A New Era for Independent Professional Baseball in Canada Begins

The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), which has been in operation since 1919, is pleased to announce that it is now a fully professional league that will hereafter be known as the Canadian Baseball League (CBL.ca).   These changes reflect the significant growth of its fan base over the last three years, which culminated in a record 249,590 fans attending games in 2025.

The Canadian Baseball League is, simply put, the best professional baseball league in Canada.  Last season, 64 players with either MLB or Minor League Baseball experience suited up to play in the League, including former MLB All-Star and World Series champion Fernando Rodney who pitched for the Hamilton Cardinals.  Last year also witnessed former Guelph Royals player, Liam Hicks, make the Major League roster of, and become an integral player for, the Miami Marlins.

“Fan interest in our League has exploded to historic levels,” said CBL Commissioner Ted Kalnins. “The quality of baseball has always been top-rate, with players drawn from across Canada, Latin America and Japan, but the main engine of our growth has been significantly enhanced fan experience, with fun in-game entertainment, contests, unique theme nights, and accessible players, all at a very affordable price for an entire family." 

In addition to the name change, there will be numerous other changes in store for the Canadian Baseball League in 2026, some of which will be announced in the coming weeks.  The CBL’s regular season will increase from 42 to 48 games, commencing the second week of May 2026.  Only five teams will qualify for the playoffs, thereby raising the competitive stakes of the regular season.  The fourth-place team will face the fifth-place team in a one-game playoff, followed by two best-of-seven series to determine the Dominico Cup champion.

All CBL games will continue to be streamed live on YouTube, but will now also be available, along with other League content, via Roku, FireTV, Apple TV, iOS and Android apps.

The history of the Intercounty Baseball League will continue to be carried forward in every respect.  For the last year, numerous efforts were undertaken to research and consolidate historical information, photos and artifacts associated with the IBL’s lengthy history.  Among other partners, the Hanlan’s Point Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) has been assisting with this project, which shall continue to be a League priority.

“Our history is what made our future possible,” Kalnins said.  “Now, the Canadian Baseball League is ready to write the next chapter in the Canadian baseball story – one that will create an even better, more engaging, more memorable experience for our players, our communities, and most of all, our fans.” 

“The transition from the IBL to the Canadian Baseball League is a landmark moment for baseball in this country. I’m very excited to lead the London Majors in this new venture.” Roop Chanderdat (Majors’ Manager, GM & Co-Owner) said, “This is a great opportunity not just for our players, but for our fans as we move into a fully professional league. For decades, our game has been built on passion, tradition, and community, and now we have the chance to elevate that foundation to an even higher standard. The CBL gives us the framework to grow the sport, develop talent, and showcase Canadian baseball at its highest level, and we’re proud to be part of this next chapter.” 

From Scott Dart (Majors’ President & Co-Owner) “The London Majors have proudly been part of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) since 1919, and we are excited to carry that legacy forward into this new era as the Canadian Baseball League (CBL). Our fans, players, and community have always been at the heart of what we do, and this transition reflects the growth and passion of baseball we’ve seen across the country. We look forward to building on more than a century of history while offering an even stronger, more professional baseball experience for generations to come.”