OSBA History
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History of the Ontario Senior Baseball Association
Formed in 2001 by Rod Holinaty, the OSSBA began with 4 teams. Whitby Chiefs Blue (now known as the Brooklin Dodgers), Whitby Chiefs Red (renamed the Durham Chiefs and then in 2009 the Clarington Cubs), the Richmond Hill Phoenix (now known as the York Diamondjacks) and the Mississauga Stars.
2001 – the league interlocked a portion of their schedule with the Oshawa Men’s League, but each league had their separate champion. The championship in 2001 was decided in a double knockout system which saw the Mississauga Stars defeat the Whitby Chiefs Blue (Brooklin Dodgers) in the finals.
2002 – saw the league expand to 9 teams with the introduction of the Barrie Red Sox (now known as the Barrie Brewers), Bloor Jays, Thornhill Reds, Mississauga Tigers and Oshawa Spirit (now known as Oshawa Talons) The league split into 2 divisions. East and West. Representing the east were the two Whitby teams, Oshawa and Richmond Hill. In the west were the Stars, Tigers, Jays, Reds and Red Sox. The playoffs were again a double knockout and the Mississauga Stars beat Thornhill in the finals to capture their second straight OSSBA title.
2003 – saw further change with the league as the Thornhill Reds (caught using an illegal player in the 2002 playoffs) left the league. The Mississauga Bengals (who later became the Tigers) and Southwest Twins joined the league putting the league at 10 teams. Neither the Bengals or Twins were the same teams that competed later OSBA. The 2003 playoffs was the first time OSBA went to a best of 3 playoff series where the Bloor Jays defeated Whitby Blue (Brooklin) to capture the title.
2004 – The Twins left the league in 2004, but were replaced by the Pickering Pirates. Oshawa changed it’s name from Spirit to Talons. Whitby Red became Durham Chiefs and as a result Whitby Blue (Brooklin) dropped Blue from their name. The Phoenix moved back over to the west and the OSBA season went forth with 10 teams. In the finals, the Phoenix defeated Whitby (Brooklin) to win the OSSBA championship.
2005 – The league lost the Tigers, and the Bengals took over the name. The Burlington Bulls joined the league which again ran with 10 teams. The Bulls, in their inaugural season, would defeat the Durham Chiefs (Clarington Cubs) to take home the championship.
2006 – The league expanded with 4 new teams. The Mississauga Bengals, Mississauga Southwest Twins, Scarborough Indians (now known as Ajax Indians) and the Forest Glen Giants. Richmond Hill moved back to the East leaving each division with 7 teams. Whitby changed their name to Brooklin Dodgers. The league played a 26 game schedule and the Brooklin Dodgers beat the Bulls in a best of 5 finals to win their first ever OSBA Cup.
2007 – Two more expansion teams in the Mississauga Majors and Whitby Chiefs put the league at a record high 16 teams. The schedule was increased to 28 games and in the finals the Brooklin Dodgers defeated the Mississauga North Bengals to win their second straight OSBA cup.
2008 – No new expansion and 2 new names changes as Barrie became the Barrie Brewers and Richmond Hill became the York Diamondjacks. Bloor folded during the 2008 season. In the finals, the Bulls gained their 2nd OSBA cup after beating the Pickering Pirates.
2009 - Two teams left the league with the loss of the Bloor Jayes and Mississauga North Tigers from the West. The Barrie Brewers moved to the West creating 2 divisions of 7. The regular season schedule returned to a balanced one at 26 games. A 4 vs 5 one game playoff was also added to the playoff format with the winner becoming the 4 seed. In the finals, the Bulls beat the Dodgers to capture their 3rd OSBA cup and second straight.
Formed in 2001 by Rod Holinaty, the OSSBA began with 4 teams. Whitby Chiefs Blue (now known as the Brooklin Dodgers), Whitby Chiefs Red (renamed the Durham Chiefs and then in 2009 the Clarington Cubs), the Richmond Hill Phoenix (now known as the York Diamondjacks) and the Mississauga Stars.
2001 – the league interlocked a portion of their schedule with the Oshawa Men’s League, but each league had their separate champion. The championship in 2001 was decided in a double knockout system which saw the Mississauga Stars defeat the Whitby Chiefs Blue (Brooklin Dodgers) in the finals.
2002 – saw the league expand to 9 teams with the introduction of the Barrie Red Sox (now known as the Barrie Brewers), Bloor Jays, Thornhill Reds, Mississauga Tigers and Oshawa Spirit (now known as Oshawa Talons) The league split into 2 divisions. East and West. Representing the east were the two Whitby teams, Oshawa and Richmond Hill. In the west were the Stars, Tigers, Jays, Reds and Red Sox. The playoffs were again a double knockout and the Mississauga Stars beat Thornhill in the finals to capture their second straight OSSBA title.
2003 – saw further change with the league as the Thornhill Reds (caught using an illegal player in the 2002 playoffs) left the league. The Mississauga Bengals (who later became the Tigers) and Southwest Twins joined the league putting the league at 10 teams. Neither the Bengals or Twins were the same teams that competed later OSBA. The 2003 playoffs was the first time OSBA went to a best of 3 playoff series where the Bloor Jays defeated Whitby Blue (Brooklin) to capture the title.
2004 – The Twins left the league in 2004, but were replaced by the Pickering Pirates. Oshawa changed it’s name from Spirit to Talons. Whitby Red became Durham Chiefs and as a result Whitby Blue (Brooklin) dropped Blue from their name. The Phoenix moved back over to the west and the OSBA season went forth with 10 teams. In the finals, the Phoenix defeated Whitby (Brooklin) to win the OSSBA championship.
2005 – The league lost the Tigers, and the Bengals took over the name. The Burlington Bulls joined the league which again ran with 10 teams. The Bulls, in their inaugural season, would defeat the Durham Chiefs (Clarington Cubs) to take home the championship.
2006 – The league expanded with 4 new teams. The Mississauga Bengals, Mississauga Southwest Twins, Scarborough Indians (now known as Ajax Indians) and the Forest Glen Giants. Richmond Hill moved back to the East leaving each division with 7 teams. Whitby changed their name to Brooklin Dodgers. The league played a 26 game schedule and the Brooklin Dodgers beat the Bulls in a best of 5 finals to win their first ever OSBA Cup.
2007 – Two more expansion teams in the Mississauga Majors and Whitby Chiefs put the league at a record high 16 teams. The schedule was increased to 28 games and in the finals the Brooklin Dodgers defeated the Mississauga North Bengals to win their second straight OSBA cup.
2008 – No new expansion and 2 new names changes as Barrie became the Barrie Brewers and Richmond Hill became the York Diamondjacks. Bloor folded during the 2008 season. In the finals, the Bulls gained their 2nd OSBA cup after beating the Pickering Pirates.
2009 - Two teams left the league with the loss of the Bloor Jayes and Mississauga North Tigers from the West. The Barrie Brewers moved to the West creating 2 divisions of 7. The regular season schedule returned to a balanced one at 26 games. A 4 vs 5 one game playoff was also added to the playoff format with the winner becoming the 4 seed. In the finals, the Bulls beat the Dodgers to capture their 3rd OSBA cup and second straight.
