The Toronto Argonauts occupy a singular space in the annals of North American professional sports. They were founded on October 4, 1873. They are the oldest professional sports team on the continent still operating under its original name. This makes them a living link to a bygone era of athletics. Their history is a study in contrasts, a saga of both unparalleled success and profound frustration. The club holds the Canadian Football League (CFL) record with 19 Grey Cup championships, the most of any franchise. Yet, this same team also endured one of the most infamous championship droughts in league history. It was a 31-year odyssey in the wilderness between 1952 and 1983. To trace the history of the Argonauts is to chart the evolution of a sport, a city, and a nation. Their story begins not as a professional enterprise, but as an off-season fitness regimen for a group of amateur rowers. The team’s identity is very special. The name is drawn from Greek mythology. The iconic “Double Blue” colours are borrowed from the esteemed English rowing universities of Oxford and Cambridge. These elements speak to a 19th-century amateur ethos rooted in tradition and sportsmanship. This organization has survived for over 150 years. It endured world wars that halted play and economic calamities. The team experienced a revolving door of ownership. It faced waves of public indifference. Despite these challenges, it has continued since the Victorian era. The team now holds a place within the modern corporate structure of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. The history of the Argonauts goes beyond just wins and losses. It is a testament to resilience. It also shows the enduring power of an identity forged on the waters of Lake Ontario.  

Part I: From Oarsmen to Gridiron Gods (1872-1906)

In the years following Canadian Confederation, Toronto was a city finding its identity. Its sporting culture was built on the Victorian ideal of the amateur gentleman athlete. It was in this environment that the Argonauts were born, not on a gridiron, but on the water. On June 21, 1872, some amateur oarsmen known as “the Orioles” met at the Rossin House Hotel. The visionary Henry O’Brien led them. They officially established the Argonaut Rowing Club (ARC). Their mission was pragmatic. They aimed to pool resources and share the costs of acquiring and maintaining expensive racing boats. This way, they could expand access to the sport. 

The club’s identity was steeped in classicism and tradition. The name “Argonauts” directly references the heroes of Greek mythology. These heroes, under Jason’s command, rowed the ship Argo on a perilous quest for the Golden Fleece. For their colours, the members made a thoughtful decision. Many of them had ties to English universities. They chose the light blue of Cambridge and the dark blue of Oxford. These are the world’s preeminent rowing institutions. This combination became the iconic “Double Blue,” a symbol that has defined the team for its entire existence.  

The formation of the football club a year later was almost an afterthought. The oarsmen founded the Argonaut Rugby Football Club on October 4, 1873. They established it to maintain fitness when the waters of Lake Ontario were too rough for rowing. The game they played was a chaotic version of English rugby. It was evolving and featured a “scrum.” Players would kick the ball forward from the scrum. Their first recorded match was on October 11, 1873. It was a loss to the University of Toronto. A week later, they secured a victory over the Hamilton Tigers.  

For its first decade, the club played a handful of exhibition or “challenge” matches each year. However, the sport itself was changing. A pivotal rule modification in 1880 introduced the “open formation.” Players lined up opposite each other, creating the first line of scrimmage. This marked a crucial step away from rugby and toward the modern game of football. The evolution was formalized in 1883. The Argonauts became a founding member of the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU). It was North America’s first organized football league. In its inaugural season, the Argos captured the ORFU championship, defeating Ottawa City 9-7.  

This period revealed a fundamental tension. It would define early North American sport. The clash between amateur ideals and the drive for competitive success was at its core. The football club was created to serve the rowers. The physical toll of the gridiron began to affect rowing performance. As a result, the team ceased operations for the 1879 season. The ARC executive, committed to its amateur roots, initially staffed the team with club members. The pressure to win was undeniable. As early as 1874, the club began permitting non-members to play for a fee of $1.00 per season. This was the first crack in the purely amateur model. This conflict reached its peak between 1895 and 1897. Disputes with the ORFU over rules occurred. The growing influence of professionalism—anathema to the ARC’s leadership—led to a three-year shutdown of the football team. The team’s very existence was a battleground for the soul of the sport. It was caught between its origins as a gentleman’s pastime and its future as a professional spectacle.  

Part II: Forging a Dynasty, Winning a Dominion (1907-1952)

The turn of the 20th century marked the Argonauts’ transition into the modern era of Canadian football. The tensions over amateurism that had previously halted the club’s operations became a catalyst for organizational change across the sport. In 1907, the Argonauts sought looser regulations regarding professional players. They joined with rivals from Hamilton, Montreal, and Ottawa. Together, they formed the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU), colloquially known as the “Big Four.” This new league was the direct precursor to the CFL’s East Division.  

