February 2, 2021

Official London Majors News Release

In the past week, the Canadian Baseball Network revealed Bob Elliott's annual Top 100 (this year was 112) Most Influential Canadians in baseball.

This list includes Canadians from all different avenues in baseball from players to reporters to staff. The Majors are lucky enough to have two current members of the organization and even some former players on the “Honourable Mentions” portion of the list.

To start off, Majors field manager Roop Chanderdat was named for the second year in a row. The former Majors outfielder and now co-owner and general manager has been instrumental in keeping the tradition of baseball continuing at Labatt Park and in London, Ont., since owning the team with fellow owner Scott Dart since 2004.

More Honourable Mentions

In 2019, Jon Fitzsimmons was the most dominant arm the Majors had and he has taken his skills to the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels organizations. He also works with members of the Great Lakes Canadians organization as the pitching coordinator.

The newest member of the Majors broadcast crew Jackson Farough is a London native who attends Ryerson University (Toronto, Ont.). Joining the Majors before the season was cancelled, Farough was the in-game host during the Legacy Classic on Rogers. He’s also the host of the Intercounty Baseball League’s podcast, IBL on Deck, that can be seen online.

The highest-ranked former Major on the list was 1985 pitcher Fergie Jenkins. Jenkins was ranked 10th. Jenkins not only is one of the most recognizable players to play in the IBL but also in the Majors uniform after his 19-year MLB career.

Other members of the Honourable Mentions list include:

- Former catcher Larry Balkwill - hitting/catching instructor for Great Lakes Canadians (Major in 2013-14, 2019)

- Former pitcher Chris Boatto - Ontario Terriers 16U pitching coach (Major in 2017 )

- Former catcher Sean Refflinghaus - catching/hitting instructor for Great Lakes Canadians (Major in 2014-16),

- Mitch Lumley - assistant coach for the London Badger 14U team (Major in 2015 )

- Mike Lumley - Western Mustangs manager (Major in 1985, 88, 1994-95, 1999,2000, 2003)

- Brad McElroy - manager Great Lakes Canadians 14U Red team (Major in 2005-06 )