Stratford Nationals

Stratford Nationals
Stratford Nationals
Information
League	Intercounty Baseball League
Location	Stratford, Ontario
Ballpark	National Stadium
Founded	1919
League championships	14 (5 Ontario Baseball Association titles) 1934; 1938; 1939; 1940; 1946; 1974; 1976; 1977; 1980; 1986; 1987; 1989; 1991; 1992;
Former name(s)	St. Thomas Storm; Stratford Kraven Knits; Stratford Hillers; Stratford Nationals;
Colours	Red, white;
Ownership	John Gillespie; Shawn Gillespie
Manager	Mud Grasby
General Manager	Shawn Gillespie
Website	www.stratfordnationals.com

The Stratford Nationals were a semi-professional baseball team based in Stratford, Ontario, that competed in the Intercounty Baseball League, an independent baseball league.

Early history

For many years, Stratford was a premier franchise in the Intercounty Baseball League and one of the league's founding members in 1919 (along with Galt, Guelph, and Kitchener). The team operated at various times as the Stratford Nationals, the Stratford Kraven Knits, and Stratford Hillers.

Late history

The team was moved from St. Thomas, Ontario, to Stratford in 2004 after several years of dwindling fan support in St. Thomas. They played their home games at National Stadium.

Prior to its re-location, the team changed its name from the Storm to the Nationals for the 2006 season, in view of the Canadian National Railway's historical importance to Stratford. The Nationals struggled in their final seasons, missing the playoffs regularly.

On November 25, 2008, the team announced that the league had approved the sale of the Stratford Nationals to Elliott Kerr, president of the Landmark Sports Group, and the transfer of the franchise to the City of Mississauga, where it became the Mississauga Twins.

Championships

Intercounty League

1934 (as the Nationals)
1938 (as the Nationals)
1939 (as the Nationals)
1940 (as the Nationals)
1946 (as the Nationals)
1974 (as the Kraven Knits)
1976 (as the Hillers)
1977 (as the Hillers)
1980 (as the Hillers)
1986 (as the Hillers)
1987 (as the Hillers)
1989 (as the Hillers)
1991 (as the Hillers)
1992 (as the Hillers)

The Stratford Nationals also won the Ontario Baseball Association title in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934.

External links

Official website

References

Intercounty Baseball League's 1998 Record Book by Editor Herb Morell and Dominico Promotions Inc.

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