Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers & Dufferin-Simcoe Braves
(Oldtimers Baseball Teams)
Baseball, as a team sport, becomes a meaningful part of many people’s lives. This is especially evident in the North Dufferin Baseball League, where countless individuals have played for years—often for decades. Oldtimers, or vintage baseball, offers players the opportunity to continue enjoying the game they love as they grow older. In our area, Oldtimers baseball has expanded in recent years and now includes three local teams.
These teams are the Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers, the Dufferin-Simcoe Braves, and the Barrie Red Sox. Two of the teams—the Rockers and the Braves—are primarily composed of former NDBL players.
Oldtimers baseball is both competitive and fun. It allows participants to continue playing the game they love alongside friends and former rivals, all while fostering strong camaraderie through friendly competition.
Links:
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers
The Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers were established in 1982 to give seasoned players from the North Dufferin Baseball League and the former South Simcoe Baseball League the opportunity to continue playing baseball. The team name recognizes both leagues. They joined the Vintage Baseball Federation of Ontario in 1983.
Over the years, the Rockers have played in tournaments across Ontario and once regularly competed in exhibition games against North Dufferin teams. They also participated in various benefit games.
From 1983 to 2014, the Rockers hosted their own annual tournament, welcoming Oldtimers teams from across the province. This event required two diamonds and, over the years, used parks in Ivy, New Lowell, Everett, Mansfield, Lisle, and Creemore. Traditionally held in July, the tournament has more recently shifted to a one‑day format featuring a select number of teams to continue the tradition.
Since 1999, the Rockers have attended the Canadian National Oldtimers Baseball Championships. The tournament moves to a different region of Canada each year (Ontario, the Eastern provinces, or the Western provinces). The first national tournament was held in 1993.
Between 1999 and 2002, the Rockers competed in the 35‑plus division. In 2002, when the Rockers hosted the National Tournament, they entered two teams—one in the 35‑plus division and one in the 44‑plus division.
Beginning in 2003, the Rockers consistently entered a team in the 44‑plus division and moved into the 50‑plus division in 2012.
In 2019, the Rockers entered the 58‑plus division. With changes to the National divisions, the team now competes in the 60‑plus category.
The Rockers have earned numerous national championships and finalist titles over the years.
In 2002, the Rockers had the honour of hosting the 10th Annual Canadian National Oldtimers Baseball Championship from August 2–5. Local ballparks in Collingwood (main diamond), Stayner, Creemore, Lisle, and Mansfield were used. The event was well attended, with 14 teams in the 35‑plus division and 11 teams in the 44‑plus division. The Rockers entered two teams—one in each division. The Barrie Red Sox Oldtimers, also featuring many past or current NDBL players, entered two teams as well.
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2000
Rockers at PEI, 2000
Back row, l-r: Terry Gowan, Paul Carruthers, Paul Greer, Tom Arnold, Bob Forbes, Roger Maes, Greg McKee, Kevin Greer, Rick Coker, Orville Jenkins, Gord Dunn, Jim Halliday.
Front row, l-r: Tom Anderson, Richard Cauthers, Brent Bailey, Terry Horan, Myles Morrish, Paul Black, Dan Gowan, Chris Darling, Richie Forbes (bat-boy).
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2005
Rockers at Tillsonburg, 2005 44+ National Champions
Back row, l-r: Steve Harrison, Greg McKee, Paul Greer, Paul Carruthers, Roger Maes, Tom Anderson, Rick Coker, Terry Gowan.
Front row, l-r: Don Bartley, Larry Sutton, Dave Mortimer, Richard Cauthers, Jim Halliday, Tom Arnold, Brent Bailey, Robert Landry.
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2009
Rockers at Yarmouth, 2009 44+ National Champions
Back row, l to r: Mike Kinghan, Rick Coker, Dick Cauthers, Roger Maes, Greg McKee, Dave Mortimer Sr., Paul Carruthers, Rob Forbes, Steve Harrison.
