For those who have never seen this documentary about this Ticat QB from the early 1970s, it's being shown on the Buffalo PBS channel, WNED, Thursday night at 9pm. Chuck came to Hamilton from the University of Toledo, where he never lost a game. He continued his hot streak, leading us to the Grey Cup in his first year in the CFL, 1972. It's a neat story, worth checking out.
Thanks for the info. Was Chuck Ealey the first black QB in Pro Football?
Noooooooooooooooooooo. . . you must be a young' un
Chuck still lives in Southern Ontario.
When I first read your post, I too thought you were a young-in with only a recent view to football.
upon further evaluation you were pretty close when you asked if Chuck was the first African American to successfully play pro QB.
Upon doing some CFL research Chuck was the 3rd African American QB to be a starter as close as I can tell.
http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~maxymuk/home/passing/cflblackqb.html
It appears, Fritz Pollard was the first African American to play quarterback in 1923 for the Hammond Pros, Marlon Briscoe was the first to start a game for the Denver Broncos in 1968, James Harris was the first to start a playoff game for the Los Angeles Rams in 1974 and Doug Williams was the first to start and win a championship for the Washington Redskins in 1988.
And who could forget the CFL’s own Warren Moon, the first black quarterback to be inducted into the Pro Hall of Fame in 2006? He played college football in Washington State but then had trouble finding a place as a quarterback in the NFL so he played in Canada from 1978 until 1984 when he returned to lead the Houston Oilers to glory. His career spanned 17 spectacular seasons in the NFL.
1978-2001 playing pro QB…that is AMAZING!!!
Chuck and Warren Moon also featured in the documentary “Third and a Mile: The History of the Black Quarterback”. It was on TV a year or two ago. Even Don McPherson got some screen time as well, though he didn’t find the same success in the Pros as he did in college.
[url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/425171/Third-and-a-Mile-The-History-of-the-Black-Quarterback/overview]http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/425171/ ... k/overview[/url]Can't talk first black QB's and not mention our own Bernie Custis.
1951: Former Syracuse University quarterback Bernie Custis from Philadelphia becomes the first professional black quarterback since Pollard when he signs a contract and plays for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Big Four League (predecessor to the Canadian Football League - CFL). As a rookie Custis, a former 3-year starter at Syracuse, is named the league's Most Valuable Back. Shifted to halfback in '52, Custis' journey in Canada ends 30 years later at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Anyone with an interest in the development of black QB's and just how hard it was for them to break into pro ball should give this book a read, I've had the pleasure of listening to Bernie speak at length of his own early years and it's enlightning to say the least.
[url]http://www.amazon.ca/Choice-Colours-American-quarterbacks-Canadian/dp/1550289918[/url]
Re. Bernie Custis.... the story goes that when Chuck Ealey was in talks with Ralph Sazio about coming to Hamilton and the CFL, Chuck inquired about his chances of playing QB here, which he badly wanted to do and which he felt he had little chance to do in the US at that time. Ralph looked across his desk at Chuck, and directed him to some of the photos he had on his office wall of his time over the years as a Ticat player, coach and GM. Looking at a team picture from the early 1950s, and pointing to Bernie Custis said, "He was our quarterback". Chuck was satisfied, and signed.
Thanks for the "Heads Up" :thup: But...I'm not sure I can get it up here.
Ummmm…Woody, you may want to re-write your post … :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
http://www.viagra.com/ :wink:
LMAO…yea, I guess I walked into that one! :lol:
With a name like WOODY and this conversation yup you walked right into this one ...! 
Too funny ....about time some humor on this site .
Has anyone seen this movie?
[url=http://www.amazon.com/Third-Mile-Emergence-Black-Quarterback/dp/B000WMFZMO]http://www.amazon.com/Third-Mile-Emerge ... B000WMFZMO[/url]I believe that the 1st Black QB in Canada was Carole Williams, who play for the Als in the mid sixties.
Perhaps read this thread 
…re our own Bernie Custis 1950
Apparently, you haven`t read the whole thread, Johnnya.
I suggest reading it, it`s quite a history lesson about
professional black quarterbacks in North America.
1923: Halfback/Signal Caller Fritz Pollard becomes the first African American Quarterback in the NFL, playing the position and taking direct snaps from center for the Hammond Pros in a couple of games.
1951: Former Syracuse University quarterback Bernie Custis from Philadelphia becomes the first professional black quarterback since Pollard when he signs a contract and plays for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Big Four League (predecessor to the Canadian Football League - CFL). As a rookie Custis, a former 3-year starter at Syracuse, is named the league’s Most Valuable Back. Shifted to halfback in ‘52, Custis’ journey in Canada ends 30 years later at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
http://www.bqb-site.com/Timeline.htmVery interesting story, my first memories of the Ticats were that year. I was but a young buck at the time. Well done
Well done.
Great tunes also 
I used to run into Chuck many times where I'd go for lunch when I lived in Grimsby and we'd chat.
He worked at John Deere on the South Service Rd. near Casablanca Blvd.