Stead headlines IBL's all-time top 100 players
Feb. 6, 2018
IBL Reveals Complete List of Top 100 IBL Players
CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – The Intercounty Baseball League has selected its complete list of the Top 100 IBL Players of All-Time. Top 100 players will be honoured during the IBL 100th season banquet in Kitchener on Feb. 24.
The 100 Greatest IBL Players is a centerpiece in honouring 100 years of IBL baseball. A Blue Ribbon panel comprised of distinguished members of the baseball community - including executives, media members and IBL staff - selected the list of esteemed players.
The selected players will be honoured on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the IBL’s 100th season banquet hosted at the Crowne Plaza in Kitchener. Each attending player will receive a commemorative bat honoring their careers.
The complete list of players, their positions and the years, who have been voted among the Top 100:
KEVIN AITCHESON (OF - STRATFORD, 78-91)
STAN “GABBY” ANDERSON (OF - LONDON, 58-66)
TED BAKER (C - BRANTFORD, 60-65)
BARRY BOUGHNER (IF/OF - LONDON, 66-84)
JOE BECHARD (OF - LONDON, 48-54)
BILL BILLINGS (P - ST. THOMAS, 24-31)
BRAD BISSELL (P – BARRIE, 02-17)
RAUL BORJAS (OF – HAM/BRA/TOR, 99-15)
GORD BRADSHAW (C – GALT/BRA, 27-36)
RUSS BRAHMS (P – CAM,/TOR 79-88)
CLEVELAND BROWNLEE (1B/OF – LONDON, 10-17)
WALLACE “SPUD” BUSH (P – BRA/GAL, 60-65)
ROB BUTLER (OF – TORONTO, 90-05)
BILL BYCKOWSKI (C/IB – KIT/TOR, 80-91)
DAVE BYERS (SS – LON/GAL/WAT, 70-87)
JORDAN CASTALDO (1B/3B – OSH, TOR, BAR, 08-17)
LUTHER “SHANTY” CLIFFORD (C – BRANTFORD, 51-59)
DAN COLLISON (IF/OF – STR/WAT/KIT/ST.T, 78-89)
CASEY COOPER (P – GUELPH, 94-03)
JAMIE CORKE (CF – BRANTFORD, 74-84)
LARRY CUNNINGHAM (OF – HAM/GAL, 57-69)
KEVIN CURRAN (P – KITCHENER, 84-99)
RANDY CURRAN (1B/OF/DH – KITCHENER, 84-03)
KYLE DEGRACE (C/SS/OF – TOR/BAR, 05-17)
LEE DELFINO (SS – BRANTFORD, 05-16)
INF-OF Dean Dicenzo was known as the John MacDonald of the IBL hitting .283 as three-time all-star who ranks seventh all-time in hits (594) and stolen bases (144) and is sixth in games played (53). The man who wanted to grow up in Glanbrook had 86 doubles, 17 triples, 18 homers and knocked in 229 runs. Photo: Kaz Novak.
ROGER DEWAELE (C/OF – GALT, 62-71)
DEAN DICENZO (1B/2B/OF – HAM/BRA, 80-99)
DAVE DIX (OF/1B – BRA/WAT, 70-86)
GARY EBEL (1B/DH – KITCHENER, 64-79)
ARDEN EDDIE (OF – LONDON, 67-01)
RUSS EVON (OF/IF – LON/ST.T, 46-66)
JOHN FARAGHER (P/OF – STR/LON, 82-98)
WAYNE FENLON (C – LONDON, 66-88)
WILMER FIELDS (P/OF – BRT, OSH, 51-55)
HARRY FISHER (P – BRANTFORD, 45-50)
DENIS FLANAGAN (C – STRATFORD, 72-91)
ROB FROESE (3B – KIT/STR, 82-90)
SCOTT GARDINER (1B/3B – HAM/NFS/TOR, 82-92)
JOHN GILL (1B – NIAGARA FALLS, 85-89)
MATT GOODING (OF/IF – ST.T/LON, 76-91)
FRENDY GRAHAM (P – GALT, 21-30)
BRAD HAGEDORN (P/OF – KITCHENER, 89-04)
LARRY HAGGITT (1B/3B – LON/STR, 74-84)
FRANKIE HARE (IF/OF – GUE/BAR, 01-12)
COURT HEINBUCH (P – KITCHENER, 61-72)
KEVIN HINTON (1B/DH – GUE/BAR/BFD/TOR, 85-13)
RICHARD JACK (P – HAM/KIT, 59-68)
DAN JACKSON (1B/OF – GAL/GUE/KIT, 51-61)
GLENN JACKSON (OF – GUE/BAR/TOR, 05-17)
RICK JOHNSTON (OF – TORONTO, 89-95)
OF Branson Joseph played for Mississauga and Burlington. He played four seasons and hit .318 earning all-star honours once. He had 29 doubles, four triples, 14 homers and 77 RBIs.