Front row, l to r: Dan Gowan, Terry Gowan, Dale Larson, Dillon Harrison (bat boy), Tom Arnold, Tom Anderson, Brent Bailey.
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2010
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2010 45+ Canadian National Champions
Back Row, l-r: Steve Harrison, Todd Breedon, Dan Gowan, Rick Coker, Roger Maes, Bob Forbes, Greg McKee, Dick Cauthers, Rich Salvatore.
Front Row, l-r: Brent Bailey, Kevin Green, Terry Gowan, Joe Lopes, Tom Arnold, Tom Anderson, Greg MacDonald.
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2012
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2012 50+ Canadian National Champions
Back Row, l-r: Steve Harrison, Greg McKee, Rick Coker, Gord Dunn, Dick Cauthers, Dave Mortimer Sr., Tom Anderson, Roger Maes, Bob Forbes.
Front Row, l-r: Don Bartley, Tom Arnold, Brent Bailey, Chris Davie, Terry Gowan, Jim Halliday.
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2019
The Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers attended the 27th National Oldtimers Championship Aug. 2-5.
Pictured, back row, from left: Len Ogaki, Dan Gowan, Bob Forbes, Steve Harrision, Greg McKee, Don Bartley, Dick Cauthers, Brent Bailey, John DeGroot.
Front row, from left: Tom Arnold, Terry Gowan, Chris Davie, Pete Lennox, Rick Coker, Jim Halliday.
Davie holds a t-shirt with the number 17, in memory of teammate Tom Anderson, who died in December.
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2024
Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 2024 60+ Canadian National Champions
Pictured, back row from left, John DeGroote, Steve Harrison, Dave Speers, Jim Halliday, Rick Coker, Greg McKee, Terry Gowan, Greg Campbell, Bob Forbes.
Front row from left, Don Bartley, Zac Nunez, Max Gaitan, Pete Lennox, Rob Hubbard, Steve Scott, Gord Zeggil, Brent Bailey.
Canadian Titles
| Champions |
|---|
| 2005, 45+ division |
| 2009, 45+ division |
| 2010, 45+ division |
| 2012, 45+ division |
| 2024, 60+ division |
| 2025, 60+ division |
| Finalists |
|---|
| 2000, 35+ division |
| 2002, 45+ division |
| 2003, 45+ division |
| 2004, 45+ division |
| 2006, 45+ division |
| 2017, 50+ division |
| 2018, 50+ division |
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves
The Dufferin-Simcoe Braves were formed in 2014 as a 35‑plus division team competing at the National Championships. They reached the finals in 2015. Like the Rockers, the Braves are composed primarily of former and current NDBL players and have progressed into older divisions as their core players have aged.
The Braves regularly play exhibition games against the Rockers, participate in regional tournaments and local tournaments in the NDBL, and have attended the Canadian Nationals in select years. The team has enjoyed strong performances, including winning a National title in the 43‑plus age division in 2024 and 2026.
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves - 2015
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves - 201535+ Division Canadian National Oldtimers Finalists
Back row, l-r: Shane Walker, Michael Fawcett, Aaron McMullen, Sean Ellis, Matt Van Geene, Jason Thompson, Chad Purchase, Sean Connor.
Front row, l-r: Dan Lemon, Don Dunn, Ron Mercer, Jeff Akitt, Brett Trott, Lance Bryan, Rob Perkins.
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves - 2022
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves 2022 - 43 plus age division Canadian National Oldtimers Finalists
Back row, l-r: Jason Thompson, Rob Perkins, Dan Lemmon, Stephen Warden, Aaron McMullen, Matt Baldry, Brett Trott, Steve Bowman, Sean Ellis.
Front row, l-r: Bryan Post, Lance Bryan, Ron Mercer, Shane Walker, Jeff Akitt, Kerry Dupuis.
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves - 2024
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves - 2024 43+ Division Canadian National Oldtimers Champions.
Back row from left, Brad Soules, Sean Ellis, Dan Lemmon, Chad Purchase, Craig Bessant, Stephen Warden, Steve Westbrooke, Matt Van Geene, Jeremy Uylenbroek, Brett Trott, Jason Thompson.
