Friends of Labatt Park
Encyclopedia
Friends of Labatt Park is a grassroots, non-profit (unincorporated) group of volunteers dedicated to "promoting and enhancing Labatt Park
in London
, Ontario
, Canada
, as the world's oldest baseball grounds in continuous use in its original location since 1877."
In this regard, "Friends" has a custodial fund set up with the City of London's treasurer whereby all donations of $25 or more will result in the donor being issued a tax-deductible receipt by the City of London.
under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act
in 1994 with a plaque unveiling on Canada Day
-- a ballpark which dates back to 1877 when it was called Tecumseh Park, before it was donated to the City of London by the Labatt Brewing Company
on December 31, 1936.
(Roy McKay
Clubhouse) of the Intercounty Baseball League
.
Since that time, the group has helped to raise money for a new cedar-shingle roof on the Roy McKay Clubhouse (via a fundraising ballgame on May 31, 1998, dubbed "The Rumble at the Riverforks"), facilitated the mounting of eight history-related plaques at the stadium, the planting of five indigenous trees and assisted in organizing numerous events at the park, including five annual Doors Open
events, vintage base ball games and other special events where the "Friends" display historical photos and other memorabilia related to the ballpark.
The "Friends" have also issued numerous media releases over the years, as well as liaising with the local, regional, national and international media about the history of the ballpark and its activities.
In 2006, the "Friends" were responsible for the inclusion of Labatt Park in a 16-month calendar published by American transportation carrier, Roadway Express, entitled "Times of Greatness 2007 calendar" featuring sites important to the history of the Negro Leagues. Labatt Park is the only Canadian site featured in the calendar which has a print run of 150,000.
(IBL) unanimously endorsed establishing an IBL Hall of Fame at Labatt Park. The Friends of Labatt Park are assisting in this proposed initiative, which remains in the early stages of development.
On September 7th, 2011, Baseball Canada
announced that historic Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario, had won its six-week-long, favourite ballpark contest, winning the final round where it went head-to-head with Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario. During the two-week-long, final round of online voting, where more than 19,000 votes were cast, Labatt Park won with 63 per cent of the vote.
Labatt Park
Labatt Memorial Park is a baseball stadium near the forks of the Thames River in central London, Ontario, Canada. It is in size, has 5,200 seats and a natural grass field...
in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as the world's oldest baseball grounds in continuous use in its original location since 1877."
In this regard, "Friends" has a custodial fund set up with the City of London's treasurer whereby all donations of $25 or more will result in the donor being issued a tax-deductible receipt by the City of London.
Designating Labatt Park an historic site
The group was first formed in 1993 and was successful in convincing London's city council-of-the-day to designate the municipally owned ball park an historic siteHistoric site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act
Ontario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest....
in 1994 with a plaque unveiling on Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
-- a ballpark which dates back to 1877 when it was called Tecumseh Park, before it was donated to the City of London by the Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company Ltd. is a Canadian beer company founded by John Kinder Labatt in 1847 in London, Ontario. In 1995, it was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew; it is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev...
on December 31, 1936.
Amending the park's reasons for designation
In 1996, the group was also successful in having the "reasons for designation" contained in the designating by-law of Labatt Park amended to include the circa 1937, cottage-style clubhouse of the London MajorsLondon Majors
The London Majors are an independent, minor league baseball team of the, semi-pro, Intercounty Baseball League. The team was founded in 1925, and is based in London, Ontario...
(Roy McKay
Roy McKay
Roy Alexander McKay was an aggressive left-handed baseball pitcher born in London, Ontario, Canada, who signed with the Detroit Tigers organization in 1952 after spending much of his youth at Labatt Park, including a stint as batboy for the Ontario Baseball Association champions, the 1945 London...
Clubhouse) of the Intercounty Baseball League
Intercounty Baseball League
The Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919....
.
Since that time, the group has helped to raise money for a new cedar-shingle roof on the Roy McKay Clubhouse (via a fundraising ballgame on May 31, 1998, dubbed "The Rumble at the Riverforks"), facilitated the mounting of eight history-related plaques at the stadium, the planting of five indigenous trees and assisted in organizing numerous events at the park, including five annual Doors Open
Doors Open
Doors Open is a 2008 novel by crime writer Ian Rankin. It is his first stand alone thriller in over 10 years.The story was originally published as a serial novel in The New York Times Magazine.- Plot outline :...
events, vintage base ball games and other special events where the "Friends" display historical photos and other memorabilia related to the ballpark.
The "Friends" have also issued numerous media releases over the years, as well as liaising with the local, regional, national and international media about the history of the ballpark and its activities.
In 2006, the "Friends" were responsible for the inclusion of Labatt Park in a 16-month calendar published by American transportation carrier, Roadway Express, entitled "Times of Greatness 2007 calendar" featuring sites important to the history of the Negro Leagues. Labatt Park is the only Canadian site featured in the calendar which has a print run of 150,000.
Intercounty Baseball Hall of Fame
In June 2006, the Intercounty Baseball LeagueIntercounty Baseball League
The Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919....
(IBL) unanimously endorsed establishing an IBL Hall of Fame at Labatt Park. The Friends of Labatt Park are assisting in this proposed initiative, which remains in the early stages of development.
On September 7th, 2011, Baseball Canada
Baseball Canada
Baseball Canada is the governing body for Baseball in Canada. Incorporated in 1964 as the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball, it is made up of 10 provincial associations which represent players, coaches, and umpires across Canada...
announced that historic Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario, had won its six-week-long, favourite ballpark contest, winning the final round where it went head-to-head with Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario. During the two-week-long, final round of online voting, where more than 19,000 votes were cast, Labatt Park won with 63 per cent of the vote.
External links
- Virtual Tour of Labatt Park
- Map: location of Labatt Park in London
- Photo of the Roy McKay Clubhouse at Labatt Park
- The Friends work to protect Roy McKay Clubhouse
- 1876 and 1877 Bryce's Baseball Guides
- London Majors Web site
- Intercounty Baseball Official Site
- 1920 London Tecumsehs
- City of London Web site
- Butch McLarty's Alt-London (info about the "Friends")
- Labatt Park Reunion 2005 Media Release
- Longtime London Major Norm Aldridge at Labatt Park wearing Viking Horns
- Friends' co-founder named to 2006 Mayor's New Year's Honours List for Heritage
- Stephen Harding, another member of "Friends" receives 2008 Mayor's New Year's Honours List for Heritage