February 25, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

A lot has been written about Toronto Maple Leafs owner Jack Dominico, who passed away last month.

Intercounty teams will again compete for the Jack and Lynne Dominico Cup.

We have written three pieces on Jack.

For something completely different we thought we’d give the floor to Jack’s ex players ... who better to talk about Dominico?

C Pierre Arsenault three seasons (1985-1986, 1988, 57 games).

“Jack always used to say ‘Pierre, you’re the second best catcher I ever had ... Everybody else is tied for first.’ He was a good man with a big heart.”

OF Rob Butler, former Toronto Blue Jay and World Series winner in 1993 (111 games):

“I was 14-for-15 at one point during the 2002 season and Jack said to me ‘You gotta do better than that Butler or we are not going to win this year.’ That’s just the way Jack was ... even perfect wasn’t good enough. He was amazing to play for and when he spoke like that he always did it with a little smirk. He loved his players and his players loved him.”

1B Bill Byckowski (1985-90, 332 games, 168 games with Toronto.)

“My father always maintained Jack had it figured out on the 50-50 draw. The winner usually seemed to be a father with young kids ... someone Jack had not seen at the park before. He wanted to make sure they came back and that the afternoon was a good experience for the whole family.

“In 1987, Jack didn’t want me to go to the Pan Am Games in Indianapolis and in 1988, he didn’t want me to go to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. We got in -- Tommy Nelson (Windsor, Ont.) and I -- to see the Ben Johnson-Carl Lewis race and it was the most exciting thing I’d ever seen. Then, we went underneath the stands to see Ben come out to be interviewed. I’ve got some fuzzy pictures of Ben some where. People were bumping us, so Tommy got up and took the pictures from my shoulders.

“Jack got me my first job selling cars in Brampton at Colony Mercury. He was in there for his program and then they needed a guy. I was supposed to sell cars, but since I had a degree they put me in leasing. Then Jack got Joe Heeney (Etobicoke, Ont.) a job there too. I, think.”

RHP Marek Deska, former member of the Polish national team (current member of the team 2006-present, 125 games on the mound.)

My favorite Jack story that I’d like to share ... “Jack was always quick

It was to congratulate me on a good game, call me up to let me know that I was pitching well and that I was an important part of the team. But Jack was even quicker to criticize after a poor outing. After a bad game, he would usually call me, the very next day, from a blocked number, to tell me just how lousy I had pitched. It was always the same jokes, ‘We’ll get you a neck brace’ or ‘They’re calling you Downtown Deska,’ or ‘I think that ball landed on Bloor Street.’ At first I was thrown off by that type of criticism, but then I realized that he was just trying to motivate me by having a good laugh. I’ve never had a boring conversation with Jack Dominico and am going to miss getting those phone calls.”

Larry Downes, nine seasons (1981-89, 213 games).

“I’ll never forget the time I was out to dinner with Jack at the Valhalla Inn in Toronto. We had just started our meal and in walked Gordie Howe and his wife Colleen. Jack gobbled down his meal and was chatting them up in no time. He was nice enough to introduce me as ‘one of his ball players.’ That was a big deal meeting Gordie Howe and I’m sure it was a big deal for Gordie meeting Larry Downes!”

OF Dan Gibbons, 10 seasons (2002, 2004-2012, 275 games).

“No joke, when I got drafted in 2002 by the Oakland A’s, Jack tried to get me not to sign and stay with the Leafs. He said I’d have a better chance of making the big leagues playing for the Leafs at Christie Pits and not in the A’s minor league system. Even when he has being dishonest, he was being genuine and funny at the same time. I would call it honest dishonesty.”

3B Mike Grieve (2001-2006

Jack said to his infielder once during the 2002 championship season: “Grieve I’d put you in the hot dog stand but you’d cost me too much money dropping them on the floor.” This was the year Grieve committed one error all season.

Joe Heeney (13 seasons, 11 with Toronto, 249 games).

“At the Pits sometime in the 90s my orbital bone was broken by a topspin one hop liner ... I am taking longer to remember things but luckily I used to write a lot of things down. Played for Jack and Lynn 84 to about late 90s off and on I really cant remember but was on three championships ... managed twice and got fired twice I don’t know how many games i played.

