Gallagher: IBL gearing up for expansion in 2024

Photo: Intercounty Baseball League

November 14, 2022

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

In the midst of searching for a new commissioner, the Intercounty Baseball League is looking at expansion in 2024.

The league has not expanded for more than a decade. In fact, it's been 12 years since the now-defunct Ottawa Fat Cats were admitted.

I've been told officials involved with the Ontario-based adult league would like to expand to 10 teams with two divisions of five teams each: a Western Division and an Eastern Division.

The defending champion London Majors, Welland Jackfish, Toronto Maple Leafs, Barrie Baycats, Guelph Royals, Hamilton Cardinals, Brantford Red Sox and Kitchener Panthers comprise the current roster of clubs in the league.

"Chatham's application has been approved by the board and the league,'' outgoing commissioner John Kastner said in an interview Nov. 14.

What is needed now is for the Chatham ownership group to finalize a number of agreements with the City of Chatham, a procedure that is delayed because of capital projects and a change in city council. Chatham is projected to be ready to play in 2024.

Chatham is likely to finalize agreements with the city in December. Ideally, Chatham would join London, Welland, Kitchener and Brantford in the Western Division, while an unnamed 10th franchise would likely partner with Toronto, Hamilton, Barrie and Guelph in the Eastern Division.

I've always thought there should be a team in Richmond Hill or Thornhill or somewhere north of Toronto to create a rivalry with the Maple Leafs. Is Stratford interested in getting back into the league?

Then there's Durham Region east of Toronto. The Oshawa Dodgers folded following the 2009 season, leaving Durham Region without a team in the league, and that paved the way for Ottawa to start playing in 2010 but the Fat Cats ceased operations following the 2012 season.

The Dodgers folded due to lack of fan support at Kinsmen Memorial Stadium, insufficient number of volunteers and the high cost of operating a franchise.

Ideally, it would be great if an expansion team would play out of the Ajax Sportsplex on Audley Road west of Oshawa. That terrific facility played host to baseball games during the 2015 Pan Am Games tournament won by Team Canada.

"We've done some tire kicking,'' Kastner said. "I talked to people in Aurora north of Toronto and Orangeville and I've had a number of discussions with Ajax and Oshawa. And I had talks with people in North Bay.''

Brantford ownership is ready to operate another season after expressing some concerns in the past about the viability of continuing operations. The franchise has gone downhill since the glory days of a few years ago when they won six consecutive league championships.

The Red Sox are looking for a field manager and are hoping to improve on a disastrous 2022 campaign which saw them lose 39 of 41 games.

The Leafs, who operated in 2022 under a new regime headed by Ty Crawford following the death last January of long-time owner Jack Dominico, are still looking for someone to buy the franchise. Dominico's will stated he wanted the team sold within 10 years following his death. Crawford is the executor of Dominico's estate.

The Leafs are the only team that doesn't have paid admissions because they can't charge at the gate at their public park, Christie Pits, in mid-Toronto. While other league teams routinely charge $10 per person to attend games, the Leafs are reduced to passing around the hat for a collection to help pay for expenses.

League officials are also looking to appoint a new commissioner by Dec. 1. Kastner stepped down as commissioner following nine years of service several months ago to concentrate on his job as chairman of the board of the Ontario Hockey Federation, the largest branch of Hockey Canada. He assumed that role last June.

"I thought I could not do both jobs,'' Kastner said, adding he gave notice to the IBL at the conclusion of the 2021 season he would be stepping down following the 2022 season. He's also general manager of the Stratford Perth Museum. He's a busy man.

Kastner continues to do some work for the league on building its by-laws, regulations and the constitution and updating minimum standards. He called these assignments ''tasks,'' rather than a display of leadership.

Thank you, John, for all of the time you have put into working for the Intercounty.