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Brantford Red Sox
OFFICIAL SITE OF THE
BRANTFORD RED SOX
ESTABLISHED 1911 - 15 TIME IBL CHAMPIONS
Brantford Red Sox
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About Us

Established in 1911, the Brantford Red Sox have been a community institution in Southwestern Ontario for over a century. The Brantford Red Sox are the most historically decorated active team in the Intercounty Baseball League, appearing in 27 finals and winning 15 IBL championships. 

The Brantford Red Sox play out of Arnold Anderson Stadium located in Cockshutt Park in Brantford Ontario. Brantford Red Sox games are easily accessible in the City of Brantford and Brant County, and are also within a half-hour's drive from many locations in Southwestern Ontario including Caledonia, Hagersville, Simcoe, and Woodstock. 

The Brantford Red Sox are family owned and operated, with almost all staff working on a volunteer basis. The team relies on ticket, concession, and merchandise sales, along with generous sponsorships from the local business community, and receives no funding or subsidies from the City of Brantford.

The Brantford Red Sox's mission is to provide affordable family entertainment for the community, fielding a competitive team, while running an efficient organization.

About the IBL

The Intercounty Baseball League is the top-level baseball league in Canada, boasting elite college and former major league professional players. 2022 will mark the league’s 103rd season. The IBL is the fifth-longest continually operated baseball league in the world, and serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff. 

Payment for playing in the IBL is not allowed.  Players cannot accept cash, gifts or discounts, or any financial compensation in return for playing in the IBL. Players are provided with a per game mileage allowance per game. Import players may be subsidized for housing and food.

Our Story
1912 Brantford Red Sox of the Canadian Baseball League

The Brantford Red Sox were founded in 1911 when they joined the Canadian Baseball League.  Brantford's first game took place on May 19, 1911 vs. Berlin (now Kitchener).  An excerpt from the May 3, 1911 Brantford Expositor  provides this history:

"The season will open on Wednesday May 17 at Guelph, St. Thomas, and Berlin, and May 19 at London, Brantford, and Hamilton.  The holidays were split up between the various clubs, with the season closing on September 16. One hundred and one games will be played, 55 in each town"

 In 1915 the Canadian Baseball League folded due to World War I, and after a short hiatus the Red Sox played in the Michigan-Ontario League from 1919 to 1922. After another break the Red Sox joined the Ontario League in 1930, which folded due to the Great Depression. However,  they had a resurgence as an intermediate "A" team known as the Red Sox and quickly became a power, winning both the League and the Ontario championships in 1931 and 1933.

Meanwhile, Brantford made its debut into the Intercounty League with two teams - the senior Veritys and intermediate Emma Gees. At the time, the Intercounty League administered three divisions (junior, intermediate, and senior) and Brantford fielded teams in all divisions at various times. By 1933, the intermediate and senior Intercounty teams had taken on the Red Sox moniker.

1959 Brantford Red Sox

 From 1946 to the present, the Red Sox have been 10 time IBL pennant winners - 1950, 1951, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1982, 1983, 2010, 2012, and 2013.  The Red Sox have won fifteen IBL championships to date - including a record setting 6 consecutive championships from 2008 to 2013. 

Brantford's first dynasty began in 1959. The Red Sox rejoined the IBL in 1958, having left to play in the Great Lakes Niagara league. They followed up their 8th place finish in 1958 by rebounding to win the league championship in 1959. They would go on to win 5 consecutive IBL titles from 1959 to 1963. After a last place finish in 1964, Brantford would come back to win one last title for this era in 1965.

1980's Brantford Red Sox

The Red Sox reached the IBL finals several times in the 70's and 80's, and won the IBL championship again in 1981. But a new Brantford dynasty would start to take root early in the new century. The Red Sox reached the IBL finals again in 2003, before finally becoming league champions once again in 2006. In 2007 Brantford was defeated in the IBL finals by Toronto. Then, Brantford would go on to win a record-setting six straight IBL championships, from 2008 to 2013.  The 2013 championship would prove to be the most dramatic, with Brantford coming back from a 3 games to 0 deficit in the championship series vs. Barrie. This championship capped off a nine year run that was unprecedented in league history.  The only playoff series loss Brantford had suffered from 2006 to 2013 was in the 2007 IBL Finals. 