Two years later, Governor General Lord Earl Grey donated a trophy. It was to be awarded to Canada’s national rugby football champion. Thus, the Grey Cup era was born. The Argonauts first competed for the coveted prize in 1911. They lost 14-7 to the University of Toronto. This was before a record crowd of 13,687 at the newly opened Varsity Stadium. They would not be denied for long. In 1914, the Argos exacted their revenge. They defeated the same U of T squad 14-2. This victory captured their first Grey Cup championship. Their second title came in 1921. They achieved a dominant 23-0 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos. This was the first Grey Cup final to feature a team from the east against a team from the west.  

After a decade-long drought, the 1930s saw the emergence of the Argonauts’ first true dynasty. Lew Hayman coached the team masterfully. They captured the 1933 Grey Cup. The team edged the Sarnia Imperials in a hard-fought 4-3 defensive battle. This victory was the beginning of a golden age. The Argos established themselves as the nation’s premier team. They won back-to-back championships in 1937 and 1938. Both times, they defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  

Following the suspension of play during the Second World War, the Argonauts entered their most sustained period of dominance. This era was defined by the legendary duo of Joe “King” Krol and Royal Copeland. They were nicknamed the “Gold Dust Twins” for their on-field magic. Krol was a phenomenal triple-threat player. He could pass, run, and kick with equal prowess. He joined the team in 1945 after a brief run with the NFL’s Detroit Lions. He was named Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year in both 1946 and 1947. Led by coach Teddy Morris, this powerhouse squad won three consecutive Grey Cups from 1945 to 1947, all against Winnipeg. The 1947 championship team holds a special place in history. It was the last all-Canadian roster to win the Grey Cup. This achievement is a point of immense pride. The league was increasingly turning to American imports.  

The dynasty’s crowning achievement came in one of the most iconic games in CFL history: the 1950 “Mud Bowl.” The game was played at Varsity Stadium against Winnipeg. A heavy snowstorm was followed by a day of rain, turning the field into a treacherous, muddy quagmire. The conditions were so abysmal that players were caked in mud, their uniforms rendered an indistinguishable grey. The Argos prevailed 13-0, with the game’s only touchdown coming on a one-yard slide by quarterback Al Dekdebrun. The appalling state of the field generated widespread criticism. This was a major factor in the decision to begin rotating the Grey Cup game among host cities.  

The era concluded with one final championship in 1952, a 21-11 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos. It was the club’s tenth Grey Cup. This period of eight championships in two decades solidified the Argonauts’ identity as a winning organization. It established a “championship standard” that would define their legacy. This sustained success created a powerful brand. It set an expectation of victory. These achievements made the subsequent decades of failure all the more agonizing.  

Part III: The Great Drought and the Long Wait (1953-1982)

The glory of the post-war dynasty faded quickly. After the 1952 Grey Cup victory, the Toronto Argonauts began a long period without championships. This period lasted three decades and was the most painful drought in the franchise’s storied history. The tales of Krol and the Mud Bowl were stories fans heard from their parents. Their own experience was filled with frustrating losses and dashed hopes.  

Despite the team’s collective failures, this era was illuminated by the brilliance of individuals who embodied the spirit of perseverance. None was greater than running back Dick Shatto. From 1954 to 1965, Shatto was the heart and soul of the Argonauts. He was a versatile and dynamic player. He could line up at fullback, halfback, or flanker. He was a model of consistent excellence on teams that were often mediocre. He was nominated for the league’s Most Outstanding Player award seven times. He retired with 15 club records. These include the all-time franchise marks for career rushing yards (6,958) and total touchdowns (91). These records still stand today. Shatto’s #22 jersey is one of only four retired by the club. It is a testament to a magnificent career. Poignantly, this career was never rewarded with a championship ring.  

The structure of the league and the team’s home also changed during this period. In 1958, the CFL was officially formed through a formal merger of the IRFU and its western counterpart, the WIFU. The following year, the Argonauts departed Varsity Stadium, which was the site of their dynastic triumphs. They moved to the newly renovated Exhibition Stadium. Often called the “Mistake by the Lake,” the massive, multi-purpose stadium was notorious. It had poor sightlines for football. It was also exposed to the biting winds off Lake Ontario. The move to this cold, impersonal venue felt symbolic of the era. During this time, the team’s identity seemed diluted. It felt lost.  

A glimmer of hope appeared in 1971. The Argos reached the Grey Cup. They only suffered a crushing 14-11 defeat to the Calgary Stampeders. This loss deepened the sense of a curse for a new generation of fans. The tide finally began to turn in 1981 with the arrival of quarterback Condredge Holloway. Nicknamed “The Artful Dodger,” Holloway was a trailblazing athlete. He was one of the first Black quarterbacks to achieve star status in professional football. He was a dynamic dual-threat. He electrified the league. In 1982, he won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award after throwing for 4,661 yards and 31 touchdowns. He led the Argos to the Grey Cup that year. Although they lost to the powerful Edmonton Eskimos dynasty, Holloway had broken the cycle of mediocrity. He made winning feel possible again, setting the stage for the cathartic moment that was to come.  

