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Toronto Argonauts banner.
Post Modern, 1976-1988

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The Toronto Argonauts football club was formed on October 4, 1873, making them one of the oldest existing clubs in professional North American sport. The Argonauts football club branched off from the Argonauts Rowing Club that was formed in 1871. The purpose of the football club at that time was to keep rowing club in shape during the off-season. After six years of football, the hits players were taking during the football season began to affect their performance in the rowing season, and the Argonauts football club decided to cease operations for the year. In 1880, the Argonauts returned after a change in the rules of rugby-football. One rule that was changed was the formation rule in which the players would line up side by side instead of being bunched up like a scrum in rugby today. In 1883, with the creation of the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU), the Argonauts became the first ever ORFU champions, defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders (they were known as Ottawa City then) 9-7. The following season in 1884, the Argonauts Football Club defended their ORFU championship, but lost badly to the Quebec Rugby Football Union (QRFU) champions, the Montreal Football Club 30-0. Montreal claimed the Dominion Cup that season and become Canadian champions. From the 1885 to 1889 seasons, the Argonauts did not win any ORFU championships. In fact, they made it back to the ORFU finals just once, in 1889, when they lost to Ottawa College 17-2. In the 1890s, the Argonauts football club did not fare well, so in 1895 it was decided that the Football Club would once again shut down, this time because of disputes between the Argonauts Football club, the Argonauts Rowing Club, and the ORFU. After a three year hiatus the Argonauts football club returned to the ORFU, giving up 140 total points in the six games they played.

Hoping to change their luck, the Football Club hired their fourteenth head coach in club history, Pud Kent, and changed their name from the Argonauts Football Club to The Argonauts Rugby Football Club. After making the playoffs in 1900 and 1902, though losing to Ottawa College and the Rough Riders, respectively, the Argonauts finally captured a title. While it was not an ORFU championship, they did capture a city championship defeating the Toronto Torontos 40-1. In 1906, the Argonauts left the ORFU and decided to join the new Inter-Provincial Rugby Football Union (the predecessor to the CFL East division) before the 1907 season. Their first four seasons in the union did not go especially well, but their best season came in 1910 when they finished 3-3 and tied for second place with the Ottawa Rough Riders. In 1911, the Argonauts moved from Rosedale Field to Varsity Stadium, and saw an immediate impact, as they finished their first season in Varsity Stadium in first place, and went on to their first Grey Cup game where they lost to the University of Toronto (U of T) 14-7. The Argonauts returned to the Grey Cup in 1912, but, like the previous year, they lost, this time to the Hamilton Alerts 11-4.

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During the 1914 season, the Argonauts finally captured their first Grey Cup title, defeating U of T 14-2. The outbreak of World War I affected Argonauts Football and the IRFU, with players being sent overseas to fight. In 1916 it was decided that no games would be played until the war ended. In 1919, the war was over and the IRFU resumed operations, and the Argonauts finished with a 3-3 record.

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The 1914 Grey Cup winning team.
14 December 1914
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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In 1920, the Argonauts went to the Grey Cup game, despite some controversy in the semi-final game against the Toronto Rowing Club- a disputed call meant that the game had to be replayed from the second half. Despite this controversy, the Argonauts won the match, and went on to the Grey Cup, once again coming up short as they lost to U of T 16-3. The next season in 1921, the Argonauts returned to the Grey Cup, and with the power of Lionel 'Big Train' Conacher, shut out The Edmonton Eskimos 23-0 in the first ever Grey Cup played between Eastern and Western Canadian teams.

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Lineup of the first ever East-West Grey Cup game between Toronto and Edmonton.
3 December 1921
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Lionel "Big Train" Conacher jersey worn during the 1920 season.
Circa 1920

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For the rest of the 1920s, the Argonauts did not make it to the Grey Cup, in fact their best season was in 1922, when they finished 5-0-1, but ended up losing to Queen's University in the semi-final.

During the 1923 season, the Argonauts decided to play an exhibition game against the Maryland Third Army Corps in Yankee Stadium, with one half being played under Canadian Rules and the other half being played under American rules. Led by Argonauts captain Cap Fear, Toronto did not stand a chance as they fell to defeat to the American squad 55-7. The Argonauts only score came in the second quarter, while the Army Corps scored on their first three tries.

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Game Program for the Argonauts vs. Third Corps Area, U.S. Army.
3 November 1923
Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, United States of America

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The 1930s were good for the club as a whole, as they won three Grey Cups in this decade. In 1933 the Argonauts won their third Grey Cup against the Sarnia Imperials 4-3. The next two seasons of importance for the Argonauts was during the 1937 and 1938 seasons, as they won back-to-back Grey Cups, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 4-3 and 30-7, respectively. These Argonauts teams were the first since the Ottawa Senators to win the Grey Cup back-to-back.

