In the past, the Toronto Blue Jays advanced to the World Series 32 years ago, supported by St. Catharines, Ont., and their team, formerly known as the Baby Jays. The Toronto MLB organization established the St. Catharines Blue Jays in 1985 to broaden their fan base beyond Toronto. St. Catharines joined the New York-Penn League (NYPL) a year later and was affiliated with Toronto for ten years, serving as a developmental platform for players aspiring to reach the major leagues.
St. Catharines, primarily recognized for hockey and rowing, was strategically located near Toronto and boasted a suitable field, initially named Community Park. This venue met the standards for St. Catharines to participate in the NYPL, a Class A short-season minor league operational from 1939 to 2020.
David Siegel, a former political science professor at Brock University now contributing to the Society for American Baseball Research, described the NYPL as an “up or out” league, emphasizing the need for players to excel and progress to higher levels within baseball.
Siegel, an avid attendee at St. Catharines games, conducted research on minor league baseball teams in the Niagara Region. He highlighted that St. Catharines served as a pivotal starting point for players transitioning from college baseball in the U.S., including Latin athletes like Carlos Delgado. Delgado, who began his career in St. Catharines as a catcher and designated hitter before excelling with Toronto, notably contributed to the Blue Jays securing the 1993 World Series title.
Reflecting on his time with the Baby Jays in 1989 and 1990, Delgado recalled the experience fondly, reminiscing about his humble beginnings in Canada. Many aspiring players, like Delgado, arrived in St. Catharines to launch their baseball careers, cherishing the opportunity to play in a smaller stadium and engage with dedicated fans.
St. Catharines aimed to enhance sports tourism by upgrading Community Park, later renamed George Taylor Field, and expressing aspirations to construct a downtown baseball stadium. The city sought to improve its appeal to tourists and attract baseball enthusiasts through the presence of a Blue Jays affiliate team.
Following the transformation of the Baby Jays into the Stompers in 1995, facilitated by local investors including advertising expert Terry O’Malley, the team’s legacy continued in St. Catharines. Despite the eventual departure of the minor league team in 1999, the community’s passion for baseball endures, with fans like Siegel preserving memories of the Stompers era.