In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that entitles the batter to attempt to reach first base. In order for a batted ball to be fair, it must be hit in such a way that it:...
and foul
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
balls, players using a hand hewn stick as a bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
and a ball made of twisted yarn and covered with calf skin. Ford's account was researched by the Beachville District Historical Society and it was concluded that the information in his letter is authentic.
The following are the names of the players on the Beachville and Zorra teams that participated in the historic game:
| George BURDICK | Harry KARN |
| Almon BURCH | Peter KARN |
| Gordon COOK | Reuben MARTIN |
| Henry CRUTTENDON | Edward McNAMES |
| William DODGE | Nathaniel McNAMES |
| Old Ned DOLSON | Neil McTAGGART |
| William FORD | James PIPER |
| William HARRINGTON | Henry TAYLOR |
| William HUTCHINSON | I. Van ALSTINE |
| Adam KARN | Abel WILLIAMS |
| Daniel KARN | John WILLIAMS |
Board of Management
The members of the Ontario Baseball Association Board of Directors includes the President, first Vice President, second Vice President, the Immediate Past President, six elected Directors, theTreasurer, Life Members, Honourary Members, Past Presidents and one appointed Director from each Affiliated Association who is appointed by his or her own Affiliated Association. Each member is responsible, through a series of meetings, for making various decisions that affect the OBA, including but not limited to organizing league tournaments, coaches, sponsorships, and management of funds. The Board of Director meeting minutes for both current and past meetings can be found at Baseball Ontario's official website. The following table lists the current members of the OBA's Board of Management.
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Mark ORTON | President |
| David HUCTWITH | First Vice President |
| Dirk DRIEBERG | Second Vice President |
| Don McKNIGHT | Immediate Past President |
| Jeffrey ALBAUM | Elected Board |
| Allan EBERT | Elected Board |
| Bob HUMPHRIES | Elected Board |
| Tony JASINSKI | Elected Board |
| Stan PAGONIS | Elected Board |
| Bobbi REIVE | Elected Board |
| Howie BIRNIE | OBA Registrar |
| Ed QUINLAN | Treasurer / Supervisor of Umpires |
| John MILTON | Director of Coach & Player Development |
Life Members
Life Members are recommended by the OBA Board of Directors once the individual has continuously served the OBA for fifteen years or more and if the OBA Board of Directors want to reward the active service of the individual with an official status. Only previous Honourary Members are eligible to be appointed Life Members. The maximum number of Life Members that can serve at any one time is three; however, Life Members appointed prior to 1972 will maintain their status during their lifetime. When necessary, Life Members may be called upon to rule on matters not covered in the OBA Constitution and By-Laws and their decisions on these matters are final. The following individuals currently hold the Ontario Baseball Association's Life Members' positions.- Jim LUTTON
- Keith WEESE
- Ron PEGG
Honourary Members
Honourary Members are given their title by the OBA Board of Directors for their endless commitment and commendable service to the Ontario Baseball Association. Honourary Members have the right of delegates at all Annual and Special Meetings of the OBA, including the right to vote. The following is a list of the current Ontario Baseball Association's Honourary Members.- Lee NANTAIS
- Vi CHRISTOPHER
- Dennis RYAN
- Bernie SOULLIERE
- Howie BIRNIE
- Linda LEWIS
Previous Presidents
As an experienced member, Immediate Past Presidents may be assigned other duties by the active President, such as offering advice and guidance to all members of the Board of Management. The Immediate Past Presidents of the OBA, who currently hold the right to vote, are the following two members:- Gerry MacLEAN
- Peter TOPOLIE
Active Past Presidents
Like Honourary Members, Past Presidents have the right to vote at all Annual Meetings and Special Meetings of the OBA. With Life Members, Past Presidents can be called upon to make final decisions on matters that are not addressed in the Ontario Baseball Association Constitution and By-Laws. The following two members are the OBA's Active Past Presidents.- Jim LUTTON
- Randy PICKLE
Affiliate Representatives
The following table lists the head representatives from each affiliate association within the Ontario Baseball Association.| Name | Affiliate |
|---|---|
| Mike LEBEL | Algoma Baseball Association |
| Bill ARBUTHNOTT | Central Ontario Baseball Association |
| Steve MOORE | Eastern Ontario Baseball Association |
| Glenn OSTROSSER | Hamilton District Baseball Association |
| Greg COUGHLIN | Inter County Baseball Association |
| Dan HAUGH | London District Baseball Association |
| Mike LUMLEY | North Central Baseball Association |
| Al DOBBIN | Niagara District Baseball Association |
| Ted WILLIAMS | Select Ontario Baseball Association |
| Ric DUWYN | Southern Counties Baseball Association |
| Paul AMES | Sun Parlour Baseball Association |
| Rock RICE | Timmins Area Baseball Association |
| Dave BLACK | Toronto Baseball Association |
| Reg GALBRAITH | Thunder Bay Baseball Association |
| John VASEY | Western Counties Baseball Association |
| Ron BERLETT | Western Ontario Baseball Association |
