The Toronto Argonauts are a Canadian Football League team based in Toronto, Ontario.

Founded: 1873

Formerly known as:

Home stadium: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario (Plans are afoot to move to York University in 2007)

Uniform colours: Oxford blue, Cambridge blue and white

Helmet design: Blue, with an ancient Greek soldier (Argonaut) holding a round shield inscribed with the letter "A".

Eastern regular season championships: 13 -- 1936, 1937, 1945, 1960, 1971, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1996, 1997

Grey Cup finals appearances: 21 -- 1911 (lost), 1912 (lost), 1914 (won), 1920 (lost) 1921 (won), 1933 (won), 1937 (won), 1938 (won), 1945 (won), 1946 (won), 1947 (won), 1950 (won), 1952 (won), 1971 (lost), 1982 (lost) 1983 (won), 1987 (lost), 1991 (won), 1996 (won), 1997 (won), 2004 (won).

Franchise history

The Toronto Argonauts were founded back in 1873 by the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club. At the time the most renowned rowers in the world were the teams from Oxford University and Cambridge University in England, and the Toronto rowers adopted uniforms incorporating the two shades of blue used by the English schools. When the Argonauts expanded into football, the "double blue" uniform was used by the football team as well, starting the tradition that almost all top-level Toronto sport teams wear blue. The team is often nicknamed the "Boatmen".

The Argonauts have won the Grey Cup more times than any other team, 15 times, which is the 4th most in North American professional sports, behind the New York Yankees (baseball, 26 championships), the Montreal Canadiens (hockey, 24 championships) and the Boston Celtics (basketball, 16 championships).

The current coach of the Argonauts is Michael "Pinball" Clemons.

In November 2004 it was announced that a new stadium for the Argos is to be built on the campus of York University by 2007. This follows the failure of an earlier plan to build a new facility at the site of Varsity Stadium at the University of Toronto. If the move is completed it will mark a move by the Argonauts from downtown Toronto where they have played since their inception to the suburbs. One plan to make the suburban location attractive to fans is to import the American tradition of tailgating parties in the parking lot before the game. The Argos' move to York is also expected to increase pressure on the provincial and city governments to finance an extension of the subway to the university. On November 21, 2004, the Toronto Argonauts defeated the B.C. Lions 27-19 in the 92nd Grey Cup to end a seven year championship drought. Head coach Pinball Clemons became the first Black coach to win the Grey Cup.

Players of note

Canadian Football Hall of Famers

• Ab Box
• Joseph Breen
• Lionel "The Big Train" Conacher
• Royal Copeland
• Jim Corrigall
• "John Wayne" Edwards
• Terry Evanshen
• A. H. "Cap" Fear
• Joe "King" Krol
• Smirle Lawson
• Marv Luster
• Ted Morris
• Dave Raimey
• Ted "The Moaner" Reeve
• Michael J. Rodden
• Dick Shatto
• Bill Symons
• Dave Thelen
• William Zock

Retired numbers

• 22 Dick Shatto
• 31 Michael "Pinball" Clemons
• 55 Joe Krol
• 60 Danny Nykoluk

Current stars

• 1 Noel Prefontaine , kicker
• 2 Michael Fletcher , linebacker
• 3 Andre Rison, wide receiver
• 5 Arland Bruce III , wide receiver
• 7 Michael Bishop , quarterback
• 9 Damon Allen , quarterback
• 10 Antonious Bonner , linebacker
• 12 Adrion Smith , cornerback
• 13 Clifford Ivory , defensive back
• 15 Tony Miles , wide receiver
• 20 John Avery , running back
• 21 Orlondo Steinauer , safety
• 23 Bashir Levingston , wide receiver
• 26 Jordan Younger , cornerback
• 30 Kenny Wheaton , defensive back
• 35 Kevin Eiben , linebacker
• 50 Mike O'Shea , linebacker
• 88 Robert Baker , wide receiver
• 92 Noah Cantor , defensive tackle
• 95 Eric England , defensive end
• 97 Jonathon Brown , defensive end

Not to be forgotten

• Michael "Pinball" Clemons
• Doug Flutie
• Paul Masotti
• Derrell "Mookie" Mitchell
• Mike Vanderjagt

External links

• Toronto Argonauts official site