BRANSON JOSEPH (OF – BURLINGTON, 09-12)
VERN “TEX” KAISER (OF – GAL/KIT, 49-55)
WALTER “JO JO” KALMUSKY (2B – STRATFORD, 35-47)
DARRELL KEMP (2B/3B/DH – NIAGARA FALLS, 85-89)
BRUCE KLAEHN (P – KITCHENER, 72-84)
PAUL KNIGHT (P – KIT/GUE, 67-83)
ROMAN KNIGINYZKY (OF – TORONTO, 75-84)
WILBUR KRESS (P/OF – GALT, 20-30)
DICK KROL (2B/P – GALT, 64-67)
DOUG LANDRETH (P – STRATFORD, 67-83)
ERIK LASEKE (SS/P – GUELPH, 91-96)
JOSH MCCURDY (OF – BRANTFORD, 99-16)
TOM MCKENZIE (SS – LON,KIT, 60-80)
BOB MCKILLOP (C/P – KITCHENER, 66-77)
SCOTT MEDVIN (P – KITCHENER, 94-00)
MEL MELEHES (P – GUELPH, 94-10)
GEORGE “IRISH” MISKIMMONS (C – STRATFORD, 24-54)
BRIAN MURPHY (P – LONDON, 67-72)
RON MUSSELMAN (OF – STRATFORD, 78-94)
JIM O’CONNOR (IF-OF, GUELPH, 19-30)
MURRAY OLIVER (SS – HAM/GAL, 58-64)
JOHN OSBORNE (2B/P – TOR/STR, 69-75)
JON OWEN (P – LONDON, 77-99)
ALF PAYNE (SS – TOR/BFD, 70-82)
BARRY PETRACHENKO (2B – STRATFORD, 85-95)
JEFF PIETRASZKO (OF – KITCHENER, 95-17)
SHELDON PLENER (OF – TORONTO, 73-78)
JOHN POHOLSKY (P – LIS/GUE, 58-63)
BRUNO POLLOCK (OF-STM/GUE, 32-36)
HARRY PSUTKA (C – KITCHENER, 48-61)
JASON RAUSCH (1B – KITCHENER, 88-98)
SEAN REILLY (1B/DH – HAM/GUE/BAR/TOR/KIT, 97-17)
JIM RIDLEY (OF – TOR/STR/GUE, 72-75)
ANGUS ROY (P – BARRIE, 02-09)
ROLF SCHEEL (P – LON/SFD, 64-69)
PHIL SCHMIDT (P – LONDON, 74-82)
LOUIS SMITH (OF – BRANTFORD, 35-46)
RYAN SPATARO (OF – BARRIE, 05-17)
PAUL SPOLJARIC (P -TOR/BAR, 02-10)
RON STEAD (LON/BFD/GUE, 55-72)
STEFAN STRECKER (P – BRANTFORD, 01-17)
FRED THOMAS (OF – WAT/KIT/GUE/LON, 50-55)
RICHARD THOMPSON (OF – LONDON, 88-98)
DAMON TOPOLIE (C – SFD/TOR, 95-17)
PHIL TURNER (1B – ST.THOMAS, 81-88)
WRAY UPPER (3B – GAL/BFD, 54-74)
ALEX WATTS (OF – STM/GAL, 22-34)
TOMMY WHITE (STM/LON)
JIMMY WILKES (OF – BRANTFORD, 53-63)
JIM WOJCIK (OF/3B – CAM/TOR, 82-96)
While panel members were able to select any player who played in the 100-year history of the IBL, each was provided with biographies and career statistics for players who met any of the following criteria:
i) any player who participated as a player in games between 1919 and 2017
ii) Only individual statistics and awards that have been earned as a player will be taken into account when naming individuals to this list. Player-managers are eligible but their accomplishments as managers (victories, championships, awards, etc.) will not be factored into the decision to name them to the Top 100.
iii) Longevity and league dominance will be given the greatest weight in determining which players were named to the list. As such, players should have participated in the league for a minimum of five (5) seasons. Additionally, career records and honours such as MVP awards, All-Star teams, ERA/ batting titles will carry more weight than single-game records or one outstanding season.
Jim Ridley spent three years in the IBL and his whole life in baseball coaching and scouting after his playing days. Ridley was a two-time batting champ (1972, 1972), a three-time all-sat and an MVP (1974) and Playoff MVP (1974). He hit .369 with 26 doubles, five triples, 15 homers, 81 RBIs and 22 steals.
iv) Players who played 1-4 seasons (who had an outstanding IBL career) can also be submitted. Such players may be considered by the Committee depending on the number of openings and how such player(s) fit into the overall list.
About the IBL 100th Season Banquet: The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) announced the details for the 100th Season Celebration Banquet hosted by the Kitchener Panthers, set for Saturday, February 24th in Kitchener.
This once in a lifetime event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 105 King St E in Kitchener, Ontario from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The festivities begin at 5 PM with social hour, dinner and program slated to start at 6 PM. Advance tickets are $100 per seat or $700 per table of eight.
Tickets can be purchased now at theibl.ca.
About the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL): The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is the top level baseball league in Ontario, boasting ex-major league professional and elite NCAA college baseball players. The 2018 season will mark the IBL’s 100th season. The IBL is the fifth longest continually operated baseball league in the world and serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff. More than 40 IBL players have advanced to Major League Baseball or returned to the IBL following the their MLB careers. The league is comprised of teams from Barrie, Brantford, Kitchener, London, Toronto, Guelph, Burlington and Hamilton. For more information, visit www.theibl.ca.