Toronto Argonauts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Toronto Argonauts

Founded	October 4, 1873; 151 years ago (1873-10-04)
Based in	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Home field	BMO Field
Head coach	Ryan Dinwiddie
General manager	Pinball Clemons
Owner(s)	Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
League	Canadian Football League
Division	East
Colours	Cambridge Blue, Oxford Blue
Nickname(s)	Argos, Boatmen, Double Blue, Scullers, Love Boat
Mascot(s)	Jason the Argonaut
Grey Cup wins	19 (1914, 1921, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2017, 2022, 2024)
Current uniform
2025 Toronto Argonauts season

The Toronto Argonauts (also known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team. They are based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Argonauts play in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Founded in 1873, the team is the oldest professional sports team in North America. It still uses its original name. The Argonauts are also the oldest team in the modern CFL. The team started by playing a version of rugby football. Since 2016, the Argonauts have played their home games at BMO Field. Before that, they played at Rogers Centre from 1989 to 2015.

The Argonauts have won the Grey Cup a record 19 times. They have played in the final game 25 times. Their most recent win was in 2024. They beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41–24 in the 111th Grey Cup. The Argos have a great winning record in the championship game. They also have the longest winning streak in Grey Cup games they've played in, with eight straight wins.

The team was first owned by the Argonaut Rowing Club for 83 years. Since 1956, different businesses have owned the team. In 2015, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and Bell Canada bought the team. This deal included moving to BMO Field. MLSE fully bought the team in 2018. Many great players and coaches have been honored by the team. Some players, like Joe Krol, Dick Shatto, Danny Nykoluk, and Michael "Pinball" Clemons, have had their jersey numbers retired.

Team Name and Colours

The name "Argonauts" has been used continuously since 1873. This is a record in North American professional sports. The team is the oldest professional football team in North America.

The name comes from Greek mythology. In legends, Jason and the Argonauts were heroes. They sailed on a ship called Argo to find the Golden Fleece. Because of this sea-themed name, a group of rowers in Toronto adopted "Argonaut" in 1872. This group, the Argonaut Rowing Club, then started the football team a year later. This is why the team is often called "the Boatmen."

In the 1800s, famous rowing teams came from University of Oxford and University of Cambridge in England. The Toronto rowers used the light blue of Cambridge and the dark blue of Oxford for their uniforms. The football team also adopted these colours. The phrase "double blue" became a nickname for the team. Blue is a traditional colour for top sports teams in Toronto, like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays.

The team's other official colour is white. Their current helmet has a Cambridge blue background. The team logo shows a boat with a football in it.

Team History

Early Years (1873–1906)

The first recorded Canadian football game was in Toronto in 1861. It was played by University of Toronto students. The game was a modified version of English rugby. The Argonaut Rowing Club formed their football team on October 4, 1873. Their first game was against Hamilton on October 18, which they won. This started a long rivalry.

In 1883, the Argonauts and other teams formed the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU). This was the first league with playoffs in North America. The Argonauts won the league in its first year. From 1884, a "Dominion Championship" was held. This was like an early Grey Cup. The Argonauts lost the first national championship in 1884.

Over time, rules changed to be more like modern football. This included the line of scrimmage and the "down and yardage" system. A big issue was whether players should be professional or amateur. This led the Argonauts to leave the league in 1903. It also led to the creation of a new league, the Interprovincial Rugby Football League.

1906 Toronto Argonauts team photo

Becoming Champions (1907–1952)

In 1907, the Argonauts helped form the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU). This league allowed for professional players. In 1909, the Grey Cup was first awarded. The Argonauts first played for the Cup in 1911, but lost. They won their first championship in 1914, beating the University of Toronto.

After World War I, the Argos had more success in the early 1920s. Lionel Conacher, a famous Canadian athlete, led the team to perfect seasons in 1921 and 1922. In 1921, they won the 9th Grey Cup 23–0 against the Edmonton Eskimos. This was the first Grey Cup between an East and West team.

The Argonauts became a dominant team from 1933 to 1952. They won eight Grey Cups during this time. They often beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the finals. They won back-to-back Grey Cups in 1937 and 1938. Players like the Stukus brothers were key to their success.

