starting in 1966 but didn't break through to win in the playoffs until 1970. That was the last playoff victory for the local franchise until the Guelph Royals won the 1993 championship. The Royals also won the 1997 Inter-County title and lost in the league final on two other occasions, including an infamous ninth-inning collapse that gave the Stratford Hillers the 1994 crown. A number of Guelph players have gone on to the pro ranks during the city's history. As of 2015, three Guelphites were playing professionally. Jeremy Ware spent seven seasons in the Montreal Expos organization before moving to the Cleveland Indians earlier this year while Shawn Pearson (Toronto Blue Jays) and Jamie Pogue (St. Louis Cardinals) are also playing in the minor leagues. Notable players are four time MVP and three time triple crown winner Sean Reilly as well as, Mark Shepherd. Shepherd who was a promising left handed power hitter from Oakville. Other notable achievements. Chris Robinson, catcher for Morehead State University, who played two seasons with the Royals, was named to the NCAA DI, First Team All American team in 2015. Folding and re-starting (2017) In the 2017 season, Guelph was 1-15 after 16 games and they pulled out for the rest of the season The club subsequently folded but was re-started under a new owner, Shawn Fuller and Guelph mayor Cam Guthrie in September 2017. Former owner Jim Rooney was unable to attend the press conference. Fuller said that he would give up the non-profit status and run the team as a corporation. The Royals fielded a new team for the 2018 season, including five players imported from the Dominican Republic, including Angel Villalona a former top San Francisco Giants prospect. The Royals were eliminated from the playoffs on 13 August 2018 when they lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs (semi-pro baseball) team. During the 2019 season and 2022 seasons, the team was eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Hamilton Cardinals. See also List of baseball teams in Canada Lester B. Pearson – played one summer with the then Guelph Maple Leafs References External links Baseball teams in Ontario Intercounty Baseball League Sport in Guelph Baseball teams established in 1861 1861 establishments in Ontario