Toronto Maple Leafs (semi-pro baseball)
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team of the Intercounty Baseball League, based in Toronto, Ontario. They play their home games on "Dominico Field" at Christie Pits. They are also known colloquially as the Intercounty Maple Leafs or the Intercounty Leafs to disambiguate themselves from the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.
Toronto Maple Leafs | |
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Information | |
League | Intercounty Baseball League (1969–present) |
Location | Toronto |
Ballpark | Dominico Field at Christie Pits |
Year founded | 1969 |
League championships | 8 |
Former name(s) | Intercounty Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–present) |
Colours | Blue & White |
Ownership | Jack Dominico |
Manager | Damon Topolie |
General Manager | Jack Dominico |
Media | Rogers Television |
Website | mapleleafsbaseball.com |
History
The Maple Leafs baseball team began play in 1969, the second season after the original Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team of the AAA International League moved to Louisville, Kentucky.
In their inaugural year, the new Leafs lost 23 games, finishing 18 games out of first place. But they have never ended a season that far back since then. They have been in first place 19 times in the subsequent years and have the best winning percentage of any active team in the League.
The team was owned by husband and wife Jack and Lynne Dominico for the first 40 years of its existence, but has since been owned exclusively by Jack after Lynne's passing on November 8, 2008. The Intercounty Baseball League Championship is also named in their honour, the Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophy.
Championships
Since its inception the team has won the Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophy as Intercounty Baseball champions eight times, the first in 1972. During the 2002 season, the Leafs were undefeated at home, a first for the league. They also won the championship that year. They have also achieved many individual awards and All-Star nominations.
- Championships (8): 1972, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1999, 2002, 2007
Former players
Former Major League Baseball player Pete Orr once played for the Intercounty Leafs as did former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Rich Butler (2001–2002). Rich's brother, Rob Butler, who was also a former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder, also played with the Leafs (2001–2005), as did former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Paul Spoljaric (2002–2007).
Coaches and Managers
- Damon Topolie