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Lineup for the Grey Cup between Toronto and Sarnia.
9 December 1933
Athletic Park, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

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The 1938 Toronto Argonauts.
Circa 1938

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The 1942 to 1944 seasons were cancelled, due to World War II. In 1945, the IRFU resumed operations, and the Argonauts won their sixth Grey Cup, once again defeating Winnipeg 35-0. With the 12 game schedule and the rebirth of the Montreal Football Club (Montreal Alouettes) in 1946, the Argonauts defeated Montreal and Toronto Balmy Beach in the playoffs, and once again Winnipeg to capture another Grey Cup.

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1946 Grey Cup champions
Circa 1946

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Game action of Royal Copeland during the 1947 Grey Cup.
29 November 1947
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Toronto's next Grey Cup appearance and victory was in 1950, in the famous Mud Bowl, once again defeating the Blue Bombers 13-0. The game itself was not very compelling, due to errant throws the entire game by each quarterback, but it did have drama, as it appeared that the referee Hec Creighton had saved a Winnipeg Blue Bomber pplayer Buddy Tinsley from drowning on the field.

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The Toronto Argonauts after the Mud Bowl.
25 November 1950
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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The next time Toronto made the Grey Cup was in 1952, this time defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11, earning their 10th Grey Cup in Argonauts history.

After winning the Grey Cup, things started to go bad for Toronto, and they finished last place five times in the 1950s (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959). Before the 1959 season even started, the Argonauts moved into the CNE grounds. And to open up the new stadium, the Argonauts decided that they should played an exhibition game against the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL, once again using both types of rules in the process. Toronto were leading early 13-7 after one quarter, but still ended up losing the game 55-26.

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Game program between the Toronto Argonauts and the Chicago Cardinals.
5 August 1959
CNE Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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To start off the 1960s, the Argonauts decided once again that they should host a NFL team in Exhibition Stadium. This time, the Pittsburgh Steelers came, and much like in 1959 Toronto lost 43-16. Hoping the third time will be the charm for the Argonauts, Toronto once again challenged the NFL and the St. Louis Cardinals came to Exhibition Stadium. Unfortunately for Toronto, they once again fell in defeat as they lost the game 36-7. Toronto's only score came in the last quarter.

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Game program between Toronto and St. Louis.
2 August 1961
CNE Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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From 1962 to 1966, the Argonauts were in last place, with the1963 season being their worst, with only three wins. In 1967, for the first time in five seasons, Toronto made the playoffs only to be defeated by Ottawa 38-22 in the Eastern semi-final. While 1968 was an improvement from the year previous, the Argonauts still could not beat the Rough Riders.

In that same season, Bill Symons became the first Argonaut ever to rush 1,000 yards in a season. Thanks to that achievement, he became the first Argonaut to win the Schenley Award, which is now known as the Most Outstanding Player Award. The 1970s were much like the 1960s- a decade of disappointment, even though it started well.

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In 1971 Toronto finished in first place in their division for the first time since 1960, and made their return to the Grey Cup for first time in 19 years unfortunately the Argonauts lost the Grey Cup to the Calgary Stampeders 14-11. The next season Toronto was back in last place with a 3-11 record. In 1973, the Argonauts celebrated their centennial year, finishing in second, and returning to the playoffs, where they unfortunately were bested by the Montreal Alouettes. The next time Toronto made the playoffs was in 1977 where they were defeated by the Rough Riders 21-16.

After the dismal 1979 season in which Toronto finished with a 5-11 record, Forrest Gregg was relieved of his head coaching duties, and promoted Willie Wood to become the new Argonauts head coach, making him the first ever African-American head coach in the CFL. Unfortunately, his leadership did not produce better results, and in 1981 Willie Wood was replaced ten games into the season.

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In the 1982 season Toronto had their first winning season since 1971, and returned to the Grey Cup, though they lost to Edmonton 32-16. The following season, Toronto returned to the Grey Cup, and this time defeated The B.C. Lions 18-17 winning their first Grey Cup since 1952.

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In 1991, the team was sold, this time to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, comedian John Candy, and then Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall. Under this ownership, Don Matthews was replaced as head coach by Adam Rita, and the Argonauts finished first in their division, earning them a trip to the Grey Cup. In the coldest Grey Cup game (-16 degrees Celsius) on record, Toronto defeated the Calgary Stampeders 36-21 and won their 12th Grey Cup.

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Don Moen and Dan Ferrone celebrating with the Grey Cup.
24 November 1991
Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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In 1996 after missing the playoffs the previous season in 1995, Don Matthews returned and led the team to their 13th Grey Cup, when Toronto defeated Edmonton 43-37 in Hamilton. The next season, the Argonauts were again Grey Cup Champions, easily defeating the Saskatchewan Roughrider 47-23.

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1996 Grey Cup ring.
1996-1997

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The 1997 Grey Cup ring.
Circa 1997