Bill Mitchell (Canadian football)
Encyclopedia
Bill Mitchell is a former award winning center in the Canadian Football League
. He also regularly played defensive line and was a kicker.
Born in England and coming to Canada at 11 years old, Mitchell graduated from University of Western Ontario
as the Mustangs
most valuable player. The Toronto Argonauts
stirred up considerable controversy when they selected him in the draft, as they passed over Lionel Conacher Jr.
, (the son of Canadian sports legend Lionel Conacher
) who went to the Montreal Alouettes
. However, the Boatmen were immediately rewarded, as Mitchell played both offensive and defensive line (and intercepted 2 passes) and won the Gruen Trophy
as best rookie in the Eastern Conference. He also scored 60 points in 1962 as a back up kicker when Cookie Gilchrist
was injured.
After 3 season in Toronto, he was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos
in a blockbuster 6 player deal that saw the famed Jackie Parker
head east. In 3 seasons in Edmonton, besides being a lineman, he scored 123 points with his boot, including a 58 yard field goal (versus the Calgary Stampeders
on August 17, 1964) which was the longest in CFL history at the time.
Mitchell was traded to the British Columbia Lions
in 1966 and scored his highest points in a season that year with 67. He eventually retired 3 games into the 1968 season.
His brother Doug Mitchell also played in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and the Montreal Alouettes
.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He also regularly played defensive line and was a kicker.
Born in England and coming to Canada at 11 years old, Mitchell graduated from University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
as the Mustangs
Western Ontario Mustangs
The Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
most valuable player. The Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
stirred up considerable controversy when they selected him in the draft, as they passed over Lionel Conacher Jr.
Lionel Conacher Jr.
Lionel Conacher Jr. is a former running back in the Canadian Football League. He is the son of famed Canadian sports legend: Lionel Conacher....
, (the son of Canadian sports legend Lionel Conacher
Lionel Conacher
Lionel Pretoria Conacher, MP , nicknamed "The Big Train", was a Canadian athlete and politician. Voted the country's top athlete of the first half of the 20th century, he won championships in numerous sports. His first passion was football; he was a member of the 1921 Grey Cup champion Toronto...
) who went to the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. However, the Boatmen were immediately rewarded, as Mitchell played both offensive and defensive line (and intercepted 2 passes) and won the Gruen Trophy
Gruen Trophy
The Gruen Trophy was a Canadian Football League trophy, given to the most outstanding Canadian rookie in the East Division. The award, sponsored by the Gruen Watch Co...
as best rookie in the Eastern Conference. He also scored 60 points in 1962 as a back up kicker when Cookie Gilchrist
Cookie Gilchrist
Carlton Chester "Cookie" Gilchrist was a gridiron football player in the American Football League and Canadian Football League.-Career:...
was injured.
After 3 season in Toronto, he was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in a blockbuster 6 player deal that saw the famed Jackie Parker
Jackie Parker
John Dickerson "Jackie" Parker was an American football player who became an All-American in college football and an outstanding professional football player in the Canadian Football League at the running back, quarterback, defensive back, and kicker positions. He is primarily known for his play...
head east. In 3 seasons in Edmonton, besides being a lineman, he scored 123 points with his boot, including a 58 yard field goal (versus the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
on August 17, 1964) which was the longest in CFL history at the time.
Mitchell was traded to the British Columbia Lions
British Columbia Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in 1966 and scored his highest points in a season that year with 67. He eventually retired 3 games into the 1968 season.
His brother Doug Mitchell also played in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
and the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
.