“I first met Jack playing for the Cambridge Terriers as a teen in 1983. We had beaten the Leafs and I happened to hit for the cycle (only time in my life I think). After the the game Tubby my manager asked me to hang around someone wants to meet me. Ok so in walks this short stocky guy with a Leafs hat on ... He says I’m Jack Dominico and I hear you live near me in Etobicoke ... Anyway he says next year you will be playing for the Leafs. So by the end of it I said ‘We will see what happens’ ... He said ‘Kid I make things happen, see you later.”

“Next spring in my sophomore year at Connors State in Oklahoma I didn’t have a phone in my dorm room but Jack was calling the school and my coach leaving messages to call ‘Jack the owner of The Toronto Maple Leafs.’ I told the guys I played a lot of hockey and was drafted by the Marlies. Naturally they thought he owned the hockey team and was trying to get me to come home and play hockey. Finally, I called him back and he says ‘Heeney when I call you better call me back right away.’ I had not even played a game for him yet. Jack used the phone as a weapon as I found out over the course of our love/hate relationship. I could write a book but I do know he had a big heart. Jack and Lynn provided us amateurs kind of a semi pro style team and I’m grateful for that. Plus having met and played with so many great teammates. Although he rubbed most people the wrong way he was good for baseball at the Pits ...R.I.P Jack”

Kevin Hinton, 2013 (758 games in 27 years, including 19 with Toronto.)

“I only played one season for Toronto as a DH and helped Damon (Topolie) with coaching. I was in the league for 25 plus years ... but something I have never really shared with anyone about Jack. In 2000, I was in Guelph. They asked me to be the GM and manager after the team had a dreadful year. I had been a player for a few years and had never coached let alone be the GM as well. I didn’t know much about recruiting players or how to get imports. It was Jack and Lynn that helped me out through many phone calls. Jack was very competitive, and everyone wanted to beat him. At that time, the Leafs were the Yankees of the IBL. Jack knew that with Guelph having success, it was good for the league.

“He was the George Steinbrenner of the IBL, you weren’t just beating the Leafs you were beating Jack. That to me is the ultimate respect.”

Glenn Jackson (347 games, including four seasons and 100 games)

“I was always thankful for my time with Jack. To be a part of his storied organization and history was a true honour. Jack was a kind hearted soul full of positive fire. The will to win but also a man of the people and his players. Always took the time to ask how my family was and share stories about past glory. Two things will always stand out to me with Jack. Calling me at the (Toronto) Blue Jays and talking ball at random which I enjoyed alongside giving me a chance to hang out and talk shop with Fergie Jenkins in the Leaf’s Clubhouse”. Cheers to a great man and a legacy that will live on forever!

LHP-1B Rob Patterson, Former Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer, member of the Leafs 1995-2004 (311 games).

My favorite Jack story that I’d like to share ... “Each year I signed with the Leafs Jack would have to come over to pick up my uniform, cleats and bag. This one year I showed up around 5:30 pm. He comes to the door and tells me come back later. No visitors during dinner time. Say whaaaat?? He wouldn’t budge. I left and came back at 7 pm.”

Marty Roberts, pitched for five seasons, 1993-97 (56 games).

“A couple stories of when I played and one after I was done playing.

“I had quit after a game one Sunday at the Pits. The next day at work I asked the receptionist not to put Jack through if he called. Jack did call a few times that day. I then get a call from my dad later that night. Jack had called him at his work. When My dad answered his phone and the person on the other end said “Roberts what the ‘F’ is wrong with your kid.’ The next day at work the receptionist said I had a call from my uncle Brent. So she put him through to me. I said ‘Hey Uncle Brent what’s up.’ The voice replied ‘Roberts you better be there on Sunday.’ It was Jack. A few other words were said. I still do not know how he knew my uncle’s name. I was at the game Sunday.

“With my work we had a golf tournament at the Royal Woodbine. After I was done the round, we went in for dinner. As I’m walking to my table a voice says ‘Roberts, why are you at my course?’ Of course it was Jack sitting at my table.

“A few years after I was done playing we moved to Barrie. The Leafs were in town. I decided to go watch and see Jack. Jack asked me if I would come help coach. This was after Terry Steeves had passed. I told Jack with work and a young family it would be to hard. Jack then took me up to meet the Baycats owner. He says to him ‘You might want to get Roberts on your team.’ The Baycats owner asks ‘as a pitcher?’ Jack says ‘Hell no, he’s a washed up bum now.’

“I loved my time playing for Jack. At no time would I ever of played for anyone else in the IBL. If Jack took shots at you it meant you were in his good books. The IBL has lost a great man.

