Dick Shatto
Encyclopedia
Dick Shatto was a professional Canadian football
player for the Canadian Football League
Toronto Argonauts
. Shatto also served as the Argonauts general manager
after his playing days with the club ended.
Shatto's playing career with the Argos lasted twelve seasons, from 1954 to 1965
. His #22 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by the club. Shatto was one of the most productive players in the CFL and for a team that made the playoffs only three times during his career: 1955
, 1960
, and 1961
. During Shatto's playing tenure with the club, the Argos finished last in their conference eight times.
for the University of Kentucky Wildcats
. Following college, Shatto was drafted in the 15th round of the 1956 NFL Draft
by the Los Angeles Rams.
Shatto was the all-time leader for the most combined (rushing and receiving) yardage with 13,642 yards that came on 1322 carries and 466 receptions. Presently he still ranks in seventh place, and he is still third among running backs, passed only by George Reed
and Mike Pringle. His most productive season was 1960 when he carried the ball 122 times for 708 yards with a touchdown and caught 53 passes for 894 yards with ten more majors for a total yards from scrimmage of 1,602.
When it comes to total yardage, that also includes return yardage from punts, kickoffs and missed field goals, as well as yards from scrimmage, Shatto accumulated a total of 15,725 yards. That put him second all-time in 1965 and since then he has dropped to only seventh place.
Interestingly Shatto never surpassed 1,000 yards in a season either rushing or receiving. However he did average 1,136 yards per season in yards from scrimmage. His best seasons in running the ball came in 1958 and 1959 when he tallied 969 and 950 yards respectively. The former being a team record at the time according to official statistics. Also he never led the CFL or the Eastern Conference in rushing yards. Shatto's 6,958 rushing yards remains to this day an Argonaut team record and at the end of his career he was sixth all-time. He provided the Argos with 16 100-yard rushing games.
As a receiver Shatto accumulated 6,684 yards and his best season came in 1963 with 67 receptions for 945 yards and ten touchdowns. When he left the game he was the number two all-time receiver. He led the Eastern Conference in receptions in 1962 (47), 1963 (67) and 1964 (53).
Shatto was the Argos' nominee for the Most Outstanding Player Award
in 1955, 1957-59, and 1962-64 and was the league's runner-up in 1958 and 1964. Plus he was an Eastern All-Star from 1956-1959 and 1961-64. He was named to the league's all-star squad (not started until 1962) in 1963 and 1964. Shatto was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
in 1975.
for the CFL on CTV
.
In 1976
, Shatto became general manager
of the Argonauts
. The Argonauts went 17-30-1 in Shatto's three seasons as general manager, making the playoffs once.
, competed in 3 Metres Springboard diving at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
and in Women's 10 metre platform diving at the 1976 Summer Olympics
.
Shatto died on February 4, 2003, in New Port Richey, Florida
. His ashes were spread over the site of old Exhibition Stadium
.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
player for the Canadian Football League
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....
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...
. Shatto also served as the Argonauts general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
after his playing days with the club ended.
Shatto's playing career with the Argos lasted twelve seasons, from 1954 to 1965
1965 CFL season
The 1965 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 12th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 8th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1965:...
. His #22 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by the club. Shatto was one of the most productive players in the CFL and for a team that made the playoffs only three times during his career: 1955
1955 in Canadian football
-Canadian Football News in 1955:The IRFU allowed the third place team to qualify for a playoff berth.The Ontario Rugby Football Union withdrew from Grey Cup competition....
, 1960
1960 CFL season
The 1960 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 7th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 3rd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1960:...
, and 1961
1961 CFL season
The 1961 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 8th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 4th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1961:...
. During Shatto's playing tenure with the club, the Argos finished last in their conference eight times.
College football career
Shatto played collegiatelyCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
. Following college, Shatto was drafted in the 15th round of the 1956 NFL Draft
1956 NFL Draft
The 1956 National Football League Draft was held on November 29, 1955.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:...
by the Los Angeles Rams.
Professional football career
Shatto held the record for most career touchdowns with 91, of which 39 were rushing and 52 were receiving. In the plus 40 years since he retired he still ranks eighth overall.Shatto was the all-time leader for the most combined (rushing and receiving) yardage with 13,642 yards that came on 1322 carries and 466 receptions. Presently he still ranks in seventh place, and he is still third among running backs, passed only by George Reed
George Reed
George Robert Reed, CM is a former American college football and Canadian Football League player. Reed, along with Mike Pringle and Johnny Bright, is one of the players most often mentioned as being the greatest running back in CFL history...
and Mike Pringle. His most productive season was 1960 when he carried the ball 122 times for 708 yards with a touchdown and caught 53 passes for 894 yards with ten more majors for a total yards from scrimmage of 1,602.
When it comes to total yardage, that also includes return yardage from punts, kickoffs and missed field goals, as well as yards from scrimmage, Shatto accumulated a total of 15,725 yards. That put him second all-time in 1965 and since then he has dropped to only seventh place.
Interestingly Shatto never surpassed 1,000 yards in a season either rushing or receiving. However he did average 1,136 yards per season in yards from scrimmage. His best seasons in running the ball came in 1958 and 1959 when he tallied 969 and 950 yards respectively. The former being a team record at the time according to official statistics. Also he never led the CFL or the Eastern Conference in rushing yards. Shatto's 6,958 rushing yards remains to this day an Argonaut team record and at the end of his career he was sixth all-time. He provided the Argos with 16 100-yard rushing games.
As a receiver Shatto accumulated 6,684 yards and his best season came in 1963 with 67 receptions for 945 yards and ten touchdowns. When he left the game he was the number two all-time receiver. He led the Eastern Conference in receptions in 1962 (47), 1963 (67) and 1964 (53).
Shatto was the Argos' nominee for the Most Outstanding Player Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The Most Outstanding Player award can be compared to the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the "MVP" award...
in 1955, 1957-59, and 1962-64 and was the league's runner-up in 1958 and 1964. Plus he was an Eastern All-Star from 1956-1959 and 1961-64. He was named to the league's all-star squad (not started until 1962) in 1963 and 1964. Shatto was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
in 1975.
Color commentator and Argonauts general manager
From 1970-1973 Shatto was a color commentatorColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the CFL on CTV
CFL on CTV
CFL on CTV was a presentation of Canadian Football League football aired on the CTV Television Network from 1962 to 1986. CTV dropped coverage of the CFL after the 1986 season...
.
In 1976
1976 CFL season
The 1976 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 23rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 19th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1976:...
, Shatto became general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the 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...
. The Argonauts went 17-30-1 in Shatto's three seasons as general manager, making the playoffs once.
Personal life and death
His daughter, Cindy ShattoCindy Shatto
Cindy Shatto was a Canadian diver. She competed in the women's 10m platform event at the 1976 Summer Olympics....
, competed in 3 Metres Springboard diving at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games
1974 British Commonwealth Games
The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games....
and in Women's 10 metre platform diving at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Diving at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Women's 10 metre platform
The women's 10 metre platform, also reported as platform diving, was one of four diving events on the Diving at the 1976 Summer Olympics programme.The competition was split into two phases:#Preliminary round #:Divers performed eight dives...
.
Shatto died on February 4, 2003, in New Port Richey, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
New Port Richey is a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is a suburban city included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. His ashes were spread over the site of old Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
.
Videos
Short video of his play as rusher and receiverExternal links
- Video: