2018 Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club Forum and Reception On Deck for May 5


SCHEDULED GUESTS AT THE ANNUAL DINNER AND SYMPOSIUM TO COMMEMORATE THE MAPLE LEAFS 50TH IBL SEASON INCLUDE LARRY BOWA; FERGUSON JENKINS; JOHN MAYBERRY; GAYLORD PERRY AND LUIS TIANT

Clockwise from top left to the middle: Luis Tiant; Larry Bowa: John Mayberry; Gaylord Perry and Ferguson Jenkins.

It goes without saying that Jack Dominico, the owner of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club, has been one of the most avid supporters of our Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball program through the years.

Jack Dominico

Jack Dominico

Dominico is passionate in his support of youth baseball and the community surrounding Christie Pits. He has held numerous weekend baseball clinics for those involved in our TP House League Baseball program where young players can learn skills from talented players on his Toronto Maple Leafs team.

His love of the game and the neighbourhood that encompasses it have been one of the facets that have made TP House League Baseball the jewel that it is.

The TP Baseball Committee would like to announce to all the players and parents involved in our program that Jack Dominico will be holding the 31st edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs Forum and Reception on Saturday, May 5 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Marriot Hotel (901 Dixon Road). The annual forum is held the night before the Leafs play their 50th IBL Season Opener against the London Majors at Dominico Field Christie Pits on Sunday, May 6 at 2 p.m. 

In addition to the IBL celebrating its 100th centennial year of existence this upcoming season, Dominico will also be marking his 50th year as owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball franchise. 

The Forum is a great opportunity for attendees who are young and old to ask questions to a wide array of former all-star players and hear about their unique experiences in the major leagues. Afterwards, attendees can also obtain autographs from the all stars in attendance.

This year’s baseball greats in attendance at the Toronto Maple Leafs Forum and Reception include:

  • Larry Bowa: During a distinguished sixteen-year playing career with three MLB teams (Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets), this fiery five time all-star shortstop won two Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess and a World Series ring with the Phillies in 1980. With a lifetime .260 batting average, the switch hitting Bowa hit .280 or better four times and stole 20 or more bases during nine seasons. Upon his retirement as a player, Bowa held the National League (NL) record for career games at shortstop (2222) and the Major League records fielding average in a career (.980) and a single season (.991). Staying in the game as a coach or manager with six different teams from 1987 to 2017, Bowa was named NL Manager of the Year in 2001 when he skippered the Phillies.
  • John Mayberry: Over the course of fifteen seasons in the Majors, this two time all-star played with four MLB clubs, most prominently with the Kansas City Royals (1972-1977) and the Toronto Blue Jays (1978-1982). Fondly known as ‘Big John’, Mayberry was a classic left handed slugging first baseman who had a lifetime .253 batting average, 255 home runs and 879 RBI’s.
  • Ferguson Jenkins: During a stellar 19-year major league career, this 1971 Cy Young Award winner and three time all-star pitcher remains the only Canadian to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jenkins won 284 games in the majors while recording 3,192 strikeouts and a career 3.34 ERA. Jenkins is one of only four major league pitchers to ever record more than 3,000 strikeouts with fewer than 1,000 walks.
  • Gaylord Perry: Over the period of a 22-year journeyman major league career, this Hall of Famer and five time all-star won 314 games while recording 3,534 strikeouts and a 3.11 ERA. Perry was the first pitcher to ever win the Cy Young Award in both the American (Cleveland Indians [1972]) and National League (San Diego Padres [1978]). Earning some noteriety during his playing career for being a “spitball” pitcher, Niekro pitched a no hitter in 1968 with the San Francisco Giants.
  • Luis Tiant:  One of baseball’s most colourful personalities over the course of sixteen major league seasons, this right handed pitcher (nicknamed El Tiante) is one of five pitchers to have pitched four or more consecutive shutouts in the 50-year expansion era. Tiant is a three time all-star and is most fondly remembered for his pitching heroics  for the Boston Red Sox from 1971 to 1978.

Tickets are $85.00 (plus G.S.T.) per person. For tickets or more information to this stellar event, please call (416) 631-2600.