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Tony Pajaczkowski

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Tony Pajaczkowski
No. 66, 67, 56, 52, 50[1]
Date of birth(1936-05-31)May 31, 1936
Place of birthMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Date of deathJune 4, 2022(2022-06-04) (aged 86)
Place of deathPort Hope, Ontario, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Guard/Defensive end
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career history
As player
1955–1965Calgary Stampeders
1966–1967Montreal Alouettes
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1962–1965
CFL East All-Star1966
CFL West All-Star1960–1963, 1965
Awards1961 - CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
Career stats

Tony Pajaczkowski (/pæ.d͡ʒə.ˈkaʊ̯.ski/ pa-jə-KOW-skee;[2] May 31, 1936 – June 4, 2022)[3] was a Canadian professional football player. He was an all-star offensive guard in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was nicknamed "Paj".[4]

Coming from the Verdun Shamcats in Montreal, Pajaczkowski played 11 seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (1955–1965) and two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes (1966–1967). He was a CFL All-Star four times (1962–1965) and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1961 (after being runner-up in 1960). He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

Early life and education

[edit]

Pajaczkowski was born on May 31, 1936, in Verdun, Quebec.[1] He attended Catholic High School there, and was named most valuable player of the 1953 Montreal Gazette All-Star football team.[5] He played junior football for the Verdun Shamcats of the Quebec Rugby Football Union (QRFU) in 1954 along with former Catholic High teammate Bob Geary.[6]

Professional career

[edit]

In December 1954, Pajaczkowski and Geary were signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU).[6] Pajaczkowski made the roster in his first year and appeared in 12 games for the 1955 Stampeders at tackle and defensive end, mainly playing on kickoff teams.[1][7] In 1956, his position was changed to guard by coach Jack Hennemier.[8] Although initially reluctant to change, it was at this position that he became one of the all-time greats of Canadian football.[8] In his first year at guard, Pajaczkowski earned a starting role and appeared in all 16 games as the Stampeders finished 4–12.[9][10] In addition to playing at guard, he was also used by Calgary as a kicking specialist.[10]

Pajaczkowski signed a contract extension in March 1957.[10] Coach Otis Douglas called him one of Calgary's best Canadian prospects.[10] He continued as starter in 1957, playing in every game as the Stampeders finished third place in the conference with a record of 6–10.[11] On special teams, he made eight kickoffs for 391 yards, a 48.9 average.[1]

Pajaczkowski re-signed with Calgary in May 1958.[12] The Vancouver Sun reported in July that Pajaczkowski was "not far behind" teammate Harry Langford as the league's most outstanding guard.[13] He appeared in every game in 1958, helping Calgary to a record of 6–9–1 and a fourth-place conference finish.[14] After playing in 14 games in 1959, Pajaczkowski was named the team's best lineman by a fan vote.[15] That year, the team compiled a record of 8–8.[16]

Due to pronunciation difficulties, radio announcer Jack Wells refused to mention Pajaczkowski's name (pronounced pa-jə-KOW-skee) in all of the Calgary game broadcasts over a period of three years.[2][17]

Pajaczkowski appeared in all 16 games in 1960, helping Calgary reach the second round of the WIFU playoffs.[18] In addition to being their starting guard, he was the team's backup kickoff specialist that year, making 27 kickoffs for 1,495 yards, a 55.4 yard average.[18] He was the Stampeders' nominee for the Schenley Most Outstanding Canadian Award and was the runner-up for the honor.[8]

In 1961, Pajaczkowski made 51 kickoffs for 2,845 yards, an average of 55.8 yards per kick, and started all 16 games at guard, being named to the Western Football Conference All-Star team and earning the Most Outstanding Canadian Award.[19][20] The 1961 Stampeders compiled a record of 7–9.[21]

The following year, Pajaczkowski was named to the CFL All-Star team for the first time in his career.[22] He was one of six Stampeders to be given that honor.[22] He finished that season with 38 kickoffs for 1,955 yards while appearing in all 16 games.[1] In 1963, he was named an all-star for the second consecutive season.[23][24] He was named an all-star for a third time in 1964 and in 1965 earned his fourth-straight all-star honor.[25][26] During his four-year all-star streak, he played in all 16 games each season and Calgary had a winning record each year, with four playoff appearances and three appearances in the Western Finals.[27][28][29][30]