| Cathy LAMARUCCIOLA | York-Simcoe Baseball Association |
Series Chairs – 2010
Series Chairs act as the liaison between their identified league and/or title and the OBA Board of Management. Series Chairs are responsible for reviewing the proposed team(s) classifications submitted by the Affiliated Associations to ensure all the information is complete and correct. The Series Chairs must also make certain that each team is properly classified based on the performance of the team, the quality of its competition, and the size of the community. The Series Chairs are responsible for making final recommendations with regards to team classifications. The following table lists the OBA's Series Chairs and their respective positions.| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Dirk DRIEBERG | Competition Committee Chair |
| Allan EBERT | Technical Committee Chair |
| Dirk DRIEBERG | Tournament Chair |
| Dirk DRIEBERG | Overall Series Chair |
| Don McKNIGHT | Senior Chair |
| Howie BIRNIE | Junior Chair |
| Allan EBERT | Midget Chair |
| Jeffrey ALBAUM | Bantam Chair |
| Bobbi REIVE | Peewee Chair |
| Tony JASINSKI | Mosquito Chair |
| Bob HUMPHRIES | Rookie Ball Chair |
| Jeffrey ALBAUM | Girl’s/Women’s Chair |
Affiliate Secretaries / Registrars – 2010
Affiliate secretaries and/or registrars deal with general inquiries, concerns, and registrations for their respective OBA-affiliated inner leagues. The following table lists the current OBA secretaries and/or registrars and their respective affiliate association.| Affiliate | Position | Name |
|---|---|---|
| ABA | Registrar | Chris ELLIOTT |
| COBA | Secretary | Debbie JAMES |
| COBA | Registrar | Andrew WYELD |
| EOBA | Secretary | Carol STEELE |
| EOBA | Registrar | Sheryl PRYCE |
| HDBA | Secretary | Tony BLAINEY |
| HDBA | Registrar | Larry WOOD |
| ICBA | Secretary / Registrar | Rick DOWNTON |
| LDBA | Secretary / Registrar | Diane WAKEFIELD |
| NCBA | Secretary / Registrar | Mike LUMLEY |
| NCSBA | Secretary | Rick BEER |
| NCSBA | Registrar | Andrew McLENNAN |
| SCBA | Secretary | Tracey WALKER |
| SCBA | Registrar | David GLAVES |
| SPBA | Secretary | Bobbi REIVE |
| SPBA | Registrar | Tim MOTRUK |
| TBA Midget-Senior | Secretary / Registrar | Howie BIRNIE |
| TBA Rookie-Bantam | Registrar | Bob WHITAKER |
| TBBA | Secretary | Vicki GALBRAITH |
| WCBA | Secretary / Registrar | Linda LEWIS |
| WOBA | Secretary | Ron BERLETT |
| WOBA | Registrar | Cathy BERLETT |
| YSBA | Secretary / Registrar | Jeffrey ALBAUM |
Baseball Ontario Office Staff – 2010
Both the Administrative Director and the Administrative Co-ordinator are responsible for the daily operations of the Baseball Ontario office in Cambridge, Ontario. Their duties include processing applications and fees from Affiliated Associations as well as expense claims from the Board of Management. They are also responsible for disseminating information to all Board Members, Series Chairs, and Affiliated Associations of the Ontario Baseball Association.| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Mary-Ann SMITH | Administrative Director |
| Cindy ROSSIGNOLI | Administrative Co-ordinator |
Baseball Ontario Associations
Affiliated Associations interested in joining the Ontario Baseball Association must send a completed membership application, a list of its officers, and a copy of its constitution and by-laws, to the OBA Office for approval. Once approved, Affiliated Associations are responsible for submitting classifications of the team(s) within their jurisdiction to the OBA Office. With every new membership approval, territorial boundaries for each and every association are re-assessed and determined by the OBA Board of Directors.The following list names the OBA's current Affiliated Associations.
| Algoma Baseball Association (ABA) | North Central Baseball Association (NCBA) |
| Central Ontario Baseball Association (COBA) | Select Ontario Baseball Association (SOBA) |
| Eastern Ontario Baseball Association (EOBA) | Southern Counties Baseball Association (SCBA) |
| Hamilton District Baseball Association (HDBA) | Sun Parlour Baseball Association (SPBA) |
| Inter County Baseball Association (ICBA) | Thunder Bay Baseball Association (TBBA) |
| London District Baseball Association (LDBA) | Timmins Area Baseball Association (TABA) |
| National Capital Amateur Baseball Association (NCABA) | Toronto Baseball Association (TBA) |
| National Capital Senior Baseball Association (NCSBA) | Western Counties Baseball Association (WCBA) |
| Niagara District Baseball Association (NDBA) | Western Ontario Baseball Association (WOBA) |
| North Bay Baseball Association (NBBA) | York-Simcoe Baseball Association (YSBA) |
See Also
- Intercounty Baseball LeagueIntercounty Baseball LeagueThe Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919....
- Jack Graney AwardJack Graney AwardThe Jack Graney Award is an award presented by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum to a member of the Canadian media for their contributions to the game of baseball in Canada...
- List of Intercounty Baseball League Champions
Provincial, National, and International Baseball Links
- Baseball Canada
- Baseball Ontario
- Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
- Intercounty Baseball League
- Major League Baseball
- Toronto Blue Jays
Women's Baseball Links
Other Baseball Links
- Baseball-Reference.com – Baseball Statistics and History
- Canadian Baseball Network
- Nationalpastime.com – Today in Baseball History