Part IV: Hollywood North and a Flutie Comet (1983-1997)

The long-awaited deliverance came on November 27, 1983. One year after their title-game loss, the Argonauts returned to the Grey Cup. They were led by coach Bob O’Billovich and a quarterback tandem of Condredge Holloway and Joe Barnes. The final against the hometown BC Lions in Vancouver was tense and nail-biting. The Argos emerged with an 18-17 victory. This win finally ended the 31-year championship drought. For the city of Toronto and its long-suffering fans, the win was more than a championship. It was a moment of city-wide jubilation. There was also collective relief. 

The late 1980s and 1990s ushered in the most glamorous and high-profile period in team history. In 1991, the franchise was purchased by a celebrity trio. They brought an unprecedented level of media attention to the CFL. The trio included Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall. It also featured hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and beloved actor and lifelong Argo fan John Candy. The “Hollywood North” ownership group invested heavily in star American talent. They aimed to complement a roster that already featured 1990 CFL Most Outstanding Player Michael “Pinball” Clemons. The strategy paid immediate dividends. In their first year, the star-studded Argos captured the 79th Grey Cup with a 36-21 victory over the Calgary Stampeders. However, this model of spending proved financially unsustainable, and the celebrity ownership era was short-lived.  

After a few lean years, the team had compiled a dismal 20-52 record from 1992 to 1995. Then the Argonauts made a signing. This move would ignite one of the most dominant runs in league history. In 1996, legendary quarterback Doug Flutie joined the team. What followed was a two-year reign of offensive brilliance that fans still refer to as the “Flutie Comet”. Under coach Don Matthews, the Argos became an unstoppable force.  

• 1996: Flutie was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. He set a new team record with 5,720 passing yards. He led the Argos to a thrilling 43-37 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos. It was one of the most exciting Grey Cup games ever played.  
• 1997: The team was even better. They posted a 15-3 record, and Flutie was again named MOP, setting another team record with 47 touchdown passes. Don Matthews was named Coach of the Year. Derrell “Mookie” Mitchell was the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie. The team placed eleven players on the All-Star team. The Argos capped their perfect season with a 47-23 demolition of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Grey Cup.  

This incredible dynasty, however, was as brief as it was brilliant. In 1998, Flutie, along with key players like running back Robert Drummond and kicker Mike Vanderjagt, departed for the NFL. The comet had passed, and the team once again slipped from the league’s pinnacle. This era demonstrated both the CFL’s potential for high-flying excitement. It showed the CFL’s vulnerability. It showcased its ability to attract major talent. However, it struggled to retain talent in the economic shadow of the NFL.  

Part V: The Modern Boatmen in a New Millennium (1998-Present)

The 21st-century history of the Toronto Argonauts is a story of stabilization. It is defined by the steadying influence of franchise icons. The quiet brilliance of a new quarterbacking legend also plays a role. Furthermore, the long-awaited security of corporate ownership and a proper home contributes to their stability.

No single person has been more central to the modern Argonauts than Michael “Pinball” Clemons. Clemons retired in 2000 after a spectacular playing career. He set the all-time professional football record for combined yardage (25,438). He immediately stepped in as the team’s head coach. I remember being at his last game for the Argonauts. I was sitting in the 500 level of the SkyDome. Ironically, I was at the 31 yard line. Over the next two decades, he served in nearly every leadership role imaginable. He was President, CEO, Vice-Chairman, and General Manager. He became the enduring public face and spiritual leader of the organization. His impact was immediate, as he coached the team to a Grey Cup championship in 2004.  

The team entered a new era of on-field success. This began with the 2012 acquisition of quarterback Ricky Ray from the Edmonton Eskimos. Ray was one of the most accurate and cerebral passers in league history. He brought calm and consistent leadership to the team. Ray would go on to become the franchise’s all-time leading passer. His arrival coincided with a storybook moment for the entire league. In his very first season, Ray led a 9-9 Argonaut team on an improbable playoff run. This culminated in a 35-22 victory over the Calgary Stampeders. The win took place in the 100th Grey Cup. It was hosted in front of a jubilant home crowd at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The win, a major civic and national celebration, put the Argos back at the center of the Canadian sports world.  

Ray would lead the team to another unlikely Grey Cup victory in 2017, again upsetting the Stampeders, 27-24. The team has continued its winning ways. They added two more championships in 2022 and 2024. Both times, they defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers have been in the Grey Cup every year since 2019 winning in 2019 and 2021. 2020 the entire season was canceled due to the global Covid-19 pandemic This brings their league-leading total to 19.  

