In the 1989 movie “Dead Poets Society”, the late Robin Williams encourages his students to seize the day and make their lives extraordinary. London Majors players have been doing just that at Labatt Park since 1925. And they continue to do so long after their playing careers.
In 2004, Scott Dart and former Majors outfielder Roop Chanderdat became co-owners of the ballclub. They purchased a baseball team with a legacy of greatness. While they continue to chase the team’s first IBL championship since 1975, Dart and Chanderdat develop high calibre players in an environment that helps players grow as men ready for life’s challenges, wherever they may come.
Between 2006 and 2013, a total of 11 London Majors players have either signed with or been drafted by Major League Baseball teams. That speaks volumes about how major league organizations view the quality of ball played in the Inter-County Baseball League.
In 2014, the Majors shored up their pitching staff with Cuban natives Carlos Martinez and Deinys Suarez, and Dominican native Wandy Perez in hopes of winning an IBL title. Unfortunately, the Majors lost Perez in mid-summer as he signed a pro contract to play in Japan.
Majors fan favourite Cleveland Brownlee has been with the club since 2010. He hails from Atlanta, Georgia but he calls London his “summer home.” His polite, friendly nature and his ability to launch the long ball has made him a fan favourite since arriving in London. In Atlanta, he competed at Clark University and taught high school.
Other current players of note on the Majors include Ryan Lapensee, who has played both outfield and pitched for London. Lapensee returned in 2014 after getting married and moving to Michigan.
During Dart’s and Chanderdat’s tenure, the club has had numerous talented ballplayers come through the organization. Kevin Virtue played for the Majors from 2001 to 2008 (he was a member of the Southeast Texas State Bobcats in 2002).
Dating back, the Majors have also had some legendary ex-Major Leaguers as players for short stints, including Canadian baseball legend Ferguson (Fergie) Jenkins, who spent several years pitching for the Chicago Cubs, as well as Denny Mclain (1974-75), a former Detroit Tiger and Washington Senator, and Dave Rozema (1991), who was a member of the 1984 World Series Champion Tigers team).
Fergie Jenkins is no stranger to London fans, as he was born in Chatham, Ontario. At 72, he shows no signs of slowing down. Jenkins is the only Canadian Major Leaguer to be inducted into both the National (Cooperstown) Baseball Hall of Fame and the Canadian (St. Marys Ont.) Baseball Hall of Fame.
The London Majors have certainly left a legacy of high calibre baseball in London and around Ontario for 90 years. Majors players have played professional baseball at all levels and they continue to give back by helping in coaching clinics and other baseball ventures such as the London Middlesex Housing Corp.’s “Rookie League” each summer.
— By David Dimitrie
