Stratford Nationals

The Stratford Nationals were an independent, minor league baseball team of the, semi-pro, Intercounty Baseball League based in Stratford, Ontario. They played their home games at National Stadium.

Stratford Nationals
Information
LeagueIntercounty Baseball League (2002–08)
LocationStratford, Ontario
BallparkNational Stadium
Year founded1919
League championships14 (5 Ontario Baseball Association titles)
Former name(s)
  • Stratford Nationals (2006–08)
  • Stratford Kraven Knits
  • Stratford Hillers
  • St. Thomas Storm
Coloursred & white
OwnershipJohn Gillespie
Shawn Gillespie
ManagerMud Grasby
General ManagerShawn Gillespie
Websitewww.stratfordnationals.com

The team was moved from St. Thomas, Ontario, to Stratford in 2004 after several years of dwindling fan support in St. Thomas. On November 25, 2008, the team announced that the league had approved the sale of the Stratford Nationals to Elliott Kerr, president of the Landmark Sports Group, and the transfer of the franchise to the City of Mississauga.

Prior to its re-location, the team changed its name from the Storm to the Nationals for the 2006 season, in view of the Canadian National Railway's historical importance to Stratford.

The Nationals struggled in their final seasons, missing the playoffs regularly.

For many years, however, Stratford was a premier franchise in the Intercounty League and also one of its founding members in 1919 (along with Galt, Guelph and Kitchener), operating at various times as the Stratford Nationals, the Stratford Kraven Knits and Stratford Hillers. Derrick Franklin hit the first RBI for the nationals as a new team in 2006.

Championships

Intercounty League

  • 1934 (as the Nationals)
  • 1938 (as the Nationals)
  • 1939 (as the Nationals)
  • 1940 (as the Nationals)
  • 1946 (as the Nationals)
  • 1974 (as the Kraven Knits)
  • 1976 (as the Hillers)
  • 1977 (as the Hillers)
  • 1980 (as the Hillers)
  • 1986 (as the Hillers)
  • 1987 (as the Hillers)
  • 1989 (as the Hillers)
  • 1991 (as the Hillers)
  • 1992 (as the Hillers)

The Stratford Nationals also won the Ontario Baseball Association title in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934.

References
  • Intercounty Baseball League's 1998 Record Book by Editor Herb Morell and Dominico Promotions Inc.
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