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Tony Pajaczkowski
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 educationPajaczkowski 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 careerIn 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 deathAfter 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
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