London Majors
Encyclopedia
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
. They play their home games at the 5,200 seat Labatt Memorial Park.
beating the Fort Wayne, Indiana
, General Electrics in a best-of-seven-game series played at Labatt Park, with such London stars as pitcher "Tireless" Tommy White, catcher Jack Fairs, short-stop/ fielder Russell (the Muscle) Evon, catcher Gil Robertson, infielder Don Cooper and rookie outfielder Joltin' Joe Bechard (the three remaining members of the '48 Majors still alive are Jack Fairs, Gil Robertson, Joe Bechard and trainer Norm Aldridge -- see photo below).
Fort Wayne had gained renown by losing one game in 15 tournaments played during the previous two years.
The Majors won the opener on September 21, 1948, at Labatt Park when Joe Bechard's single in the 11th inning scored Johnny Lockington from second with the winning run in an 8-7 victory. Three times in the game Bechard had knocked in a run tying the game for London. It was "the greatest display of clutch hitting ever seen in the local ball yard," wrote Free Press sports editor Jack Park.
Fort Wayne went up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series but London pitcher Tommy White threw a five-hitter and Bechard hit a grand slam in a 13-1 London win in Game 6. White returned to the mound the next day and allowed five hits but blanked the Electrics 5-0 to give London the championship and post his third win of the series.
The 1948 London Majors team is considered to be one of the best amateur men's baseball teams of all time and have been inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame at the John Labatt Centre
.
According to the Intercounty League's 1998 record book, the Majors won the league (playoff) championship series in 1925, 1936, 1937, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1956, 1969 (as the London Pontiacs) and 1975. In 1945 the London Majors won the Ontario Baseball Association championship (see team photo below on an external link).
According to the same record book, the Majors won the pennant race (atop the regular season standings) in 1946, 1947, 1956, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975 and 1988.
Additionally, the London Army Team won the Canadian Sandlot title in 1943 and 1944.
Traditionally, one of the high points in the season of the London Majors is the double-header with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 (Canada Day
), which is usually followed by fireworks over the adjacent forks of the Thames River. Another high point is during the first weekend in August when the London Balloon Festival is held in Harris Park, across the river from Labatt Park. Watching the Majors play while 25-or-so hot-air balloons take flight against the backdrop of the city's skyline, personifies the idyllic dog days
of summer.
In 1950, pitcher Ted Alexander joined the Majors. Previously, Alexander had been a star pitcher for a total of 14 seasons with the Homestead Grays
and the Kansas City Monarchs
of the Negro National League. Alexander left the Majors part way through the 1951 season, during which the Majors won the Intercounty title with star pitchers, Bill and Stan Slack. The Majors also won the Intercounty title in 1956 with former New York Yankee/ Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Frank Colman as the owner of the team.
Other players on the 1975 Majors ballclub were: former Major League Baseball, left-handed pitcher Mike Kilkenny
, a league all-star and 1975 Intercounty MVP; shortstop Dave Byers; all-star third baseman Barry Boughner
; 1975 batting champion Larry Haggit (.412); manager Roy McKay; coach John Ambrose; long-time coach-trainer Norm Aldridge (Aldridge has a City-owned baseball diamond named after him in northeast London called Norm Aldridge Field
; Larry Wilson; pitcher Phil Schmidt; pitcher Rick Lindquist; Barry Fuller; Mike Fess; catcher Wayne (Dog) Fenlon; Brian Bell; captain Dave (Whitey) Lapthorne; John Marks; Alex McKay Jr; Jamie Hodge; John Gourley Jr.; pitcher Neal Ambrose; trainers Ed Loney and Bob Gilan; General Manager George Hall and batboy Jim McKay.
Affectionately known as "Killer," Kilkenny was 9-0, with 129 strikeouts, 46 walks, nine complete games and an earned run average of 1.31. Kilkenny previously played for the Detroit Tigers
(1969-1972), Oakland Athletics
(1972), San Diego Padres
(1972), and Cleveland Indians
(1972-1973) during a five-season stint (1969-1973) in the Major Leagues. In 1969, Kilkenny was named "Rookie of the Year" for the Detroit Tigers.
(1989-1993), the London Werewolves
(1999-2001) and the London Monarchs
(2003).