The Argonauts (in stripes) playing the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1924

Joe "King" Krol and Royal Copeland were famous players in the 1940s. They were known as the 'Gold Dust Twins'. They led the Argos to three Grey Cup wins in a row from 1945 to 1947. In 1948, the team signed Ken Whitlock, their first Black player. In 1950, they signed Ulysses "Crazy Legs" Curtis, another important Black player.

Coach Frank Clair led the team to Grey Cup wins in 1950 and 1952. The 1950 win was the famous Mud Bowl. The field was so muddy that play was very difficult. During this time, the phrase "Argo Bounce" became popular. It meant the Argonauts often got lucky bounces of the football.

Tough Times and a Comeback (1953–1988)

The years after 1952 were tough for the Argonauts. They didn't win a Grey Cup for 31 years. A new salary cap in 1953 made it hard to keep good players. Coaches and players changed often. In 1958, the Argonauts became a founding member of the Canadian Football League. A year later, they moved to Exhibition Stadium.

The Argonauts have won a record 19 Grey Cups. They had a 31-year championship drought from 1952 to 1983.

Some great players played during this time. Dick Shatto played for twelve seasons and holds team records for touchdowns. Tobin Rote set passing records as quarterback. Danny Nykoluk was a strong offensive lineman for 17 seasons. Despite these players, the team often had losing seasons.

In the late 1960s, coach Leo Cahill made the team competitive again. They signed young star Joe Theismann in 1971. The team also saw more fans attending games. In the 59th Grey Cup in 1971, the Argos lost a close game to the Calgary Stampeders. A late fumble cost them the win.

The 1970s were difficult for the team, with many coaching changes and losing records. Even with great defensive players like Jim Stillwagon, the team struggled. However, attendance reached record highs in the 1970s.

In 1981, the team had its worst season, winning only two games. The "Argo Bounce" now meant bad luck. But things changed in 1982. With new coaches Bob O'Billovich and Mouse Davis, the team improved. Quarterback Condredge Holloway was named the CFL's most outstanding player. They reached the Grey Cup but lost to the Edmonton Eskimos.

Argonauts vs Tiger-Cats at Exhibition Stadium in 1971

The 1983 season finally brought the championship home. The Argos finished with a great record. Receiver Terry Greer set a CFL record with 2,003 receiving yards. The Double Blue won the 71st Grey Cup 18–17 against the BC Lions. This was their first Grey Cup win since 1952. The Argos were competitive for the rest of the 1980s.

New Stadium and Star Power (1989–2015)

In 1989, the Argonauts moved into SkyDome (now Rogers Centre). This was a new stadium with a retractable roof. In 1990, Michael "Pinball" Clemons became a team favourite. He set a CFL record for all-purpose yards.

SkyDome set up for the Argonauts. The Argonauts played at SkyDome from 1989 to 2015.

In 1991, famous owners bought the team: Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky, and comedian John Candy. They made headlines by signing Raghib "Rocket" Ismail for a huge amount of money. Ismail was amazing, especially on kickoff returns. He was named player of the game in the 79th Grey Cup, which the Argos won 36–21. Clemons and quarterback Matt Dunigan were also key to this championship.

After this, the Argos struggled for a few years. Attendance also started to drop. In 1994, Labatt Brewing Company bought the team.

The team became champions again in 1996. They hired Don Matthews as coach and signed Doug Flutie, one of the best CFL quarterbacks ever. With players like Mike O'Shea and Paul Masotti, the Argos won the Grey Cup in both 1996 and 1997. Flutie set team records for passing yards and touchdowns.

After these wins, the Argos had mixed results. Ticket sales remained low. In 2003, the CFL took control of the team because of financial problems.

New owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski took over in 2004. They brought immediate success with another Grey Cup win in 2004. Veteran quarterback Damon Allen led the team to victory. Allen retired in 2007 as professional football's all-time leading passer.

The Argonauts playing against the Calgary Stampeders in 2008.

The Argonauts had winning seasons from 2005 to 2007. In 2010, David Braley became the new owner. In 2012, the team built another championship team. Quarterback Ricky Ray was excellent. Chad Owens became one of the league's best special teams players. Owens broke Michael Clemons' record for all-purpose yards. The 100th Grey Cup was played in Toronto. The Argos won 35–22 against Calgary, their first championship win in Toronto since 1952.

