After more than 100 years of operation the Intercounty Baseball League becomes a professional operation

By Pepper Parr

November 25^th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), which has been in operation since 1919, has announced that it is now a fully professional league that will hereafter be known as the Canadian Baseball League (CBL.ca). These changes reflect the significant growth of its fan base over the last three years, which culminated in a record 249,590 fans attending games in 2025.

The Canadian Baseball League is, simply put, the best professional baseball league in Canada.  Last season, 64 players with either MLB or Minor League Baseball experience suited up to play in the League, including former MLB All-Star and World Series champion Fernando Rodney who pitched for the Hamilton Cardinals.  Last year also witnessed former Guelph Royals player, Liam Hicks, make the Major League roster of, and become an integral player for, the Miami Marlins.

Burlington was once part of the Intercounty Baseball League.

The Burlington Twins were formed in 2011 but lasted just one season. They were followed by the Burlington Bandits.  The team was sold to a younger management group and re-named the Burlington Herd. The Herd  found after several seasons, they were unable to work with the city administration and moved to Welland, where they operated as the Welland  Jackfish and have been a leading team.

In their first year in Welland, the Jackfish had their best regular season with a 19–17 record and earned their first playoff series victory.

The Jackfish finished 15–15 in a condensed 2021 season, their second year. They were swept in the first round by the Barrie Baycats.

“Fan interest in the League has exploded to historic levels,” said CBL Commissioner Ted Kalnins. “The quality of baseball has always been top-rate, with players drawn from across Canada, Latin America and Japan, but the main engine of our growth has been significantly enhanced fan experience, with fun in-game entertainment, contests, unique theme nights, and accessible players, all at a very affordable price for an entire family.”

Not too many empty seats at this game.

In addition to the name change, there will be numerous changes in store for the Canadian Baseball League in 2026, some of which will be announced in the coming weeks.   The CBL’s regular season will increase from 42 to 48 games, commencing the second week of May 2026.  Only five teams will qualify for the playoffs, thereby raising the competitive stakes of the regular season.  The fourth-place team will face the fifth-place team in a one-game playoff, followed by two best-of-seven series to determine the Dominico Cup champion.

All CBL games will continue to be streamed live on YouTube, but will now also be available, along with other League content, via Roku, FireTV, Apple TV, iOS and Android apps.

The history of the Intercounty Baseball League will continue to be carried forward in every respect.  For the last year, numerous efforts were undertaken to research and consolidate historical information, photos and artifacts associated with the IBL’s lengthy history.  Among other partners, the Hanlan’s Point Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) has been assisting with this project, which shall continue to be a League priority.

“Our history is what made our future possible,” Kalnins said.  “Now, the Canadian Baseball League is ready to write the next chapter in the Canadian baseball story – one that will create an even better, more engaging, more memorable experience for our players, our communities, and most of all, our fans.”

The Canadian Baseball League (CBL) is the top independent professional baseball league in Canada, boasting ex-MLB, MiLB and elite graduating NCAA college baseball players, including players from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Panama and Japan.  The 2026 season will mark the CBL’s 108th year in operation. The CBL is one of the longest continuously operated baseball leagues in the world and serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff.  More than 40 IBL players have advanced to Major League Baseball or returned to the CBL following their MLB careers. The league is comprised of teams from Barrie, Brantford, Chatham-Kent, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Toronto and Welland.