Johnston named to Top 100 all-time of IBL
Peterborough’s Rick Johnston has been recognized as one of the Inter-County Baseball League’s 100 greatest players of all time.
Johnston, 53, a member of the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame, will be honoured during the IBL’s 100th anniversary banquet in Kitchener on Saturday. As part of the festivities a panel of managers, media and league staff compiled a list and voted to select the IBL’s Top 100 players, in no particular order.
Johnston starred for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1989 to 1995, winning two league MVP awards and two batting titles. The centre fielder set a number of hitting records which he says have since been bettered.
Johnston also managed the Maple Leafs for one season, during which they set an all-time winning percentage record. He was general manager and manager of the Brantford Red Sox for 10 years leading the team to seven IBL titles. His last year of involvement in the league was in 2013.
“It’s pretty humbling and pretty flooring given the thousands of players who have played in the league in the 100 years it’s been around,” said Johnston, who maintains a home in Peterborough while operating The Baseball Zone in Mississauga.
“I’m certainly very honoured and excited.”
He continues to coach baseball, including with Baseball Canada.
Johnston also played for Canada’s national team between 1985 and 1991, playing in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis and 1991 Pan Am Games in Cuba as well as several world championships.
Johnston said the IBL is a highcalibre league with many aspiring or former professionals. He helped the Maple Leafs win a league championship in 1995.
“I remember when I came out of college Jack Dominico, who has owned the Maple Leafs for probably 50 years, called me. I knew I was going to go there as a 19-year-old and there were so many legends who were there,” he said.
“Bill Byckowski and Jimmy Wojcik, guys who are on the Top 100, and I was just floored watching them play. The league was full of guys who had played AA and AAA and had a lot of Americans. The older guys always helped you.
“There were some pretty awesome players that have come through the league.”
Johnston also coached a number of future MLB players in the IBL.
“I had the good fortune to not only play with these guys but to coach a number of them including guys like Rob Butler, John Axford, Richie Butler who played in the big leagues. That was rewarding as well,” he said.
Johnston looks forward to sitting at a Maple Leafs table during the reunion.
“It’s going to be great to see everybody and guys we haven’t seen for a while and exchange stories, war stories I guess,” he said.
Johnston’s coaching exploits keep him busy. He’ll be travelling to Florida, Vancouver and Oklahoma over the next six weeks.