In October, 2005, Scott Dart brought his friend and former veteran London Majors' outfielder, Roop Chanderdat, in as team co-owner with Chanderdat also assuming the duties of general manager
.
On January 14, 2006, it was announced in The London Free Press that the Majors have become an international
organization with 11 scouts in Latin America
, the U.S., Mexico
, Italy
and Japan
.
For the 2006 season, Majors' Co-Owner/ General Manager Roop Chanderdat will also be the team's field manager, with former Majors'/ Baby Jays' pitcher Harry Muir acting as the team's pitching coach.
On June 24, 2006, the National Post
featured a lengthy two-page story by John Lott in its sports section titled, Safe at Home, How Love and Medicine Rescued a Life from a Mysterious Illness, about Harry Muir's brush with death in 2005, on the front page of its sports section.
The Majors also led the league in batting during the regular season with an overall team average of .305.
Named to the second-all-star team in 2006 were outfielder Kevin Virtue, left-handed pitcher Erick Perez, designated hitter Chuck Roberts and manager Roop Chanderdat.
Rudy Vallejos, an outfielder with the 2006 London Majors, won the Intercounty Baseball League Rookie of the Year (Brian Kerr Memorial Trophy). Vallejos enjoyed a productive first season in the IBL, hitting .304 with two homers and 41 RBI. The Ottawa, Ontario, native also hit five doubles, scored 28 runs and was fourth in the league with 19 stolen bases in 30 games.
in four straight games and the defending IBL champions and pennant winners, the Barrie Baycats
in five games.
In the final series, however, the Majors were defeated four games to one by the Brantford Red Sox
, who won their first Intercounty title since 1981 on August 25, 2006, in Brantford.
had retired from the major leagues two years earlier, McLain played a season for the London Majors. Due to arm problems, however, McLain only pitched nine innings for the Majors, but did play in 14 games at either shortstop, first base and catcher and batted .380, including hitting two homers in one game in London.
In 1984-1985 after Fergie Jenkins retired from Major League Baseball
in 1983, he pitched for the London Majors, commuting from one of his homes near Chatham, Ontario
.
After pitcher Dave Rozema
retired from Major League Baseball (Detroit Tigers
, 1977-84, and Texas Rangers
, 1985-86) on April 30, 1986, he pitched for the London Majors in the early 1990s.
was born on August 1), by longtime Majors' owner-player Arden Eddie
, was designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1996 -- an initiative spearheaded by The Friends of Labatt Park
-- by amending the park's original (by-law) reasons for designation. The one-storey, cottage-style building is owned by the City of London and is one the few remaining clubhouses of its kind remaining in North America still being used for the purpose for which it was built.
On May 31, 1998, a fundraising ballgame ("The Rumble at the Riverforks") between the members of London city council, the media and the London Majors old-timers was held to help defray the costs of a new cedar-shingle roof on the Roy McKay Clubhouse. The game was organized by Arden Eddie, The Friends of Labatt Park, SCENE magazine and the London Majors.
The late Roy McKay (1933-1995) was a longtime London Majors' pitcher, coach and manager who died on Christmas
Day, 1995. At age 12, McKay was also the mascot-batboy for the 1945 London Majors — the Intercounty and Ontario champions (see photo of the 1945 London Majors at the external link below).
Tom (Tim) Burgess also played for the 1945 Majors as a pitcher-outfielder and was signed to a pro contract in 1946 by the St. Louis Cardinals
' organization. After years in Major League Baseball as either a player or coach, Burgess was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1991.
The London Majors Baseball Club was owned by player-coach Arden Eddie from 1976 until February of 2004, when Eddie and his wife Shelley sold the team to London businessperson/ mortgage consultant Scott Dart.
Eddie, who holds four Intercounty League records -- most games played (834); most stolen bases (179); most hits (764) and most bases on balls (668) -- first started playing for the London Majors in 1967 after moving to London from his hometown of Wallaceburg, Ontario
, where he has been inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame.
(16), Tommy White (17), Dave Byers (18), Fergie Jenkins (31) and on Sunday, July 6, 2008, Arden Eddie
's jersey (24) was officially retired.
player Frank Colman
(1955-1959), jeweller Ted Dilts, sportswriter/ author Bob Ferguson (1963-64), Ted Earley, George Hall, Arden Eddie
(1976-February, 2004) and the current co-owners of Scott Dart and Roop Chanderdat.
