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Current season, competition or edition: 2024 GIMBA season | |
| Sport | Fantasy baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Commissioner | Julian Miller |
| No. of teams | 11 (as of 2025) |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | DLO's DLs (Dan) (2024) |
| Most titles | Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) – 5 titles |
| Official website | ESPN Fantasy Baseball |
The Garth Iorg Memorial Baseball Association (GIMBA) is a long-running fantasy baseball league founded in 1989. Named in honor of former Major League Baseball infielder Garth Iorg, the league has operated continuously for over three decades. Known for its auction draft, unique keeper rules, and awarding of the "GIMBA Belt" to its annual champion, GIMBA has developed a reputation among its members as one of the most competitive private fantasy baseball leagues in Canada.[1]
History
editGIMBA was created in 1989 by a group of Canadian high school students who wanted a more competitive alternative to traditional fantasy baseball formats. One of the founders, a fan of Garth Iorg—an infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1978 to 1987—suggested naming the league after him, despite Iorg's modest career statistics.[2]
The league originally used pen, paper, and newspaper clippings for scoring, before transitioning to online platforms in the early 2000s. Since 2008, GIMBA has operated through the ESPN Fantasy Sports platform, which enabled detailed record-keeping, including full standings and statistics.
Format
editGIMBA employs an auction draft format. The previous season’s champion begins by nominating the first player, with following nominations proceeding clockwise among the 11 teams. Each franchise has a $335 budget to assemble a roster consisting of:
- 2 catchers
- 2 first basemen
- 2 second basemen
- 2 shortstops
- 2 third basemen
- 5 outfielders
- 2 utility hitters
- 10 pitchers
Following the auction, a 13-round reserve draft is conducted in reverse order of the previous year’s final standings.
The league’s keeper system allows teams to retain up to eight players annually:
- Retained players increase in cost by $5 each season.
- Teams may "franchise" one player each year, exempting them from the cost increase.
- Players may also be signed to two-year deals, with $5 annual salary increases.
Traditions
editOne of the league’s signature elements is the "GIMBA Belt," a WWE style championship belt awarded to the season’s winner.[3] The belt changes hands each year at the annual draft event.
Longstanding rivalries have defined the league, particularly between RG Mudville Nine, Dyersville Dreamers, and Crime Dawgs, all of whom have multiple championships. Notable past team names have included "Bring Back the 'Roids," "Chipper off the Old Block," and "Garthville Bips."
Teams and Managers
editAs of 2024, GIMBA consists of the following franchises:
- Rick – RG Mudville Nine
- Dan – DLO’s DLs
- Sam – Green Eggs and Ham
- Gord – Boyz of the Hood
- Julian – Dyersville Dreamers
- Nate – Fielders of Dreams
- Stan – Toronto Shrikes
- Pat – Sandlot Blues
- Wyatt – Trash Pandas
- Jarrod – Crime Dawgs
- Eric – Stoney Creek Stinger Dingers
Championships
editThe following table lists GIMBA champions since 2008 (the first year with digital records):
| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | RG Mudville Nine (Rick) | Toronto Shrikes (Stan) |
| 2009 | Dyersville Dreamers (Julian) | Chipper off the Old Block (Quin) |
| 2010 | DLO’s DLs (Dan) | Toronto Strikes (Stan) |
| 2011 | Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) | Dyersville Dreamers (Julian) |
| 2012 | RG Mudville Nine (Rick) | Team Alex (Alex) |
| 2013 | Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) | Green Eggs and Ham (Sam) |
| 2014 | RG Mudville Nine (Rick) | Green Eggs and Ham (Sam) |
| 2015 | Fielders of Dreams (Nate) | Toronto Shrikes (Stan) |
| 2016 | Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) | Boys of the Hood (Gord) |
| 2017 | RG Mudville Nine (Rick) | Boyz of the Hood (Gord) |
| 2018 | Dyersville Dreamers (Julian) | Boyz of the Hood (Gord) |
| 2019 | Dyersville Dreamers (Julian) | Sandlot Blues (Pat) |
| 2020 | Boyz of the Hood (Gord) | Dyersville Dreamers (Julian) |
| 2021 | Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) | Grimsby White Sox (Kevin) |
| 2022 | Dyersville Dreamers (Julian) | Boyz of the Hood (Gord) |
| 2023 | Boyz of the Hood (Gord)
Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) |
Garthville Bips (John) |
| 2024 | DLO’s DLs (Dan) | Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) |
Titles by Team
edit| Team | Titles Since 2008 |
|---|---|
| Crime Dawgs (Jarrod) | 5 |
| Dyersville Dreamers (Julian) | 4 |
| RG Mudville Nine (Rick) | 4 |
| Boyz of the Hood (Gord) | 2 |
| DLO’s DLs (Dan) | 2 |
| Fielders of Dreams (Nate) | 1 |
Legacy
editDespite being a private league, GIMBA is regarded by its members as a model of fantasy baseball’s staying power, balancing competitive play with community and tradition.[4] The league’s longevity places it among the oldest continuously active fantasy baseball leagues in North America.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The enduring world of fantasy baseball leagues". The New York Times. March 20, 2019.
- ^ "Garth Iorg player page". Baseball-Reference.
- ^ "Fantasy Baseball Trophies: A Look at League Traditions". ESPN.
- ^ Michael Salfino (April 1, 2021). "Why Fantasy Baseball Endures". The Athletic.