On May 19, 1966, Pajaczkowski was traded to the Montreal Alouettes.[31] He played in all 14 games in his first year with the team.[32] After a knee injury in a 1967 practice, he changed his position from right guard to right tackle.[7] In a game against his former team, Calgary, Pajaczkowski was benched for the first time in his career.[7] He announced his retirement in June 1968.[33] He concluded his career having appeared in 198 games, recording 134 kickoffs for 7,159 yards (a 53.4 average) and nine fumble recoveries during that time.[1]

Later life and death

[edit]

After retiring, Pajaczkowski accepted a position as line coach at Loyola College in Montreal.[34] In 1988, Pajaczkowski was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and in 1996, he was inducted into the Calgary Stampeders Wall of Fame.[35][36]

Pajaczkowski had dementia in his later years.[3] He lived in Port Hope, Ontario, where he died on June 4, 2022, four days after his 86th birthday.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Tony Pajaczkowski Stats". Pro Football Archives.
  2. ^ a b Sullivan, Jack (December 26, 1959). "Tough Season Ahead For Sportscasters". The Expositor. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c Hickey, Pat (June 5, 2022). "CFL great Tony Pajaczkowski dies at 86". Montreal Gazette.
  4. ^ "Tony Pajaczkowski - Guard". Calgary Herald. July 11, 1963. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "'Big Tony,' Geary In Feature Bout At Catholic High". Montreal Gazette. May 13, 1954. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ a b "Calgary Signs Verdun Gridders". The Montreal Star. BUP. December 27, 1954. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ a b c Scott, Bob (September 26, 1967). "Tony Pajaczkowski: From All-Star To The Bench". Montreal Gazette. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ a b c "Tony Pajaczkowski". Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
  9. ^ "1956 Calgary Stampeders (WIFU)". Pro Football Archives.
  10. ^ a b c d "Pajaczkowski: Signed by Stamps". The Calgary Albertan. March 9, 1957. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ "1957 Calgary Stampeders (WIFU)". Pro Football Archives.
  12. ^ "Stamps Ink Pair". The Montreal Star. The Canadian Press. May 31, 1958. p. 53 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ^ Richards, Jack (July 25, 1958). "Stamps a Yardstick To Test Leo Trades". The Vancouver Sun. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ "1958 Calgary Stampeders (WIFU)". Pro Football Archives.
  15. ^ "Pajaczkowski Named". Montreal Gazette. The Canadian Press. October 28, 1959. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ^ "1959 Calgary Stampeders (WIFU)". Pro Football Archives.
  17. ^ "Untitled". The Calgary Albertan. December 23, 1959. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. ^ a b "1960 Calgary Stampeders (WIFU)". Pro Football Archives.
  19. ^ "Past Year Recalls Many Sports Highlights". Calgary Herald. December 29, 1961. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ^ "1961 Calgary Stampeders (CFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  21. ^ "1961 Calgary Stampeders (CFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  22. ^ a b "West Coast Dominates Grid All-Stars". Calgary Herald. The Canadian Press. November 27, 1962. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. ^ "1963 All Canada 12". The Vancouver Sun. November 16, 1963. p. 80 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  24. ^ "Lions Dominate Selects". The Leader-Post. The Canadian Press. December 4, 1963. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  25. ^ "Losers Claim Nine Berths On All-Stars". Times Colonist. The Canadian Press. December 1, 1964. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  26. ^ "Tony Pajaczkowski And John Barrow All-Star Repeaters". The Sun Times. The Canadian Press. December 1, 1965. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  27. ^ "1962 Calgary Stampeders (CFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  28. ^ "1963 Calgary Stampeders (CFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  29. ^ "1964 Calgary Stampeders (CFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  30. ^ "1965 Calgary Stampeders (CFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  31. ^ Walker, Hal (May 19, 1966). "Paj Returns To East After 11 Years". Calgary Herald. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  32. ^ "1966 Montreal Alouettes (CFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  33. ^ "Troubles set in early for Larks". The Montreal Star. June 25, 1968. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  34. ^ "Football roundup". Star-Phoenix. The Canadian Press. July 11, 1968. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  35. ^ "Four in football shrine". The Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. May 17, 1988. p. 63 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  36. ^ "Wall of Fame". Calgary Stampeders.
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