A New Era Begins for the Hamilton Cardinals

The Hamilton Cardinals are proud to be part of a major moment in Canadian baseball. After more than 100 years as the Intercounty Baseball League, our league is now a fully professional league under a new name: the Canadian Baseball League (CBL.ca). This step comes at a time when fan support across the league has reached new heights, with more than 249,000 fans attending games in 2025.

For us in Hamilton, this change reflects what our fans already know. The level of play has never been higher. Last season, 64 players with MLB or Minor League experience played in the league, including former MLB All-Star and World Series champion Fernando Rodney, who took the mound for the Cardinals. 

“Fan interest in our League has exploded to historic levels,” said CBL Commissioner, Ted Kalnins. “The quality of baseball has always been top-rate, but the main engine of our growth has been significantly enhanced fan experience, with fun in-game entertainment, contests, unique theme nights, and accessible players, all at an affordable price for an entire family."  

As the Canadian Baseball League moves into 2026, more changes are coming. The regular season will expand from 42 to 48 games, starting in the second week of May. Only five teams will qualify for the playoffs, raising the stakes every night. The fourth- and fifth-place teams will meet in a one-game playoff, followed by two best-of-seven series to crown the Dominico Cup champion.

Fans will now be able to watch CBL games not only on YouTube and Cable 14 but also on Roku, FireTV, Apple TV with the new free CBL TV app.

While the league moves forward, the history of the Intercounty Baseball League will continue to be protected and celebrated. Over the last year, significant work has gone into preserving decades of stories, photos, and artifacts, with help from partners including the Hanlan’s Point Chapter of SABR.

“This is an exciting moment for our league and for the city of Hamilton. It formalizes what many of our fans already know, which is that this is the top baseball league in Canada,” said Cardinals owner Eric Spearin. “Operationally, not much changes for us or for many other teams because we’ve already been running as close to a professional environment as possible. All the owners in the CBL are excited to grow together and the positive impact it will have for fans and players”

The Hamilton Cardinals are ready for this new era of professional baseball in Canada, and we can’t wait to share it with our city. Secure your 2026 season tickets today at ShopCardinals.ca!