The Brantford Red Sox are an
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States
* Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
team of the
Intercounty Baseball League based in
Brantford
Brantford ( 2021 population: 104,688) is a city in Ontario, Canada, founded on the Grand River in Southwestern Ontario. It is surrounded by Brant County but is politically separate with a municipal government of its own that is fully indep ...
,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
. They play their home games at
Arnold Anderson Stadium.
History
The Brantford Red Sox were founded in 1911 when they joined the Canadian Baseball League.
In 1915, the league folded due to
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, and after a short hiatus the team played in the Michigan-Ontario League from 1919 to 1922. After another break they joined the
Ontario League in 1930, which folded due to the
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
. Brantford first joined the Intercounty Baseball League in 1921 but not under the name "Red Sox"(that name was in use by the Brantford team in the Michigan-Ontario League). It was in 1946 when Brantford first had a team named the Red Sox in the I-C (intermediate division).
Championships
In 1921, they joined the
Intercounty Baseball League. They won the championship 15 times.
The Brantford Red Sox's six consecutive championships from 2008 to 2013 set an Intercounty Baseball League record
Won the Pennant 11 times.
Hall of Famers
London, Ontario
London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...
-born left-handed pitcher,
Ron Stead, for example, led Brantford to five league titles (1960-1963, 1965) and was inducted into the
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on June 24, 2006, in
St. Marys, Ontario. Stead also won an Intercounty title with the Guelph C-Joys in 1970.
A legend of the Intercounty loop, Stead is first in all-time wins (104), strikeouts (1,231), shutouts (25), most appearances (198), most innings pitched (1,365) and complete games (116). Stead was a 10-time All-Star and four-time MVP (1960, 1963, 1965 and 1967). He was also the starting pitcher for Team Canada at the 1967
Pan American Games
The Pan American Games, known as the Pan Am Games, is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas. It features thousands of athletes participating in competitions to win different summer sports. It is held among athletes from nations of th ...
in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
,
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
, Canada.
2006 Red Sox win the Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophy
On August 25, 2006, the Brantford Red Sox won the Intercounty title for the first time since 1981 by defeating the
London Majors 7-3 in Brantford before 2,000 fans at Arnold Anderson Stadium in Cockshutt Park.
Brantford, which finished third in the standings during regular season play, came on strong during the second half of the regular season and the playoffs. In the championship series, the Red Sox defeated the London Majors four games to one.
The 2006 IBL championship team includes: Jason Gotwalt, Lee Delfino, Adam Clarke, Al Stephens, Dave Parsons, Hyung Cho, Ryan Brickman, Chris Baker, Adam Vella, Wayne Forman, Raul Borjas, Brad Hogeterp, Mike Anderson, Mark Ferguson, Josh McCurdy, Steve Murray, Tyler Moe, Stefan Strecker, John Ogiltree, Aaron Boag, Tyler Burnell, Adrian Kerr, John Axford, John Mariotti, Min Soo Kim and manager/ vice-president of baseball operations Rick Johnston.
Ownership history
* Max Roseman (1971-1974)
* Jerry Roseman (1977-78)
* Jay Johnson and Perry Davidson (1979-1984)
*
Walter Gretzky
Walter Gretzky, (October 8, 1938 – March 4, 2021) was a Canadian philanthropist who was the father of Canadian ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky.
An avid hockey player as a youth, and a keen analyst of the game, he built a backyard rink for ...
, Romeo Shannelly, and John Mount (1985-1991)
* Mike Calbeck (1992-2001)
* Paul Aucoin (2002 -2014)
* Jeff Hamilton and Lee Delfino (2015-2016)
* Rick and Connie Pomerleau (2017 to 2025)
**On January 9, 2025 it was announced that the team was being put up for sale.
*Terry Smith (2025 to present)
References
External links
*
Intercounty Baseball League website
{{Ontario Sports
Baseball teams in Ontario
Sport in Brantford
Intercounty Baseball League
Baseball teams established in 1911
1911 establishments in Ontario
Michigan-Ontario League teams