We all know the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of hockey's Original Six franchises. They haven't won the Stanley Cup in a while, but they're still an iconic team with an incredibly dedicated fanbase. Even the average joe could point out their famous blue and white leaf logo from a crowd.
What many don't know is that there was another team in the city called the Maple Leafs, and they date back way earlier, to the 19th century. This team played a different game; not hockey, but baseball. The Leafs baseball club were a minor league team, playing in the International League for their entire history (1896-1967).
The Leafs aren't as well known as some other minor league teams, like the Montreal Royals for example. The Royals were the team that Jackie Robinson broke in with before being promoted to the Dodgers, so they have a bit more cultural cachet. The two teams actually played in the same league and went head-to-head in the finals of 1943, '52, and '58, with Montreal taking two out of three.
Though the Royals had their rival's number both on and off the field, the Leafs do have a few stories to tell. Before moving into Maple Leaf Stadium, where they spent most of their history, the Leafs played at Hanlon's Point on Toronto's Centre Island. And in 1914, that would be where Babe Ruth hit is very first professional dinger. Because the Bambino, then with the Providence Grays, was focusing on pitching at that time, it would be his only minor league home run. He would go on to hit a few more in the majors, though.
Hitting fast forward, the Leafs had coaching legend Sparky Anderson on their side as both player and manager in the 1960s. He would go on to lead the Reds to back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and '76, and won with the Tigers in '84 as well. Other notable players for the Leafs were Elston Howard, who went on to have a good career catching for the Yankees, and Al Cicotte, the great-grandnephew of one of the infamous "Black Sox," Eddie Cicotte.
The Leafs even got their own Jackie Robinson moment, though it was brief; number 42 donned their uniform for a media event at Maple Leaf Stadium in 1962. There is photo evidence of this, though Robinson doesn't look particularly pleased about the experience. Perhaps he felt like he was cheating on the Royals!
Despite a high level of play and some notable names coming through, the Leafs struggled for attendance in the '60s, mostly due to the increasing age of Maple Leaf Stadium. With costly renovations needed, ownership instead decided to sell the team to an American businessman, who moved the team to Louisville after the 1967 season. Toronto would not be without baseball for long, however, getting the Major League Blue Jays ten years later.
Comments
rashipoo said:
GO TML GO! THIS IS OUT YEAR BABY!
August 14, 2024
Ken Hundert said:
1967: NHL expansion: the end of the world as we knew it. And now I learn the Maple Leafs Baseball Club also left in ’67. Dayenu (it was enough) that expansion occurred. Two blows in ’67 for a Toronto sports fan. smile The ’67 Cup! “Original Six” joy: ah,
“glory days” of a different kind.
August 14, 2024
Gary Wagman said:
Sorry l made my previous comments before l read the article. Thus some information was repeated by myself.
April 14, 2021
Gary Wagman said:
Montreal Royals were more famous than my Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club. No way!
In 1953 At age 2 1/2 , my dad made me a fan of his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs at Toronto Maple Leaf Stadium which was known as one of the most beautiful stadiums ever in the minor leagues of Baseball.A beautiful Stadium built for the 1926 Leafs that seated 22,000 with a blue Kentucky grassed field and double decked advertisement signs in the outfield.
Leafs exsisted from 1886 to 1967. International Baseball League 1896 to 1967. After the Baltimore Orioles of the International Basball League won 2nd the most International League Baseball Championships. In the 1950,s seasonal attendance outdrew some Major League teams.
Unfortunately in the 1960,s the Toronto Public wanted a Major League Baseball team. Attendance declined. Toronto Maple Leaf Stadium(opened in 1926) needed repairs. The city officials were not willing to invest a 1/4 of million dollars to repair Toronto Maple Leaf Stadium. In August of 1967,the team played their last game in Toronto before 802 loyal fans. Very sad day for a 16 year old.
For the 1968 season the team moved to Louisville for 3 years. The team moved to Pawtucket and became the Paw Sox. In 1967 Leafs were affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. Thus the team still was affiliated with the Red Sox
Ps ln 1926,Conne Smyth purchased the NHL TORONTO St Pats and renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs after the most popular professional Toronto Sports team the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball club. Interesting the NHL Leafs hockey team has not won a Stanley Cup since the Leafs Baseball Club left Toronto. Further the Toronto Major League team should have been named the Toronto Maple Leafs instead of the advertising spin name after Labatts Blue Beer. Toronto Blue Jays.
For me the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club lives Forever.
April 14, 2021
Rashipoo said:
Toronto rox!
April 14, 2021