Frank Colman first played for the Majors in the mid-1930s. In 1936, he was a top Intercounty League pitcher and hitter, winning the league batting title and MVP award, which soon led to a pro contract. In 1941 and 1942, Colman played for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
. In 1942, he signed as an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He remained with the Pirates as a first baseman-outfielder until late in the 1946 season when he signed with the New York Yankees
. In 1949 and 1950, Colman played for Seattle of the Pacific Coast League
, before returning to play for the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs in 1951 as player-coach.
In 1954, Colman returned to his hometown of London, Ontario, signing on as player-manager with the London Majors, then owned by team general manager Clare Van Horne. In 1955, Colman purchased the Majors from Van Horne and co-founded the Eager Beaver Baseball Association
with London sportsman Gordon Berryhill and Al Marshall. Colman's Majors won the Intercounty title in 1956.
Ontario Baseball Association
Independent baseball
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...
, minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team of the, semi-pro
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
, 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....
. The team was founded in 1925, and is based in London, Ontario
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...
. They play their home games at the 5,200 seat Labatt Memorial Park.
Team history
Over the years, the team has also been known at various times as the London Seniors (1934-1944) the London Majors (1944-1959) London Chester Pegg Diamonds (1960-61), the London Majors again (1962), the London Pontiacs (1963-1969), the London Avcos (1970-73) and the London El-Morocco Majors (1974-75), depending on the team sponsorship of the day.1948 London Majors
In 1948 London Majors, considered one of the best teams in Intercounty history, not only won the Intercounty League championship, but the Ontario Baseball Association championship, the Canadian amateur men's championship, and the Can-Am North American championship of the National Baseball CongressNational Baseball Congress
The National Baseball Congress of Wichita, Kansas is an organization of 15 amateur and semi-professional baseball leagues operating in the United States and Canada...
beating the Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, General Electrics in a best-of-seven-game series played at Labatt Park, with such London stars as pitcher "Tireless" Tommy White, catcher Jack Fairs, short-stop/ fielder Russell (the Muscle) Evon, catcher Gil Robertson, infielder Don Cooper and rookie outfielder Joltin' Joe Bechard (the three remaining members of the '48 Majors still alive are Jack Fairs, Gil Robertson, Joe Bechard and trainer Norm Aldridge -- see photo below).
The Majors won the opener on September 21, 1948, at Labatt Park when Joe Bechard's single in the 11th inning scored Johnny Lockington from second with the winning run in an 8-7 victory. Three times in the game Bechard had knocked in a run tying the game for London. It was "the greatest display of clutch hitting ever seen in the local ball yard," wrote Free Press sports editor Jack Park.
Fort Wayne went up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series but London pitcher Tommy White threw a five-hitter and Bechard hit a grand slam in a 13-1 London win in Game 6. White returned to the mound the next day and allowed five hits but blanked the Electrics 5-0 to give London the championship and post his third win of the series.
The 1948 London Majors team is considered to be one of the best amateur men's baseball teams of all time and have been inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame at the John Labatt Centre
John Labatt Centre
The John Labatt Centre is a sports-entertainment centre, in London, Ontario, Canada -- the largest such centre in southwestern Ontario.The John Labatt Centre, usually referred to as the "JLC", opened on October 11, 2002. It is named after John Labatt, founder of the Labatt brewery in London...
.
According to the Intercounty League's 1998 record book, the Majors won the league (playoff) championship series in 1925, 1936, 1937, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1956, 1969 (as the London Pontiacs) and 1975. In 1945 the London Majors won the Ontario Baseball Association championship (see team photo below on an external link).
According to the same record book, the Majors won the pennant race (atop the regular season standings) in 1946, 1947, 1956, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975 and 1988.
Additionally, the London Army Team won the Canadian Sandlot title in 1943 and 1944.
Traditionally, one of the high points in the season of the London Majors is the double-header with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 (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...
