CFL Toronto Argonauts

Never Mind the Fairest – Just WHO is the Oldest?

Published on August 26, 2003 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts News Release


Toronto – As the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats take to the field for the annual Labour Day Classic on Monday, September 1, all eyes will be on the field of play to find out who ends up the victor in the 35th staging of this great event. But there will be another battle going on as well. Football purists from both sides will be arguing an age-old question, "Just which team is the oldest franchise?"

This from Roger Thenhaus, Advertising and Corporate Sales Manager of the Tiger-Cats. "The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as of November this year, will be 134 years old making us the oldest professional sports franchise in North America. We are just two years younger than Canada in fact. That's something we have been promoting for about five or six years now. I've heard Argos lay claim to that distinction on a couple of occasions and I've heard it mentioned on TSN's Football broadcasts.

Not so fast. Ian Sanderson, Director of Football Administration Operations, for the Argos quickly replied. "Whilst Hamilton states it is the oldest professional franchise in North America, honoured scholars suggest that the Tiger-Cats began play in 1950 as a merged entity from the former Tigers (1869) and Wildcats(1948). The Argonauts maintain that they are the oldest single franchise beginning play under the name Argonauts in 1873. That's 130 years and counting."

While this is an argument that may never be settled, one thing is certain. The cities of Toronto and Hamilton rank one-two on the All-time Grey Cups won list. Teams from Toronto have won Lord Grey's chalice a record 21 times while teams from Hamilton have won the Cup a combined 15 times. The Argos are the leader in Grey Cups won by a single entity having captured the Grey Cup a record 14 times, the most recent being in 1997. Hamilton's Tiger-Cats have won the Cup 8 times, the most recent being in 1999.

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Canadian Football League Stories from August 26, 2003


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