The

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Tim Hortons Fiel ...

defeated the

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at IG Fiel ...

in the annual

Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...

in 1953.

Canadian Football News in 1953

The Canadian Rugby Union was paid in total of $20,500 by three television stations for the rights to show the

game live. Edmonton's

Billy Vessels Billy Dale Vessels (March 22, 1931 – November 17, 2001) was a gridiron football player. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma and won the Heisman Trophy in 1952. Vessels went on to play professional football with the Nati ...

(RB), became the first player to win the Schenley Award as the Most Outstanding Player Award. G. Sydney Halter, QC was named as

WIFU The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), its counterpart being the East Division. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagu ...

Commissioner. For the 1953 season, it was ruled that the ORFU winners would travel west to play the

winners in a semi-final game. This arrangement continued in the 1954 season.

Regular season

Final regular season standings

Source: ''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs. *''Edmonton has a bye and will play in the WIFU Finals.'' *''Kitchener-Waterloo has a bye and will play in the ORFU Finals.''

Grey Cup playoffs

''Note: All dates in 1953''

Semifinals

*''Winnipeg won the total-point series by 60–23. The Blue Bombers will play the Edmonton Eskimos in the WIFU Finals.'' *''Toronto Balmy Beach won the total-point series by 18–12. The Beachers will play the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen in the ORFU Finals.''

Finals

*''Winnipeg wins the best of three series 2–1. The Blue Bombers will play the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers in the Grey Cup semifinal.'' *''Toronto won the total-point series by 30–21. The Beachers will play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup semifinal.'' *''Hamilton wins the best of three series 2–0. The Tiger-Cats will advance to the Grey Cup game.

Grey Cup semifinal

*''The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will advance to the Grey Cup game.''

Playoff bracket

Grey Cup Championship

1953 Eastern (Interprovincial Rugby Football Union) All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Sam Etcheverry Samuel "The Rifle" Etcheverry (May 20, 1930 – August 29, 2009) was a professional American football, American and Canadian football player and head coach. Etcheverry played the quarterback position, most famously with the Montreal Alouettes of ...

, Montreal Alouettes *RB –

Avatus Stone Avatus Harry Stone (April 21, 1931 – November 2, 2000) was an American gridiron football player. After playing his college football at Syracuse University, Stone was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1953 NFL Draft, but played profession ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB – Joe Scudero, Toronto Argonauts *RB – Gene Roberts, Ottawa Rough Riders *E –

Red O'Quinn John William "Red" O'Quinn (September 7, 1925 – April 21, 2002) was a gridiron football end. Early years John William "Red" O'Quinn, Jr. was born in Bluett Falls, North Carolina. He graduated from Asheboro High School in Asheboro, North ...

, Montreal Alouettes *E –

Bernie Flowers Benjamin Bernard Flowers (born Benjamin Bernard Kwiatkowski, February 14, 1930April 14, 2011) was an American football player who played at the end position for the Purdue University where he became a consensus first-team All-American in 1952. ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *FW – Bob Simpson, Ottawa Rough Riders *C –

Tommy Hugo Tom Hugo (August 25, 1930 – November 15, 2004) was a Canadian Football League offensive lineman and linebacker who played seven seasons for the Montreal Alouettes from 1953 to 1959. He was a Montreal All-Star 12 times (1953 offence, 1954–1958 ...

, Montreal Alouettes *OG –

Kaye Vaughan Charles Kaye Vaughan (born June 30, 1931) is a former professional football player, a lineman with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League for twelve seasons. He won the CFL's Outstanding Lineman Award in 1956 and 1957 and is a ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *OG –

Ed Bradley Edward Rudolph Bradley Jr. (June 22, 1941 – November 9, 2006) was an American broadcast journalist and news anchor. He was best known for his reporting on ''60 Minutes'' and CBS News. Bradley began his journalism career as a radio news repo ...

, Montreal Alouettes *OT –

Tex Coulter DeWitt Echoles "Tex" Coulter (October 26, 1924 – October 2, 2007) was an American gridiron football player. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union ...

, Montreal Alouettes *OT – Vince Mazza, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Defence

*DT –

, Montreal Alouettes *DT – Vince Mazza, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE –

Pete Neumann Peter Michael Neumann (1931 – January 1, 2020) was a Canadian Football League player for 14 seasons the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was a 9-time CFL's Eastern All-Star and a part of three Grey Cup championship teams. Neumann was inducted into the ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE – Doug McNichol, Montreal Alouettes *DG –

Vince Scott Vincent Joseph "Boomer" Scott (July 10, 1925 – July 13, 1992) was a Canadian football player. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and was later a Hamilton city councillor. He became a Canadian citizen in the mid-1950s Scott was born in ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DG –

Eddie Bevan Eddie Bevan (c. 1925–1988) was a Canadian football player who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1953. He previously served in World War II with the Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: M ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB –

Red Ettinger Donald Nesbit Ettinger (November 20, 1921 – February 13, 1992) was an American football player. He was born in Independence, Missouri. Nicknamed "Red Dog", Ettinger played college football for the University of Kansas and later the National Foo ...