), which is usually followed by fireworks over the adjacent forks of the Thames River. Another high point is during the first weekend in August when the London Balloon Festival is held in Harris Park, across the river from Labatt Park. Watching the Majors play while 25-or-so hot-air balloons take flight against the backdrop of the city's skyline, personifies the idyllic dog days
Dog Days
"Dog Days" are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dog days of summer are most commonly experienced in the months of July and August, which typically observe the warmest summer temperatures. In the Southern Hemisphere, they typically occur in January and...
of summer.
In 1950, pitcher Ted Alexander joined the Majors. Previously, Alexander had been a star pitcher for a total of 14 seasons with the Homestead Grays
Homestead Grays
The Homestead Grays were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro leagues in the United States. The team was formed in 1912 by Cumberland Posey, and would remain in continuous operation for 38 seasons. The team was based in Homestead, Pennsylvania, adjacent to Pittsburgh.-Franchise...
and the Kansas City Monarchs
Kansas City Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro Leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri and owned by J.L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. J.L. Wilkinson was the first Caucasian owner at the time...
of the Negro National League. Alexander left the Majors part way through the 1951 season, during which the Majors won the Intercounty title with star pitchers, Bill and Stan Slack. The Majors also won the Intercounty title in 1956 with former New York Yankee/ Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Frank Colman as the owner of the team.
1975 London Majors
Eddie, who has played at first base, second base and the outfield during his 34-year playing career in the Intercounty League, was a key member of the 1975 Majors when they won the Intercounty title, the last year that the team has won the league championship.Other players on the 1975 Majors ballclub were: former Major League Baseball, left-handed pitcher Mike Kilkenny
Mike Kilkenny
Michael David Kilkenny is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Born in Bradford, Ontario, Canada, the left-hander was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent before the 1964 season. He played for the Tigers , Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres , and Cleveland Indians...
, a league all-star and 1975 Intercounty MVP; shortstop Dave Byers; all-star third baseman Barry Boughner
Barry Boughner
Barry Michael Boughner is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played 20 National Hockey League games with the Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals, going scoreless with 11 penalty minutes....
; 1975 batting champion Larry Haggit (.412); manager Roy McKay; coach John Ambrose; long-time coach-trainer Norm Aldridge (Aldridge has a City-owned baseball diamond named after him in northeast London called Norm Aldridge Field
Norm Aldridge Field
Norm Aldridge Field is a municipally owned, natural-grass baseball diamond in Stronach Park in northeast London, Ontario, that was built as a secondary baseball venue for the 2001 Canada Summer Games and named by London city council after longtime London sportsman/ athlete, Norman James Aldridge,...
; Larry Wilson; pitcher Phil Schmidt; pitcher Rick Lindquist; Barry Fuller; Mike Fess; catcher Wayne (Dog) Fenlon; Brian Bell; captain Dave (Whitey) Lapthorne; John Marks; Alex McKay Jr; Jamie Hodge; John Gourley Jr.; pitcher Neal Ambrose; trainers Ed Loney and Bob Gilan; General Manager George Hall and batboy Jim McKay.
Affectionately known as "Killer," Kilkenny was 9-0, with 129 strikeouts, 46 walks, nine complete games and an earned run average of 1.31. Kilkenny previously played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1969-1972), Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1972), San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(1972), and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1972-1973) during a five-season stint (1969-1973) in the Major Leagues. In 1969, Kilkenny was named "Rookie of the Year" for the Detroit Tigers.
Recent team developments
In 2004, the London Majors made it to the best-of-seven championship IBL series with the Guelph Royals, but were defeated four games to one. After the 2004 season, the Majors moved out of the Roy McKay Clubhouse, pending interior renovations to the historic structure, and into the dressing room under the third-baseline grandstand, a dressing room previously used by the London TigersLondon Tigers
The London Tigers were a professional AA baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1989 to 1993. They played at Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario, and were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers.-History:...
(1989-1993), the London Werewolves
London Werewolves
The London Werewolves were an independent Frontier League baseball team based in London, Ontario, Canada. The team had previously been known as the Kalamazoo Kodiaks, from Kalamazoo, Michigan. The team arrived in London for the 1999 season and left after the 2001 season to Canton, Ohio. The...
(1999-2001) and the London Monarchs
London Monarchs
The London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
(2003).
In October, 2005, Scott Dart brought his friend and former veteran London Majors' outfielder, Roop Chanderdat, in as team co-owner with Chanderdat also assuming the duties of general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
.