2013 IBL Champion Brantford Red Sox

The Brantford Red Sox play out of Arnold Anderson Stadium at Cockshutt Park in Brantford, Ontario.  Formerly known as Agricultural Park, the park was deeded to the City of Brantford by the family of Ignatius Cockshutt in his honour. The main diamond at Cockshutt Park was dedicated in the name of Arnold Anderson, a local radio announcer, in 1998. 

The Intercounty Baseball League season runs from May to September each year.  For more history on the Intercounty Baseball League, visit theibl.ca/history

Sources: 

Intercounty Baseball League, 100 Seasons Strong - Anne Chamberlain and Paul DePasquale, Historians

Intercounty Baseball League 2004 Information Guide & Record Book

IBL 100
Ron Stead, Ted Baker and Jimmy Wilkes

To commemorate it's 100th anniversary in 2018, the Intercounty Baseball League announced its list of the league's Top 100 Players of All Time.  Numerous Brantford Red Sox players were included on the list:

  • Ted Baker Catcher, 1960-65
  • Raul Boras Outfielder (Hamilton/Brantford/Toronto) 1999-2015
  • Gord Bradshaw Catcher (Galt/Brantford) 1927-36
  • Wallace "Spud" Bush Pitcher (Brantford/Galt) 1960-65
  • Luther "Shanty" Clifford Catcher 1951-59
  • Jamie Corke Outfielder 1974-84
  • Lee Delfino Shortstop 2005-16
  • Dean Dicenzo Infielder/Outfielder (Hamilton/Brantford) 1980-99
  • Dave Dix Outfielder/First Baseman (Brantford/Waterloo) 1970-86
  • Wilmer Fields Pitcher/Outfielder (Brantford/Oshawa) 1951-55
  • Harry Fisher Pitcher 1945-50
  • Kevin Hinton First Baseman/Designated Hitter (Guelph/Barrie/Brantford/Toronto) 1985-2013
  • Josh McCurdy Outfielder 1999-2016
  • Alf Payne Shortstop (Toronto/Brantford) 1970-82
  • Louis Smith Outfielder 1935-46
  • Ron Stead Pitcher (London/Brantford/Guelph)  1955-72  2006 Canadian Baseball HOF Inductee
  • Stefan Strecker Pitcher (Brantford/Hamilton) 2001-2019
  • Wray Upper Third Baseman (Galt/Brantford) 1954-74
  • Jimmy Wilkes Outfielder 1953-63
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Honoured Numbers

IBL Championships
YearOpponentSeries
1949
Galt Terriers

1959
Galt Terriers
4-1
1960
Hamilton Cardinals
4-1
1961
Kitchener Panthers

1962
Guelph Royals
4-1
1963
Kitchener Panthers
4-3
1965
Guelph C-Joys
4-2
1981
Kitchener Panthers
4-2
2006
London Majors
4-1
2008
London Majors
4-3
2009
Barrie Baycats
4-0
2010
Barrie Baycats
4-2
2011
Ottawa Fat Cats
4-1
2012
Barrie Baycats
4-0
2013
Barrie Baycats
4-3
MLB Alumni
John Axford
2006
Brewers, Cardinals, Indians, Pirates, Rockies, A's, Blue Jays
Abel De Los Santos
2019
Nationals, Reds
Harry Fisher
1954-55
Pirates
Preston GomezSenators, Padres, Astros, Cubs
Gonzalez Germen
Mets, Cubs, Rockies
Joe Krakauskas
1935
Senators, Indians
Jim Lawrence
1967
Indians 
Chris Leroux
2003
Marlins, Pirates, Yankees
Scott Thorman
2012-13
Braves
Bob Thurman
1953-54
Reds
Bob WhitcherBraves

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