We s#ck at Grey Cups...Since 1950, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have a combined won/loss record in Grey Cups of 7 wins and 14 losses.
However...
We do not s#ck at East Finals!!! We're, in fact, VERY GOOD in the East Final when we get there. So, seeing as there's basically one more meaningful football game until next June I've found as many games as I could showing this history. Now, I'm 52 years old , so, I'm part of the "lost generation" who had to deal with local blackouts of many of the earlier games from the '80's. I only got to listen to them on the radio ( 900 CHML with Perc Allen calling the games) and when I when I watched them it was the first time I had ever actually seen the game. Some of the later ones I watched on TV or was there in person...
One of the hardest hitting, great, terrible games I've seen. People coming back or playing injured that would never happen today. Would have been over 50,000 there if the weather had been better...
1989 East Final...I had tickets to this one but the college teachers strike ended and school resumed the following Monday. My dad went...He went to the ill fated Grey Cup the following weekend , too...The quality isn't great, but, here it is...
1998 East Final...I was there. Section D Row 19 Seats 12 and 13...My old season tickets...I was so disgusted how we folded up in the 2nd half and figured we'd blown it . I heard Ozzy kick the ball and picked it up about half way to the posts...Then it was just...CHAOS!!!!
I was so nervous I probably watched the most of any Buffalo Bills game I ever had because every time I switched over to this game something bad would happen. I did see that nutjob play to Joe Hagins, though...
And then the drought ended in TO...Nomad year in Guelph...I vividly remember after beating Montreal everyone wanting to make the Rogers Centre a Cat home game. This was a great game that I cannot find a full game video for...
Thanks for posting these...great memories...several I saw live, a couple on TV or in the local pub due to blackout, and another via VHS tape sent to me in Africa...I'll gladly watch them and toast old Ticats friends...a welcome distraction over the next few days waiting for free agency news!
Thanks...I was looking for something from the 1972 East Final. I've been told it was a 2 game/total point scenario against Ottawa and we lost the first game and won the 2nd by enough points to win (like 1986), but, there doesn't seem to be anything out there???
Bingo. I'm 49 about to turn 50.
I listened to the 83 East final on the radio and the 84,85 and 86 playoffs as well. I lived a 20 minute walk from the stadium until I was 11, but didn't go to a game until I was in highschool. The blackouts were frustrating for me.
I would , for free, give the 2023 team a Ted Talk about how important it is to end this Grey Cup drought!
Last week someone brought up the '83 East Final. I watched the '83 East Semi Final the week before against Ottawa in Ottawa ( the last game played on grass at Lansdowne Park) where we came back on won on a late dive by Johnny Shepherd, 33-31 in a great football game. No one was able to see the East Final a week later!!! The radio I listened to the '84 East Final on almost went through a window a year earlier...
