Toronto Argonauts - Franchise History

Franchise History

The Toronto Argonauts were founded in 1873 by the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club. This also makes them one of the oldest professional sports teams in North America and the oldest to continue under the same name and in the same city. Aside from a few college teams, they are the oldest continuously existing football club of any type in North America.

In the 19th century, the most renowned rowers in the world were the teams from Oxford University and Cambridge University in England, and the Toronto rowers, many of whom had associations with Oxford or Cambridge, adopted uniforms incorporating the two shades of blue used by these universities. When the Argonauts expanded into football, the "double blue" uniform was used by the football team as well, starting a tradition of top-level Toronto teams wearing blue (e.g. Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays). Because of their roots in the rowing club (which still exists today), the team is often nicknamed the "Boatmen."

In Canadian football's early years, the Argonauts were the dominant team. They put together a number of Grey Cup dynasties in the 1930s and 1940s. At some time during this period, the phrase "Argo Bounce" came into being. It referred to the Argonauts' propensity to receive a lucky bounce of the football. However, after the 1952 season the Argos entered a funk that was to last for over 30 years. The team struggled throughout much of the '50s, '60s and '70s despite the presence of greats such as Joe Theismann, Tobin Rote, Jim Corrigall, Bill Symons, Jim Stillwagon and Granville "Granny" Liggins.