Toronto Maple Leafs (baseball)

Independent baseball team
name = Toronto Maple Leafs
founded = 1969
city = Toronto, Ontario

cap
current league = Intercounty Baseball League (1969-present)
current division=
past league =
currentname = Intercounty Toronto Maple Leafs (1969-present)
pastname =
colors = Blue & White
ballpark = Christie Pits
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 8
divisionchamps =
owner = Jack & Lynne Dominico
manager = Dino Roumel
gm =
media =
website = http://www.leafsbaseball.com www.leafsbaseball.com The Toronto Maple Leafs are an independent, minor league baseball team of the semi-pro Intercounty Baseball League, based in Toronto, Ontario. They play their home games at Christie Pits.

They are also known as the "Intercounty Maple Leafs" or the "Intercounty Leafs" to distinguish themselves from the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.

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 has been owned by husband and wife Jack and Lynne Dominico for its entire 37-year history. 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.

Players

Current Atlanta Braves player Pete Orr once played for the Intercounty Leafs as did former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Rich Butler. 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).

External links

* [http://www.leafsbaseball.com LeafsBaseball.com]
* [http://www.toronto-baseball.com Toronto-Baseball.com]
* [http://www.wordonawire.com/baseball/community.html wordonawire.com]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfvTftsjb1U Leafs 2007 Championship Win]