Toronto Tigers

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Toronto Tigers
Established1962
Folded1965
Based inToronto, Ohio
Home stadiumToronto Junior/Senior High School
LeagueMidwest Football League (1964)

The Toronto Tigers were a semi-professional American football team that played from 1962 to 1964. The team was based in Toronto, Ohio, and played in the Midwest Football League in 1964. They were coached by Clarke Hinkle in 1962 and Jack Stutz from 1963 to 1964.

History

1962 season

The Toronto Tigers were founded in August 1962, with former Green Bay Packers player Clarke Hinkle as the head coach and Joseph Hollister as general manager.[1][2] A semi-professional team,[3] it was considered part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area.[1] Their first game was against the Washington Merchants of the Steel Bowl Conference on September 23, 1962, (losing 21–6),[4] and they were scheduled to play against the Pittsburgh Colts the following week.[1] The Tigers lost a rematch to the Merchants on October 13, by a score of 12–6.[5] The mayor of Toronto declared October 20, 1962, as "Toronto Tigers Day" in honor of the team's game against the Ambridge A's that day;[5] they lost 19–12.[6] They played against the Stark Pros on October 27 and the Ambridge A's again on November 3.[6] In the loss against the Pros, the Tigers' starting quarterback Jim Hays suffered a season-ending injury.[7][8] They had a rematch with the Pros, which were renamed the Canton Bulldogs in between matchups, on November 10,[8] in which the Tigers won their first game of the season, 26–6.[9] The Tigers played against the Verona Raiders on November 17.[10]

1963 season

The Tigers were expected to join the Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League for the 1963 season.[11] Training camp for the 1963 season began on August 1, 1963, with an exhibition game against the Canton Bulldogs scheduled for August 31, 1963.[12] Hinkle resigned as head coach at the start of the season in a dispute over player compensation and debts.[2] He remained vice president of the club, and Jack Stutz was subsequently named head coach.[13] The first game of the season was a win against the Bulldogs of the Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League on September 14, 1963.[14][15] They played against the Macomb County Arrows of the Midwest Football League the following two weeks, losing both games.[15][16][17] On October 12, they beat the Millvale Indians by a score of 62–12.[17] They won against the Hazelwood Steelers on October 19,[17] and the Niagara Falls All Stars, on October 26.[18][19] The Tigers won against the farm team for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, 52–2, on November 2.[20] On November 9, Toronto played against the Pittsburgh Collegiates.[21] The Tigers had an 8–2 record in 1963.[22]

1964 season

Toronto was announced as a new team in the Midwest Football League in March 1964.[23] Stutz was re-elected as head coach of the Tigers in August 1964, with Hinkle staying on as vice president.[13] They played their games in 1964 at Toronto Junior/Senior High School.[24] The Tigers played exhibition games against the Wheeling Ironmen of the United Football League on August 18, 1964, and against the McKeesport Ironmen of the Atlantic Coast Football League on August 29.[13] Their regular season opening game was against the Dayton Colts on September 12, and their second game was against the Lansing All Stars on September 19.[24]

The team did not show up to a game against the Lansing All Stars, and were subsequently removed from the league in the middle of the season.[25] They finished with a record of 1–9 for the season.[26] Following the season, the Tigers folded.[27]

Season-by-season results

Year League W L T Finish Coach
1962 Independent Unknown N/A Clarke Hinkle
1963 8 2 0 Unknown Jack Stutz
1964 Midwest Football League 1 9 0 6th Jack Stutz

References

  1. ^ a b c "Weirton Gridders Play With Toronto Tigers". The Weirton Daily Times. September 17, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^
    The Evening Review
    . September 13, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Toronto Pros to Kick Off Season At Washington, Pa. Park Sunday". The Weirton Daily Times. September 22, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Toronto Tigers Drop 21–6 Loss To Washington". The Weirton Daily Times. September 24, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Toronto Tigers To Face Strong Ambridge Saturday". The Weirton Daily Times. October 18, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Toronto Tigers Play At Canton On Sunday". The Weirton Daily Times. October 26, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Injuries Take Heavy Toll With Toronto Tigers". The Weirton Daily Times. November 3, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Canton Bulldogs Face Toronto Tigers Saturday". The Weirton Daily Times. November 8, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Toronto Tigers Whip Visiting Canton Squad". The Weirton Daily Times. November 12, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Toronto Tigers To Play Verona Squad Saturday". The Weirton Daily Times. November 16, 1962. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Trent, Tod (October 15, 1962). "Sports Standard". The Morning Herald. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Toronto Tigers Launch Practice". The Evening Review. July 31, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^
    Shamokin News-Dispatch
    . August 10, 1964. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Bulldogs Open At Jackson". The Evening Independent. September 13, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Detroit Arrows Next Opponent For Torontoans". The Weirton Daily Times. September 19, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Arrows Point For Tigers". Detroit Free Press. September 26, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c "Toronto Tigers Play Hazelwood Saturday Night". The Weirton Daily Times. October 18, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Dorsey, Bell Are Playing For Toronto". The Evening Review. October 23, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Toronto Semi-Pros Meet Canadian Team". The Evening Review. November 1, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Toronto Tigers Extend Streak to Four Games". The Weirton Daily Times. November 5, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Toronto Tigers Meet Pittsburgh Eleven Saturday". The Evening Review. November 7, 1963. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Trent, Tod (December 26, 1963). "Sports Standard". The Morning Herald. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "McCracken Heads Loop". Dayton Daily News. March 18, 1964. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b "Contact Drills Launched By Toronto Tigers". The Weirton Daily Times. September 4, 1964. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "All-Stars Hoping To 'Scare' Detroit Rockets Saturday". Lansing State Journal. October 30, 1964. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ISBN 9781878282651
    .
  27. ^ "MFL Seeks New Franchises". The Lima News. February 17, 1965. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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