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Biography:
Jack Dominico came from a well known North Bay family who played minor ball and hockey here before leaving town to pursue a career in the newspaper field. He learned his trade in Sault Ste Marie, Gravenhurst and Etobicoke before starting his own marketing firm in Toronto in 1969 and acquired the Ontario Hockey League as a key client. He prepared their yearbooks, catalogues and various publications for more than 30 years. Toronto was a key member of the Triple ’A’ International Baseball League for many decades and when the club was moved to Louisville Kentucky it left the city without top flight ball. The Intercounty League, a top grade semi pro loop founded in1919, placed a franchise in Toronto to fill the gap. Dominico purchased the club in 1969 and his marketing and entreprenurial skills kept it alive for more than 40 years. Dominico’s Leafs won 20 Intercounty pennants and eight championships while playing their home games (with no admission charge) at Christie Pits in Etobicoke. The familiar blue and white maple leaf crest with a centre “T” is the oldest sports team logo in Toronto, pre-dating the NHL Leafs original crest. The lineup over the years has included some former Blue Jays and North Bay’s Damon Topolie caught for the club for a number of seasons and later became coach. In 1987 Dominico created a charity baseball celebrity dinner which brings old time baseball stars to Toronto to share stories and experiences with today’s fans. Over the years the gala featured the likes of Warren Spahn, Bob Gibson, Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, Orlando Cepeda, Curt Flood, Robin Roberts, Maury Wills, Country Slaughter, George Kell and Canadian Ferguson Jenkins, among others. Dominico was inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 along with Frank Orr, Red Kelly and Frank Selke Jr. In 2010 the main diamond at Christie Pits was named in honour of Jack and his late wife Lynne who worked with him, with the team and at the ballpark every step of the way.
Inductee No.
242
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| Last Revised:
10/20/2013 |
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