Recent Success (2016–Present)

After years of financial struggles, owner David Braley sold the team in 2015. A group led by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum and BCE Inc bought the club. This helped secure the team's future.

The Argos moved from Rogers Centre to BMO Field for the 2016 season. They finished last that year. In 2017, the Argos hired Jim Popp as general manager and Marc Trestman as head coach. They quickly built a strong team.

In August 2017, the team moved its practice facility to the former Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School.

Despite a late start, the Argos finished 2017 with a 9–9 record. They won their division. After a thrilling win in the Eastern Final, the Argos won their 17th championship in the 105th Grey Cup. They beat Calgary 27–24 in a comeback victory.

In 2018, MLSE, the team's new owners, moved the practice facility to Lamport Stadium. Their weight rooms are at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Both are close to BMO Field.

Since 2015, the team has had the lowest home attendance in the CFL. However, the Argonauts won their 18th Grey Cup in 2022. They beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24–23. In 2024, they again defeated Winnipeg 41–24. This was their second Grey Cup in three seasons. They have now won their last eight Grey Cup appearances.

Championship Wins

The Toronto Argonauts lead the CFL in total Grey Cup wins. They also have the best winning percentage in the Grey Cup. Their early success was partly because western teams were not as strong. Between 1921 and 1952, the Argonauts won nine straight Grey Cup appearances. Six of these were against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The team's success isn't just from the past. Since the CFL was formed in 1958, they have won nine of their 12 Grey Cup appearances. This includes their last eight in a row.

The Argonauts have won their division 23 times. They won the Ontario Rugby Football Union championship three times before 1907. They didn't become "national champions" until their first Grey Cup win in 1914.

Stadiums

The Toronto Argonauts' first home was Rosedale Field. It could hold about 10,000 people. This field is important because it hosted the 1st Grey Cup game in 1909. The field still exists today as part of Rosedale Park.

The team later moved to Varsity Stadium at the University of Toronto. This stadium became strongly linked with the Argonauts' early success. It was home to their championship teams in the 1930s and 1940s. Varsity Stadium held about 16,000 fans, increasing to over 20,000 after a 1950 renovation. It has hosted the most Grey Cups, with 30 games.

In 1959, the Argos moved to Exhibition Stadium (also called CNE Stadium). This stadium was known for being exposed to the weather. It also had poor views after being changed for baseball in the 1970s. However, it was where the Argos had their highest attendance in the late 1960s and 1970s. Bad weather at the 70th Grey Cup in 1982 led to the idea of building a domed stadium in Toronto.

Rogers Centre (known as SkyDome before 2004) was the Argonauts' home from 1989 to 2015. It was a big, modern stadium with a retractable roof. But it was criticized for its football views and atmosphere. Even large crowds looked small in the 50,000-seat stadium.

Argospanorama.jpg|700px|Panoramic view of an Argonauts home game at Rogers Centre. The stadium hosted home games for the Argonauts from 1989 to 2015.

In 2013, it was announced that Rogers Centre's artificial turf would be replaced with natural grass. This would make it impossible to host CFL games. This raised concerns about the team's future. It became clear that moving to a renovated BMO Field was the best option.

The move to BMO Field was confirmed on May 20, 2015. This happened when the team was sold to MLSE shareholders Larry Tanenbaum and Bell Canada. The team moved after stadium renovations were completed for the 2016 season. The renovations increased the stadium's capacity to 30,000 for soccer. For CFL games, it holds 25,000 fans. It can be temporarily expanded to 40,000 for big events like the Grey Cup.

BMO Field with extra temporary seats for the 104th Grey Cup.

After the old Varsity Stadium was rebuilt, the Argos played preseason games there from 2013 to 2015. In 2014, the team also got a new training facility.

Since 2018, the Argonauts have used Lamport Stadium as their practice field. Their weight rooms are at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Both are near BMO Field. Since 2022, the Argos have used Alumni Stadium in Guelph for their preseason games.

Ownership and Management

Team Owners

For over 80 years, the Argonauts were owned by the Argonaut Rowing Club. In 1957, a group led by John W. H. Bassett bought the team. Bassett later bought out the other owners in 1971.

The Bassett years (1950s-1970s) saw the team struggle on the field but do well with fans. Bassett also explored the idea of a National Football League team in Toronto. Other team owners didn't like this. He sold the team in 1974 to William R. Hodgson.

