OTTAWA- After 13 weeks of voting, the winner of Baseball Canada’s 50 for 50 contest has been decided and the gold medal winning 1991 National Youth Team takes the honour as the top moment in the 50-year history of Baseball Canada!
The 1991 Youth Team, who won the hearts of fans in Brandon, Manitoba, the site of the 1991 World Youth Championship, beat out the 2011 Pan Am Games gold medalists in the final round of the contest.
“There have been so many great moments and stories over the years for Baseball Canada so to be recognized as the top moment is special,” said current Baseball Canada Vice President, Jason Dickson who was a member of the 1991 gold medal winning Youth Team. “We were just a bunch of young kids who got on a roll at the right time and ended up coming out on top.
“Winning that gold medal is a moment I will never forget.”
Baseball Canada’s 50 for 50 contest began with 50 entries in early May with voting taking place over a 13 week period. Once the first round of voting was complete, ten entries remained that eventually became the two gold medal-winning teams who met in the final round.
To find out more about the 1991 Youth Team along with a roster of player, coaches and staff, please see below.
Perhaps no other baseball competition has a tougher outcome to predict than the World Youth (18U) Baseball Championship. Put the best 16-to-18 year olds on the world’s biggest stage for the first time, and you’re in for an exciting roller coaster event highlighted by unexpected performances and unsung heroes, mental breakdowns and disappointments. The 1991 World Youth Baseball Championship in Brandon, Manitoba certainly proved to be a great show for the many spectators who attended, as Canada came out on top against all odds. After having lost to the Netherlands in exhibition play, the Canucks polished their game just in time for the start of the tournament. The opener was on July 26th, and Canada easily disposed of that same Netherlands team 10-0. The road to the finals was an excruciating 10-game journey that included matches against Australia, Cuba, Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico, and the USA. Daniel Brabant (Longueil, QC) made the start for Canada in the finals against Chinese Taipei, allowing only 4 hits in 5 2/3 despite his offense manufacturing little run support and his club falling behind 2-0. Jason Birmingham (Sarnia, ON) was brought in the game to replace an injured Brabant in the 6th, and recorded the final ten outs of the game in stellar fashion by throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings. The offense came courtesy of Toronto Native Todd Betts, who hit a game tying double and Troy Croft of Newfoundland who belted a homer to right-center field in the top of the 8th. When it was all said and done, Canada defeated Chinese Taipei 5-2 in front of 5, 000 fans at Brandon’s Westbran Stadium, becoming the only Canadian team at the time (and still to this today) to win gold at the event.
1991 Baseball Canada National Youth Team:
SS Todd Betts, 1B/P Jason Birmingham, P Daniel Brabant, IF/OF Stubby Clapp, OF Kevin Collins, OF/P Troy Croft, C Jim Curtis, P/OF Jason Dickson, P Mark Fraser, P Jason Gooding, C Blaise Laveay, SS Jason Lee, P Mike McKinlay, OF Robert Nicholson, OF BJ Richardson, OF Todd Schell, OF Ken Torrance, P Joe Young, Head Coach - John Harr, Coach - Tony Flood, Coach - Gord Leduchowski, Coach - Gary Picone, Business Manager - Earl Berard, Trainer - Brad Williams
