1970 Brantford Braves ICBA Junior Baseball Team

2002 Honouree Team, Baseball

The Brantford Braves (“the Braves”), of the Inter County Baseball League (ICBA), flattened the Toronto Maple Leaf Bombers 22 to 0 finishing off the regular season. The Braves went on to secure their place in the semi-finals against Sarnia to battle for a spot in the Inter County Championship. Shortly after, the Braves played against Windsor securing the Braves their spot in the Ontario Baseball Amateur Association (OBAA). If they won, Brantford would proceed to face off against Hamilton in the semi-finals, which they did. In the OBAA finals, Dave Dix sustained an injury to his right foot but powered through to win the first game in the three game series against Toronto. Coach Jim Detlor commented, “I’m going to have gray hair before I turn 25,” referring to the ninth inning Toronto rally during the second game of the three game series. Toronto still lost the game but they did have the Braves on the ropes for the last inning. On September 24, the Braves became the fourth Brantford team in 50 years to win the OBAA Junior Championship. The win brought Brantford its first OBAA win in 35 years!

The Braves were the favourite to face off against the London Diamonds in the best of seven series for the Inter County Championship. After being rained out several times, fans were excited to see a 2 to 1 lead in the best of seven series. With various university strikes going on at the time, the Braves were down several players, averaging only one regular catcher per game in the finals against London. The strike also contributed to a shortage of officials to umpire the games. The shortages often restricted the choice of pitches due the experience levels of the catchers. The Braves were also down a few players due to sports related injuries. In reflection, the Coach said, “If we can win with a lineup like that, it must mean something.”

The Braves ran out of titles to take as they closed off their 1970 season winning both the Inter County Championship as well as the OBAA Finals. Alan Moffat is noted as being the leading hitter for the Braves in 1970. Coach Detlor commented that he had never played or coached a team with such a combination of raw talent and unity.

1970 Brantford Braves ICBA Junior Baseball Team Roster

Back row, left to right:

Bill Moffat (General Manager), Chuck Clark (Executive), Doug Lane, Mark Todd, Dave Mayhew, Roy Chubb, Dave Carson Jr., John Wheat (Executive), Dave Carson Sr. (Executive).

Middle row, left to right:

Terry Clark (Coach), Scott Bartle, Alan Schopf, Bob Vincent, Harold Davis, Murray Locke, Bill Currie, Gary Dix, Jim Detlor (Coach).

Front row, left to right:

David Dix, George Leconte, Mel Kennedy, Dave Cheetham, John Alford, Alan Moffat, Bill Mercer.

Front:

Paul Aucoin (Bat Boy).