“One more time Jack wasn’t very happy with me. I couldn’t stop laughing. He had printed everything for the season. I was in the Power shoe ad. Only issue ... I was wearing Pony shoes.”

Damon Topolie, current GM and manager, 1998-present (773 games, including 94 with Stratford).

“My favorite Jack story was in July 1999 on a sweltering Sunday at the Pits. I had finished catching the game and I felt like I had been in an Easy Bake oven for 3 1/2 hours. Jack came to me and begged me to stay after the game. There was a charity/celebrity, slow-pitch game to be played after we finished our game. Some hockey Leaf alumni and other local celebs were there — Gary Leeman, Lou Franceschetti, etc. Jack says ‘Tops I need a HUGE favor. Can you ump the charity softball game please? I’m begging. I’ll give you $50 bucks and a ride home.’ I had car pooled with my Brampton teammates that day. I’d just finished college and had a ton of student debt so $50 was like a million to me when I had $30,000 in debts. Around the third inning of the charity game I look around and no Jack in sight. I learned after a while to always meet Jack at events as he was famous for taking off without notice. I called it his ‘Famous Houdini move.’ So that $50 cab ride back home to Brampton became a wash and 23 years later I’m still doing favors for Jack.

OF Chris Wright, 1994-2000 (230 games, 95 with Toronto).

“I’ll give you a tame one that comes to mind ... In 1994 or 1995, both St. Thomas and Stratford were still in the league. It’s a Sunday game at the Pits, and I know we have a really full week ahead: Tuesday in St Thomas, Thursday in Stratford, Guelph on Saturday, and the following Sunday back at the Pits. By IBL standards, a busy week with lots of travel. Especially for guys who have 9-to-5 jobs as well

“St. Thomas was a really bad at this point, and the drive there is pretty far ... the trip back to Toronto will get me home around 1-1:30 AM, which on a Tuesday will make the whole week tiring. Basically, I’m trying to get out of going, but with Jack, no easy feat. Every game is ‘vital.’ We win our game Sunday and I have a pretty good game to help the cause. He is happy, so I ask now if I can bail on the game ... I remind him how bad they are, and that the starters come out in the fifth inning anyway if we are killing them ... which we probably would be. Jack actually agrees to let me miss it ... SHOCKINGLY ... I promise I’m at every other game all week.

“I remember this part like it was yesterday. The next day, Monday, I get a call at work ... He asks for Wright, in his typical deep voice. I remember the guy who answered the phone says to me, ‘Dude, Grim reaper on line 2 …” I pick up and say ‘Hey Jack you gotta hold a second, I’m busy.” I was a broker at the time and I got slammed for about 20 minutes ... after that I noticed the line was still flashing, so I pick up, thinking surely he MUST have hung up by now. I say ‘Jack you still there ...?” Jack says “Yup ...”

“Man he was relentless.. he says, ‘I know I said you could miss tomorrow’s game, but I need you there ... I’ve barely got 11 guys. The guys coming from Buffalo won’t be there.’ I don’t want to go, but I’m fairly new to the team so I give in with minimal complaining. I know my week is a write off at this point. So I get to Emslie Field in St Thomas, begrudgingly, and to my surprise, and anger, there are 18 guys there ... 18 friggin’ guys. I’m like ‘Jack, are you kidding me? You said we were lucky to have 10 or 11.’

“‘Wrighter, I’m as surprised as you are,’ which as I found out the next nine years, is something he would never say if he actually meant it . Apparently he phoned five or six other guys and said the same thing to them. That should have been my first clue as to how he works. We won the game, big, and I did play the whole game. I guess he’d figured I’d have less time to think about whining if I wasn’t on the bench. I realized many years later, my mistake was actually playing well on the first Sunday ... if I had gone 0-4 with two strikeouts he would have gladly let the ‘6:00 o’clock hitter from Hamilton, stay home.’ Classic Jack! Nobody was too big for Jack, he treated everyone the same.

“Wherever he is, if there’s a game going on, he’s probably yelling at some Hall of Famer, while selling 50/50 tickets in the stands.

“Rest in Peace Jackie D ...”

Our Danny Gallagher had written about the man who ran his franchise at The Pits for 52 years both here …. and again here. We’ve often been told that the greatest compliment in baseball was to have a field named after you …. and while the Leafs played at Christie Pits, they played on the stone dust of Dominico Field. We’ve written about him here ...

Do you play for the Toronto Maple Leafs at Christie Pits and have a story or memory about Jack? Email away bobelliott@canadianbaseballnetwork.com at this address.