Pastimes, They Are A-Changin'

The IBL is dead, long live the CBL.

Earlier today, southern Ontario's 106-year-old Intercounty Baseball League shucked off its historic identity.  Emerging like a butterfly from the chrysalis is the brand new Canadian Baseball League.

Along with the name change, the league is embracing professional status.  Players will be paid to play.  Gone are the semi-pro days of travel money, alternate arrangements and wink-wink transactions.

Professionalization will allow CBL clubs to be better able to attract and support high-level talent.

The number of import players each team can sign goes up from five to eight.

To protect their draft eligibility and status as amateurs, players in U.S. college programs will not be allowed to play in the CBL.

Starting in 2026, the league will feature more regular season games and a revamped postseason.

A 48-game schedule will mean 24 home games for each club.  The season will kick off in mid-May and go an extra week to accommodate the expanded schedule.

The eight-team, three-round postseason format has been axed.  As of next season, only five teams will qualify for postseason play.  The top three finishers will qualify immediately.  The number four and five finishers will play a diabolical one-game playoff to determine the final slot.  Both the semifinals and championship series will be best-of-seven.

There is talk of expanding the league to cities like Windsor, Ottawa and beyond.  For now, the CBL's nine member clubs remain the same, including Canada's favourite team the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 2024, the Leafs first introduced a reserved, paid-ticket section at Christie Pits.  This year, the paid section was expanded and moved to the third base line.

According to a report in today's Toronto Star, the Leafs "will almost certainly have to start charging fans at some point, now that they have to pay all the players. Putting in seating will require some negotiation with the city, but [Leafs CEO Keith] Stein believes his team will ensure it’s worth the price of admission."

"We’re not opposed to pushing the envelope and doing different things," Stein said. "I will guarantee you that you will continue to see us, next season and beyond, do things that are different and maybe unique to the Toronto Maple Leafs."