 | |
| No. 55 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1919-02-20)February 20, 1919 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | December 16, 2008(2008-12-16) (aged 89) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Kennedy Collegiate Institute |
| Career history | |
| |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Joseph "King" Krol (February 20, 1919 – December 16, 2008) was aCanadianfootballquarterback,running back,defensive back, andplacekicker/punter from 1942 to 1953 and 1955. Considered as possibly the most versatile player in Canadian football history as a triple-threat to pass, run, and kick, he was one of Canada's greatest athletes and also famously known as a "Gold Dust Twin" for his teamwork withRoyal Copeland. Joe Krol was inducted into theOntario Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.[1] After suffering from a fall in his apartment, Krol died in a Toronto hospital on December 16, 2008.[2]
Krol was born on February 20, 1919, inHamilton, Ontario. He was commonly nicknamed "King".[3] He said in 1999, "My parents arePolish and the name was actually Krul. I guess in Polish,Krol means king. It also means rabbit, but I think I prefer king."[4]
Krol began playingCanadian football in high school atKennedy Collegiate Institute inWindsor, Ontario in 1932, with which he won several secondary school championships. He went to theUniversity of Western Ontario inLondon, Ontario and playedIntercollegiate Football for theWestern Ontario Mustangs from 1938 to 1942 including the Intercollegiate championship in 1939.[5][6][7]
Krol joined theHamilton Flying Wildcats, anOntario Rugby Football Union precursor to theHamilton Tiger-Cats, following university in 1942.[8][9] In the1943 season, he led the Flying Wildcats to a surprise victory to win his first of sixGrey Cups.[10] His performance, with a 30-yard pass for atouchdown, afield goal, and arouge, made him the star of the game.[11] The Wildcats returned to the Grey Cup final in the1944 season but lost. In that game, Krol fumbled the ball to the St. Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy team after a hard hit on a run in the second quarter.[11] Krol went on to play two games with theDetroit Lions in 1945 before joining theToronto Argonauts for the remainder of the1945 Canadian football season.[8] The Canadian Press voted him Canada's male athlete of the year in 1946 and 1947.[12]
Krol won sixGrey Cups, five with theToronto Argonauts. His No. 55 jersey is one of only four that has beenretired by theBoatmen.[12] He was awarded theLou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete in 1946. He was inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963 andCanada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.[12]
Krol andRoyal Copeland (Argonauts andCalgary Stampeders 1944–1956) became known as theGold Dust Twins.[12] Although official statistics were not kept for theEastern teams until 1954, according to the 2001Unofficial Canadian Football Encyclopedia, Krol completed ten passes for 147 yards and threw fourtouchdowns[13] during the1946 season.
In November 2006, Krol was voted one of theCFL's top 50 players (No. 46) in a poll conducted by Canadian sports networkTSN.[14]
Joe Krol was also one of the owners of theMercury Night club withHarry Eckler of the Softball Canada Hall of Fame and Sam Luftspring of the Boxing Hall of Fame.[citation needed]