FRONT OFFICE

C-K IBL Dignitaries

Bill Atkinson

Team Ambassador

Bill Atkinson grew up in Chatham and still calls C-K home today. Drafted by the Montreal Expos, Atkinson threw 98 games at the MLB level. He was signed by the Expos on his 17th birthday and climbed through the organization quickly, reaching AAA in 1975 and first appearing in the majors in 1976.

He was the top reliever for the 1976 Denver Bears, who won the American Association championship, picking up 15 saves that summer. Bill was called up to Montreal in September 1976 and did not allow a run in four outings. He made the Expos in 1977 and had a solid rookie season. After retirement, he returned to live in his hometown. ’

’It’s a wonderful time for Chatham-Kent to have an IBL franchise," said Atkinson. "This is the oldest league in Canada that started in 1919 and that develop many players that reached pro ball as well as the ones that made it and came back for great caliber. Let’s all cheer together for our team. I am honored to be the team Ambassador of the new IBL baseball club. Being a resident of Chatham-Kent all my life, I can testify that it is a great location and needed this baseball team. We have the fans, the facility and I am certain that the CK corporations will also be great support of our team."

Bill's role as Team Ambassador will be to greet and assist fans, and corporate partners throughout the ballpark at our home games. Bill will welcome fans as they arrive, shake hands, answer questions, provide information and directions, and offer tips to make the game-day experience efficient and hassle free, whether you are a first-time visitor or a season ticket holder.

You will find Bill on the perimeter of the ballpark to greet fans or hanging out in the Lounge section to offer corporate partners a great time at the ballpark. Atkinson will also participate to selected special events in the community to help promoting the team.

Bill invites you to enjoy a nice summer evening at the ballpark watching a great baseball game with the terrific calibre of play that the IBL offers.

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Ferguson Jenkins

Honourary Team President

Fergie Jenkins is one of Canada's most recognizable sports figures of all time. Canada's first inductee into Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame, Fergie's baseball story began in Chatham.

Fergie grew up in Chatham, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and hockey. In his first season as a full-time starter with the Cubs, he recorded 20 wins and was selected to play in the 1967 all-star game. He also compiles six consecutive 20-win seasons (1967 to 1972). In 1971, he led the National League with 24 wins, 30 complete games and 325 innings pitched and became the first Cub to win the Cy Young Award.

A bonafide icon, our local pitching legend retired with 284 career wins and is the only pitcher in history to record more than 3,000 strikeouts (3,192), while allowing fewer than 1,000 walks (997). Jenkins was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1991, becoming the only Canadian to be so honored. He is also a Canadian Hall of Fame honored player.

Fergie is very excited and happy that his home now has an IBL team his ballpark. ‘’I am convinced that the population as well as the corporations will greatly support our team.’’ It is an honor for me to be the team’s Honorary President and I hope I will have a chance to meet with you this summer at one of our games. Go CK Go !

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Executive

Dom Dinelle

Owner & President

Emailinfo@ckiblbaseball.com

Dom spent 12 years in professional baseball until 2016 as a player, coach and scout with the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins. Dom was a part of the 2015 Can Am League Trois-Rivieres Aigles league champions coaching staff. Also, an MLB analyst on RDS, a French sports TV station in Quebec. Dom spent 20 years owning an international baseball camp company.

"As a professional instructor, I am always happy to see my athletes working to improve their fundamentals and get closer to their dreams."

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Harry Muir

VP Executive - Baseball General Manager

Emailharry@harrymuir.ca

Chatham-Kent's IBL organization is proud to introduce baseball lifer and former Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer Harry Muir as our first ever General Manager. From London, Muir spent four years in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system during their heyday of title runs in the early ’90s. He also etched his name in the Canadian baseball history books by becoming the first Canadian to throw a no-hitter in international play.

Muir won a gold medal representing Team Ontario at the Canadian Nationals in Trois Rivieres with Team Ontario in 1990. Later that summer, Muir was selected to join Team Canada and traveled to Cuba for the World Junior Championships. In his first start, Muir would throw that historic first-ever no-hitter by a Canadian in international play.

The following spring, Muir would travel to Florida, after being signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a Canadian free agent directly out of high school. He would spend the next four years in their minor league system. While a member of the St Catherine’s Blue Jays, Harry was featured in an award-winning documentary produced by CBC television titled, Chasing the Dream. In 1995, Muir found himself in Montpellier, France playing for the Barracudas of the French Premier League. He went undefeated, won another national championship and captured Import Pitcher of the Year honours.

Upon returning to Ontario, Harry had a brief stint with the London Majors of the IBL as a player before switching his focus to coaching for the team. Muir also spent 12 years managing and coaching in the London Tecumsehs organization helping to grow youth players passion for the game.

Recently, Harry helped launch POSI (Purpose of Sport Initiative), an organization to promote and support the growth of positive character and culture in sport.

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Ron Lecuyer

VP Executive - Director Business Development

Emailronaldlecuyer@icloud.com

Ronald is a Real Estate business owner and former Senior baseball team owner for six years in the province of Quebec. His team won the Organization of the year Award with him as an owner.

Mark Jackson

VP Executive - Sales Manager

Emailmarkjackson.carsales@gmail.com

Mark was born and raised in Chatham and is a life-long Chatham-Kent resident. He has been involved in Advertising, Marketing and Sales for the majority of his professional career. He is currently a Sales and Leasing Consultant at Victory Ford Lincoln in Chatham.

Jay Smith

VP Executive Communications, Marketing Director

Emailjaysmitty519@gmail.com

Jay is a self-professed baseball fanatic and a lifelong resident of Chatham-Kent. Smith has 20 years of experience in local radio and is an active community volunteer and supporter. A long-time fan of the Intercounty Baseball League, Jay is uber excited to help bring the IBL to C-K.