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The Early Years
Dollard Baseball started in the 1970s under the banner of Little League Canada and fielded teams in the Minor and Major categories for players 9-12 years of age and added teams in the Intermediate category (13-14 years old) shortly thereafter. T-Ball was added in 1977 for our youngest players, aged 6-8.
By the time we reached the late 1970s, we had enough players registered in all baseball categories for us to have our own house league of 6-8 teams. An all-star team was selected each year for players to compete in the Quebec District Championships; Quebec Provincial Championships with the hopes of representing Quebec in the Nationals and Canada at the Little World Series.
Transition to Baseball Quebec
In 1981, the decision was made to transition to Baseball Quebec Federated Baseball while still maintaining a Little League membership. This hybrid approach lasted only a couple of seasons and Dollard Baseball has been a dedicated member of the Lac St-Louis Region of Baseball Quebec ever since.
Dollard Baseball was legally incorporated in 1982.
Dollard Atom Baseball Tournament
The Dollard Atom Baseball Tournament began in 2012 with a modest collection of teams in the A & B categories and it was an immediate success with players, parents and coaches, leading to an increase in teams registered each year.
The participants enjoyed a well organized event with “fun” for the kids being the top priority. Each team received a well earned hot dog and a drink after each game with teams lingering in the BBQ area to watch the next few games taking place.
Check out our Tournament site for more information.
New Team Names For 2016
Dollard Baseball decided that it should have team names that are representative of the history of baseball in Montreal and Dollard des Ormeaux as we continue to honour and promote the significance of baseball in Montreal.
A Teams
Baseball in Montreal is the Expos. It was the first MLB team from outside of the United States and served as recognition that Montreal was a major league city with a long and storied history in the game. Naming our A teams the Expos is a fitting tribute to the years 1969-2004 that coincided with the growth of DDO.
B Teams
The Montreal Royals were in existence in one form or another from 1896-1960. Most significantly, the Royals were in the International League from 1928-1960 with Major League affiliations to:
- Philadelphia Athletics (1933-1934)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (1937-1938)
- Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1939-1960)
The Royals’ affiliation to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946 and the integration of Jackie Robinson into the ranks of professional “white” baseball is a very significant contribution to the history of the game and something our city should be very proud of. The city of Montreal was specifically chosen as the best team for Jackie Robinson to play for in 1946 under the assumption that the fans would welcome him more openly than other cities in the United States.
The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers were the parent club of the Montreal Royals from 1939-1960 and baseball and the Dodgers have a long history in this city.
In addition to there being a connection to Montreal, the Dodgers name has been used by Dollard Baseball in the past. In 1986, Dollard entered a team in the Junior AA league and played out of Lake Rd. park. The team “expanded” its reach the next season, re-naming itself the North Shore Dodgers and played its home games at the new Sportsplexe in Pierrefonds and winning the Junior AA championship in 1987. Several Dollard players, coaches and administrators made up the core of that championship winning team.
There is only 1 MLB team in Canada and they are the Blue Jays. They are growing in popularity in Montreal and across Canada with many of today’s kids choosing them as their favorite team.
The Quebec Braves were a Minor League Baseball team that operated from 1939–1955. Operating in Quebec City, the team played in the Quebec Provincial League in 1939 and 1940 and the Canadian–American League from 1941–1942 and 1946–1950. They were affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1941 season, the Chicago Cubs in 1946, New York Giants in 1948 and the Boston Braves/Milwaukee Braves from 1951–1955.