, Toronto Argonauts *LB –

Ralph Toohy Ralph Toohy (October 6, 1926 – July 19, 1998) was a Grey Cup champion and all-star Canadian Football League player. He played offensive and defensive end. Toohy played football with Loyola High School, and later attended Colorado College. He ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB –

, Montreal Alouettes *DB – Dick Brown, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Howie Turner, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Lou Kusserow, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *S - Teddy Toogood, Toronto Argonauts

1953 Western (Western Interprovincial Football Union) All-Stars

Offence

*QB – Claude Arnold, Edmonton Eskimos *RB –

Rollie Miles Rollie is a nickname, often for Roland or Rolland, and occasionally a given name which may refer to: Rolands * Rollie Boutin (born 1957), Canadian retired ice hockey goaltender * Rollie Cook (born 1952), Canadian politician * Rollie Dotsch (1933 ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *RB –

Normie Kwong Norman Lim Kwong (born Kwong Lim Yew; ; October 24, 1929 – September 3, 2016) was a Canadian football player who played for the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was also an active businessman ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *E –

Mac Speedie Mac Curtis Speedie (January 12, 1920 – March 5, 1993) was an American football end who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) for seven years before joining the Saskatc ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *E –

Bud Grant Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (born May 20, 1927) is a former head coach and player of American football, Canadian football, and a former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Grant served as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *FW – Bud Korchak, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C –

Eagle Keys Eagle Keys (December 4, 1923 – December 20, 2012) was a Canadian football player and coach. He is currently fifth all-time in regular season wins with 131 as a head coach in the Canadian Football League. He was inducted into the Canadian Foo ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *OG – Mike Cassidy, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Jim Quondamatteo, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Leon Manley, Edmonton Eskimos *OT –

Martin Ruby Martin Owen Ruby (June 9, 1922 – January 3, 2002) was an offensive tackle and defensive tackle for the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers in the All-America Football Conference, New York Yanks of the National Football League,''Will C ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Defence

*DT –

Dick Huffman Richard Maxwell Huffman (March 27, 1923 – September 13, 1992) was an American gridiron football tackle in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). A 9th round selection (81st overall ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DT –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DE – Frank Anderson, Edmonton Eskimos *DE – Ezzret Anderson, Calgary Stampeders *DG –

Dean Bandiera Dean "Dino" Bandiera (1 January 1926 – 13 October 2020) was a Canadian football player who played for the Montreal Alouettes, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Can ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DG –

Gordon Brown James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chance ...

, Calgary Stampeders *LB –

John Wozniak John Keith Wozniak (born January 19, 1971) is an American musician best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the band Marcy Playground. Early life Wozniak was born and raised in Minneapolis. He learned how to play the guitar ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB –

Tony Momsen Anton Henry "Tony" Momsen, Jr. (January 29, 1928 – March 6, 1994) was an American football center in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Mic ...

, Calgary Stampeders *DB –

Ray Willsey Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (gra ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Bobby Marlow, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB –

Neill Armstrong Neill Ford Armstrong (March 9, 1926 – August 10, 2016) was an American football player and coach whose career spanned more than four decades at both the college and professional levels. Notably, Armstrong served as the head coach of the ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *S – Tom Casey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1953 Ontario Rugby Football Union All-Stars

''NOTE: During this time most players played both ways, so the All-Star selections do not distinguish between some offensive and defensive positions.''

*QB – Bob Schneidenbach, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *HB –

Dick Gregory Richard Claxton Gregory (October 12, 1932 – August 19, 2017) was an American comedian, civil rights leader, business owner and entrepreneur, and vegetarian activist. His writings were best sellers. Gregory became popular among the Afric ...

- Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *HB – Jack Mancos, Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen *HB – John Duchene, Sarnia Imperials *E – Harvey Singleton, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *E – Keith Fisher, Sarnia Imperials *FW – Johnny Chorostecki, Sarnia Imperials *C –

Bruce Mattingly Bruce Mattingly (born c. 1924) was a centre in the Ontario Rugby Football Union, playing 10 years with the Sarnia Imperials. A mainstay of the Sarnia offensive line, Mattingly was an all-star 5 times and won two ORFU championships. By far his bes ...

, Sarnia Imperials *G – Jay Fry, Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen *G – Lloyd "Dutch" Davey, Sarnia Imperials *T –

Oatten Fisher Oatten Fisher (April 1, 1924 – April 30, 2006), was an all-star Canadian Football League player. Having played college American football, football at the University of North Carolina, Fisher embarked on an 8-year career in Canada. While he onl ...

, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *T – Maurice Dorocke, Sarnia Imperials

1953 Canadian Football Awards

* Most Outstanding Player Award –

(RB), Edmonton Eskimos *

Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy The Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding football player of the Quebec Student Sport Federation (RESQ) The trophy was originally presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanshi ...

(IRFU MVP) – Bob Cunningham (FB), Ottawa Rough Riders *

Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's most outstanding player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division. Either this trophy winner or the winner of the Terry Evanshen T ...

(WIFU MVP) -

John Henry Johnson John Henry Johnson (November 24, 1929 – June 3, 2011) was an American professional football player who was a running back. He was known for his excellence at the fullback position as both a runner and a blocker. His first professional stint ...

(RB), Calgary Stampeders * Gruen Trophy (IRFU Rookie of the Year) - Bob Dawson (RB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats * Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (WIFU Rookie of the Year) -

Gordon Sturtridge Gordon Henry Sturtridge (1929 – December 9, 1956) was a professional Canadian football player, and was one of 62 people who died on Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810, on December 9, 1956. Sturtridge played his entire five-year professional footb ...

(DE), Saskatchewan Roughriders * Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) -

- Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1953 In Canadian Football Canadian Football League seasons