On January 14, 2006, it was announced in The London Free Press that the Majors have become an international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
organization with 11 scouts in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, the U.S., Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
For the 2006 season, Majors' Co-Owner/ General Manager Roop Chanderdat will also be the team's field manager, with former Majors'/ Baby Jays' pitcher Harry Muir acting as the team's pitching coach.
On June 24, 2006, the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
featured a lengthy two-page story by John Lott in its sports section titled, Safe at Home, How Love and Medicine Rescued a Life from a Mysterious Illness, about Harry Muir's brush with death in 2005, on the front page of its sports section.
Outstanding London Majors in 2006
London Majors named to the Intercounty Baseball League's first-all-star team in 2006 were second-baseman Kyle Piwowarczyk and outfielder Brad McElroy (who also won the league's regular season batting title with a .403 batting average).The Majors also led the league in batting during the regular season with an overall team average of .305.
Named to the second-all-star team in 2006 were outfielder Kevin Virtue, left-handed pitcher Erick Perez, designated hitter Chuck Roberts and manager Roop Chanderdat.
Rudy Vallejos, an outfielder with the 2006 London Majors, won the Intercounty Baseball League Rookie of the Year (Brian Kerr Memorial Trophy). Vallejos enjoyed a productive first season in the IBL, hitting .304 with two homers and 41 RBI. The Ottawa, Ontario, native also hit five doubles, scored 28 runs and was fourth in the league with 19 stolen bases in 30 games.
2006 IBL playoffs
The 2006 London Majors fared well in the Intercounty playoffs, dispatching the Kitchener PanthersKitchener Panthers
The Kitchener Panthers are an independent, minor league baseball team of the semi-pro, Intercounty Baseball League based in Kitchener, Ontario. They play their home games at Jack Couch Baseball Park.-History:...
in four straight games and the defending IBL champions and pennant winners, the Barrie Baycats
Barrie Baycats
The Barrie Baycats are an independent, minor league baseball team of the semi-pro Intercounty Baseball League based in Barrie, Ontario. They play their home games at Barrie Metals Stadium at the Barrie Sports Complex outside of Barrie...
in five games.
In the final series, however, the Majors were defeated four games to one by the Brantford Red Sox
Brantford Red Sox
The Brantford Red Sox are an independent, minor league baseball team of the, semi-pro, Intercounty Baseball League based in Brantford, Ontario. They play their home games at Arnold Anderson Stadium.-History:...
, who won their first Intercounty title since 1981 on August 25, 2006, in Brantford.
Denny McLain, Fergie Jenkins and Dave Rozema
In 1974, after Denny McLainDenny McLain
Dennis Dale "Denny" McLain is a former American professional baseball player, and the last major league pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season —a feat accomplished by only thirteen players in the 20th century....
had retired from the major leagues two years earlier, McLain played a season for the London Majors. Due to arm problems, however, McLain only pitched nine innings for the Majors, but did play in 14 games at either shortstop, first base and catcher and batted .380, including hitting two homers in one game in London.
In 1984-1985 after Fergie Jenkins retired from Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
in 1983, he pitched for the London Majors, commuting from one of his homes near Chatham, Ontario
Chatham, Ontario
Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...
.
After pitcher Dave Rozema
Dave Rozema
David Scott Rozema , nicknamed "Rosey", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-Early years and 1977 rookie season:...
retired from Major League Baseball (Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, 1977-84, and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, 1985-86) on April 30, 1986, he pitched for the London Majors in the early 1990s.
Roy McKay Clubhouse
The circa-1937, tongue-and-groove clapboard Majors' clubhouse at Labatt Park, officially renamed "The Roy McKay Clubhouse" on August 1, 1996 (Roy McKayRoy 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...
was born on August 1), by longtime Majors' owner-player Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie is a former Iron Man player, team owner and manager in the Intercounty Baseball League. He holds several Intercounty records, including most games played , most bases on balls , most hits and most stolen bases .Off the field, Eddie is a realtor and home renovator...
, was designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1996 -- an initiative spearheaded by The Friends of Labatt Park
Friends of Labatt Park
Friends of Labatt Park is a grassroots, non-profit 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."...