This on-field success has been matched by unprecedented off-field stability. After years of financial uncertainty under a series of private owners, the franchise faced two major existential threats. A precarious balance sheet and the lack of a suitable stadium were these threats. Both were finally solved. In 2015, a consortium of Bell Canada and Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Group purchased the team. They announced a move from the cavernous, ill-suited Rogers Centre to BMO Field. In 2018, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) assumed full ownership. They integrated the Argonauts into the city’s primary sports corporate family. This family includes the Maple Leafs and Raptors. This move gave the Argos a level of stability they had not experienced in decades. It secured their future in a right-sized, fan-friendly, outdoor football environment. The modern era tells the story of the Argonauts finding a sustainable identity. They are no longer defined by flashy, boom-and-bust cycles. Instead, they are defined by institutional strength and a secure place in the Toronto sports landscape.  

Epilogue: A Tale of Five Homes

The 150-year journey of the Toronto Argonauts can be charted through the five stadiums they have called home. Each venue is more than just a playing field. It is a character in the team’s story. It reflects a distinct era of the franchise and the city itself.

Stadium	Tenure	Defining Moment or Characteristic
Rosedale Field	1874–1897, 1908–1915	The cradle of the franchise. A park field in a genteel neighbourhood that represented the team’s amateur, 19th-century origins. It hosted the first-ever Grey Cup game in 1909.
Varsity Stadium	1898–1907, 1916–1958	The spiritual home. Located on the University of Toronto campus, it was the backdrop for the dominant dynasties of the 1930s. During the 1940s, it continued to set the scene for their success. It also hosted a record 30 Grey Cups.
Exhibition Stadium	1959–1988	The “Mistake by the Lake.” A cold, vast, multi-purpose stadium known for its brutal weather, it was the home of the 31-year championship drought. The infamous 1982 “Rain Bowl” Grey Cup here spurred the move to a dome.
SkyDome / Rogers Centre	1989–2015	The high-tech dome. A modern marvel that hosted the glitz of the celebrity-owned 1991 championship. It also hosted the historic 100th Grey Cup victory in 2012. However, it often felt too large and sterile for the team’s fanbase.
BMO Field	2016–Present	The right-sized home. This outdoor venue was built on the footprint of Exhibition Stadium. It marked a return to an authentic football atmosphere. It also heralded an era of stability under MLSE ownership.

Conclusion: More Than a Name

The Toronto Argonauts have evolved significantly. They started as a group of 19th-century oarsmen seeking to stay fit. Now, they are a modern professional franchise under the umbrella of a corporate sports giant. Theirs is a history of dynastic highs and agonizing lows, of mythological heroes and heartbreaking defeats. Through it all, two things have remained constant: the name and the Double Blue. They stand as a living monument to Canadian sporting history. This franchise has won more championships than any other while navigating a century and a half of immense change. The story of the Argonauts is one of resilience. It is a testament to the idea that by pulling together, a team can weather any storm. The legacy of the club is immortalized not only in the record books. It lives in the names of the legends who donned the iconic uniform.

The All-Time Argos – Retired Numbers

Player Name	Number	Position	Years with Argonauts
Joe Krol	55	Quarterback / Kicker	1945-1952, 1955
Dick Shatto	22	Running Back	1954-1965
Danny Nykoluk	60	Offensive Lineman	1955, 1957-1971
Michael “Pinball” Clemons	31	Running Back / Returner	1989-2000

Toronto Argonauts Grey Cup Championships

Grey Cup #	Year	Winning Score	Opponent	Host City
6th	1914	14–2	University of Toronto	Toronto
9th	1921	23–0	Edmonton Eskimos	Toronto
21st	1933	4–3	Sarnia Imperials	Sarnia
25th	1937	4–3	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Toronto
26th	1938	30–7	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Toronto
33rd	1945	35–0	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Toronto
34th	1946	28–6	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Toronto
35th	1947	10–9	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Toronto
38th	1950	13–0	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Toronto
40th	1952	21–11	Edmonton Eskimos	Toronto
71st	1983	18–17	BC Lions	Vancouver
79th	1991	36–21	Calgary Stampeders	Winnipeg
84th	1996	43–37	Edmonton Eskimos	Hamilton
85th	1997	47–23	Saskatchewan Roughriders	Edmonton
92nd	2004	27–19	BC Lions	Ottawa
100th	2012	35–22	Calgary Stampeders	Toronto
105th	2017	27–24	Calgary Stampeders	Ottawa
109th	2022	24–23	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Regina
111th	2024	41–24	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	Vancouver