Hodgson sold the team to Carling O'Keefe in 1979. This brewing company invested a lot in sports. The Carling O'Keefe years saw the Argos win their first modern-era Grey Cup in 1983.

After Carling O'Keefe, ownership changed more often. Harry Ornest bought the team in 1988. Then, in 1991, Bruce McNall, John Candy, and Wayne Gretzky bought it. John Candy is remembered for his strong connection to the team. Despite a Grey Cup win in 1991, this era was short. McNall sold the team in 1994 to Labatt Brewing Company. Labatt later sold it to Sherwood Schwarz in 1999.

David Braley owned the club from 2010 to 2015.

After financial problems under Schwarz, David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski bought the Argos in 2004. Attendance improved during their six years. In 2010, they sold the team to David Braley. Braley also owned the BC Lions, which caused some discussion about fair competition.

In 2015, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and its chairman Larry Tanenbaum became interested in buying the team. On May 20, 2015, it was announced that Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports and Bell Canada would buy the Argonauts. They both own a part of MLSE. Rogers Communications, another MLSE owner, was not interested in the Argos.

On December 13, 2017, MLSE announced it would fully acquire the Argos. This sale was completed on January 19, 2018. With this, MLSE owns four of the five major professional sports teams in Toronto.

Team Leaders

The two most important roles in the Argonauts organization are president and general manager. Lew Hayman was the longest-serving executive. He worked for the team for five decades as a coach and manager. He was the first paid president of the club. Ralph Sazio is another important builder in the team's history.

Since the 1990s, there have been many changes in these leadership roles. The team had eight general managers in eight years between 1996 and 2003. The current General Manager is Mike "Pinball" Clemons. He was appointed in October 2019.

Head Coaches

Fifty-nine different men have been the head coach for the Toronto Argonauts. The current coach is Ryan Dinwiddie. He was appointed after the 2019 season. He led the team to Grey Cup victories in 2022 and 2024.

Bob O'Billovich has been the head coach for the longest time, for 11 years over three periods. Other notable coaches include Joe Wright, Sr. (late 1800s), Ted Morris and Frank Clair (post-war), Leo Cahill (late 1960s-early 1970s), and Pinball Clemons (early 2000s).

The CFL gives the Annis Stukus Trophy to the league's best coach each year. Argonauts coaches have won this award nine times.

Broadcasts

Argonauts games are shown on TSN as part of CFL on TSN broadcasts. Radio coverage is on CHUM (AM) or CFRB 1010.

Famous Argonauts broadcasters include John Badham and Peter Martin. Both are in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Rivalries

Canadian football has a long history, so strong rivalries have formed. The biggest rivalry for the Argonauts is with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Argos' first game was against a Hamilton club. The two teams play every year in the Labour Day Classic, a league tradition since 1950.

The Argonauts have also played teams from Montreal and Ottawa since their early days. In recent years, the Montreal Alouettes have often met the Argos in the playoffs. They have played 11 times in the Eastern Final.

In 2014, the Argonauts started a new rivalry with the Ottawa Redblacks. As of the end of 2024, the Argos have a strong winning record against Ottawa.

In Grey Cups, the Argonauts have faced many different teams. The Edmonton Eskimos were a rival for many years. Their five Grey Cup games include a close loss in 1987 and the Snow Bowl win in 1996. In earlier times, the Argos had a Grey Cup rivalry with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Notable Personnel

The highest honour for an Argonauts player is to have their jersey number retired. Only four players have received this honour. Since 1996, the team has also recognized "All-Time Argos." Twenty-four players are on this list, and a banner hangs in their honour at BMO Field.

Players and staff can also be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. A total of 56 people connected to the team are in the Hall.

The most important CFL award for a player is the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. Seven Argonauts have won this award: Chad Kelly (2023), Chad Owens (2012), Damon Allen (2005), Doug Flutie (1996 & 1997), Michael "Pinball" Clemons (1990), Condredge Holloway (1982), and Bill Symons (1968).

All-Time and Hall of Fame Players

Mascot

Jason is the mascot for the Toronto Argonauts. He took over from Bounce in 2005, who replaced Scully in 2003.

See also

In Spanish: Toronto Argonauts para niños

• Toronto Argonauts all-time records and statistics
• Argonotes, the former Toronto Argonauts band