-- by amending the park's original (by-law) reasons for designation. The one-storey, cottage-style building is owned by the City of London and is one the few remaining clubhouses of its kind remaining in North America still being used for the purpose for which it was built.
On May 31, 1998, a fundraising ballgame ("The Rumble at the Riverforks") between the members of London city council, the media and the London Majors old-timers was held to help defray the costs of a new cedar-shingle roof on the Roy McKay Clubhouse. The game was organized by Arden Eddie, The Friends of Labatt Park, SCENE magazine and the London Majors.
The late Roy McKay (1933-1995) was a longtime London Majors' pitcher, coach and manager who died on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Day, 1995. At age 12, McKay was also the mascot-batboy for the 1945 London Majors — the Intercounty and Ontario champions (see photo of the 1945 London Majors at the external link below).
Tom (Tim) Burgess also played for the 1945 Majors as a pitcher-outfielder and was signed to a pro contract in 1946 by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
' organization. After years in Major League Baseball as either a player or coach, Burgess was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in 1991.
The London Majors Baseball Club was owned by player-coach Arden Eddie from 1976 until February of 2004, when Eddie and his wife Shelley sold the team to London businessperson/ mortgage consultant Scott Dart.
Eddie, who holds four Intercounty League records -- most games played (834); most stolen bases (179); most hits (764) and most bases on balls (668) -- first started playing for the London Majors in 1967 after moving to London from his hometown of Wallaceburg, Ontario
Wallaceburg, Ontario
Wallaceburg is an unincorporated community and town located in the municipality of Chatham-Kent in Southern Ontario, Canada. Originally a small settlement, it was recognized for its significant contribution to the lumber and boat building industries and strategic location along the banks of the...
, where he has been inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame.
Retired numbers
The Majors have retired several numbered uniforms: those of Norm Aldridge (3), Russ Evon (4), Stan (Gabby) Anderson (5), Wayne Fenlon (9), Roy McKayRoy 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...
(16), Tommy White (17), Dave Byers (18), Fergie Jenkins (31) and on Sunday, July 6, 2008, Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie is a former Iron Man player, team owner and manager in the Intercounty Baseball League. He holds several Intercounty records, including most games played , most bases on balls , most hits and most stolen bases .Off the field, Eddie is a realtor and home renovator...
's jersey (24) was officially retired.
Team owners
Owners of the team over the years have included Public Utilities Commission director Bill Farquharson, Clare Van Horne, ex-Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Frank Colman
Frank Colman
Frank Lloyd Colman , was a Major League Baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees....
(1955-1959), jeweller Ted Dilts, sportswriter/ author Bob Ferguson (1963-64), Ted Earley, George Hall, Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie
Arden Eddie is a former Iron Man player, team owner and manager in the Intercounty Baseball League. He holds several Intercounty records, including most games played , most bases on balls , most hits and most stolen bases .Off the field, Eddie is a realtor and home renovator...
(1976-February, 2004) and the current co-owners of Scott Dart and Roop Chanderdat.
Frank Colman first played for the Majors in the mid-1930s. In 1936, he was a top Intercounty League pitcher and hitter, winning the league batting title and MVP award, which soon led to a pro contract. In 1941 and 1942, Colman played for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. In 1942, he signed as an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He remained with the Pirates as a first baseman-outfielder until late in the 1946 season when he signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. In 1949 and 1950, Colman played for Seattle of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, before returning to play for the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs in 1951 as player-coach.
In 1954, Colman returned to his hometown of London, Ontario, signing on as player-manager with the London Majors, then owned by team general manager Clare Van Horne. In 1955, Colman purchased the Majors from Van Horne and co-founded the Eager Beaver Baseball Association
Eager Beaver Baseball Association
Eager Beaver Baseball Association, Inc. is a baseball league for youths in London, Ontario, Canada, that was first organized in 1955 by former Major League Baseball player Frank Colman, London sportsman Gordon Berryhill and Al Marshall....
with London sportsman Gordon Berryhill and Al Marshall. Colman's Majors won the Intercounty title in 1956.
Championships
Intercounty League- 1925
- 1936
- 1937
- 1947
- 1948
- 1951
- 1956
- 1969
- 1975
Ontario Baseball Association
- 1945
- 1947
- 1948