From Ottawa baseball’s humble beginnings in the nineteenth century to the modern era of professional franchises, From Bytown to the Big Leagues takes you on a thrilling journey through 150 years of America’s pastime in Canada’s capital. Discover the stories of Ottawa’s earliest baseball teams, including two remarkable face-offs against the famed Boston Red Stockings. These early encounters laid the groundwork for the sport’s growth in the region, as amateur teams competed passionately throughout the late nineteenth century, culminating in the city’s first-and short-lived-professional team, the Senators.
Follow the rise and fall of professional franchises like the Ottawa Giants, the Ottawa Lynx, and the current Ottawa Titans. Each team’s journey is marked by significant milestones and challenges, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of baseball in the city.
The book delves into the stories of local heroes who have graced the diamond, including Jack Humphries, Frank ‘Shag’ Shaughnessy, Érik Bédard, and Philippe Aumont. These players, among others, have left their mark on Ottawa’s baseball legacy, inspiring generations of fans and aspiring athletes.
This book is the result of collaboration among members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), local researchers, and journalists.
From Bytown to the Big Leagues celebrates the unsung heroes and untold stories that make Ottawa’s baseball history so special. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer to the sport, this book will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the game’s place in the city’s cultural fabric.
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STEVE RENNIE is a former journalist now working in the Canadian government. He grew up in the village of Osgoode, which is now part of the city, and got to see the Ottawa Lynx in their heyday. His baseball writing includes articles for the SABR Team Ownership Histories Project and an upcoming piece on the short-lived Eastern International League of 1888. In the spring of 2024, he presented on Ottawa’s early baseball history at the Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference in Cooperstown, New York. He is the president of SABR’s Ottawa-Gatineau and Eastern Ontario chapter. He has a particular interest in nineteenth-century baseball in Canada and enjoys unearthing forgotten games and teams from the sport’s early history for the Centre for Canadian Baseball Research and Protoball. He lives in Ottawa with his wife Joanna and their two children.