Front row, from left, Steve Bowman, Shawn Chalmers, Mike Wallace, Ron Mercer, Jeff Akitt, Lance Bryan, Kerry Dupuis, Shane Walker.
(Stephen Warden Photo)
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves - 2026
Dufferin-Simcoe Braves - 2026 43-age division Canadian National Oldtimers Champions
Back row from left, Robb Stinson, Brad Soules, Craig Bessant, Bryan Post, Dan Lemmon, Aaron McMullen, Greg Slater, Steve Westbrooke, Sean Ellis.
Front row, from left: Jason Thompson, Kerry Dupuis, Jeff Akitt, Shane Walker, Lance Bryan, Chad Purchase.
(Jeff Akitt photo)
Canadian Titles
| Champions |
|---|
| 2024, 43+ division |
| 2026, 43+ division |
| Finalists |
|---|
| 2015, 35+ division |
| 2022, 43+ division |
| 2025, 43+ division |
Dufferin-Simcoe and Barrie Rosters at 2002 Tournament
The 2002 Roster for Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 35+ Terry Gowan, Rick Coker, Paul Carruthers, Tom Anderson, Terry Horan, Dan Gowan, Stephen Harrison, Jim Halliday, Chris Darling, Myles Morrish, Steve Drury, Rob Hubbert, Kevin Green, Dave Waddell, Glenn Carruthers, Terry Knicely.
The 2002 Roster for Dufferin-Simcoe Rockers - 44+ Wayne Rowe, Dick Cauthers, Bob Forbes, Gord Dunn, Orville Jenkins, Tom Arnold, Terry Shaw, Kevin Greer, Paul Greer, Dave Mortimer, Lloyd Micks, Brent Bailey, Bill Patton, Steve Grossi, Roger Maes, Paul Black, Don Bartley, Ron Lennox, Hank McAteer.
The 2002 Roster for Barrie Red Sox - 35+ Greg Campbell, Neil Campbell, Chris Davie, Al Elliott, Don Elliott, Wayne Gethons, Bruce Harpell, Jeff Hurl, John Johnston, Brent MacTavish, Greg McMillan, Ted Moryto, Randy Richie, Rob Roy, Kevin Schrobback, Tom Scott, Dave Speers, Larry Sutton, Andy Van Der Heyden, Rick Zeggil.
The 2002 Roster for Barrie Red Sox - 44+ John Kenwell, Duncan Campbell, Bryan Greig, Bob Burns, Don Wardle, Jerry Hay, Grant Campbell, Greg Grant, Jim Scriver, Paul Borho, Roger Fleming, Andre Marszalek, Marty Beelen, John Johnson Sr., John Johnson Jr.
Oldtimers shine in exhibition ball game
Finishing off the opening day of New Lowell's Civic-holiday baseball tournament was an old-timers game involving players from years past. Two of them, Bob Patton and Monte Elliott have coaching chores now and Bill Patton still does some useful playing with both New Lowell and Ivy teams.
But nearly all the others were quite removed from active play and some surprised - and delighted - the throng of onlookers. The vets put together a five-inning fun game that had a 9-6 scoring edge for Bud Anderson's Visitors over Bill Irwin's Home.
Excelling was Demp Snow with three hits and a dazzling exhibition of running speed that added up to two runs for the winners. Also collecting hits were pitcher Monte Elliott, John Johnson and Jack Wilson. The losers got two hits each from Adrian Maes and Murray Henderson and singles from Bob Duff, Paul Carruthers and Robert Walker. The latter was also hit twice by a pitched ball, a frequent occurrence of former playing days.
Sharing the pitching for the losing side were Paul Carruthers, Fred Garland and George Ellis. Others on that line-up were Ray Coe and Bill Irwin. Filling out the winners' side were Bill Patton, Bob Patton, Harry Shaw, Cory Verstraten and George Scott.
- The Creemore Star, Wed. Aug. 6, 1980
