Tommy Lasorda's nine-year stint a half century ago when he became the winningest pitcher in the history of the International League's Montreal Royals franchise will earn him induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum on June 24th.

Lasorda will be enshrined with three other well-deserving inductees, including fellow southpaw Ron Stead of London, Ontario, who dominated the Intercounty League, Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan native Ron Hayter, a driving force in the development of baseball in Western Canada, and Fredericton, New Brunswick's Larry McLean, who had played the most games in the Major Leagues (862) of any Canadian eligible but not yet elected to the Hall. McLean, who died at 39 years of age in 1921, will be inducted posthumously.

There were a total of 55 names on the active ballot, voted on by a 16-member panel geographically spread across Canada. Candidates must receive a minimum of seventy-five percent (12 votes) in order to be inducted.

"Besides their outstanding credentials, which speak for themselves, the attractiveness of the class of '06 is that they represent balances we strive for: generational, regional, and a balance between professional and grass roots baseball in Canada," said Hall president & CEO Tom Valcke.

The 2006 Induction Ceremony will take place in beautiful St. Marys, Ontario on Saturday, June 24th at 10:00am, with the Hall's 10th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic the day before.

Ron Stead - Born in London, Ontario, Ron Stead is the greatest pitcher to play in the heralded Intercounty League as illustrated by his longevity and dominance. Stead ranks first in all-time wins (104), innings pitched (1,365), strikeouts (1,231), games started (151), complete games (116), and shutouts (25). He was a 10-time All-Star and four-time MVP (1960, '63, '65, and '67).

Stead led Brantford to five consecutive league championships from 1959 through 1963 plus another in 1965. With Guelph, they won the 1970 championship.

His best individual season was 1963, when he compiled a 14-1 won-loss record and a microscopic 0.63 ERA.

Stead still holds the single-season Intercounty League record for innings pitched (149 in 1960) and most strikeouts (155 in 1965).

Stead was also the starting pitcher for the very first Team Canada ever assembled, in the 1967 Pan Am Games. He turned in a strong five-hit, 10-strikeout performance over seven innings against Mexico.

He was also a member of the Ontario team at the 1969 Canada Games in Halifax.

The left-hander also pitched in 1957-58 for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the International League, the team who he had previously served as batboy for 10 years. He also had amassed a 31-31 record over two seasons in the Florida State League with Orlando and Gainsville in 1956-57.

"This is truly an honour and a tribute to all amateur players across Canada," said a humbled Stead from his Chatham home.

"I loved every minute of my career, and this caps it all."