A historical look at the Labour Day Classic

Throw your records out the window because it’s Labour Day Weekend in TigerTown, where the only win that matters is one against the Argos.
The 2016 Labour Day Classic at Tim Horton’s Field will mark the 48^th matchup between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts on Labour Day Monday.
The iconic match between the Tabbies and Double Blue is a storied rivalry that began during the Post-War era of Canadian football. Since it’s first playing back in 1948, it has grown to be the best rivalry the league has to offer.
In 1948, The Hamilton Tigers joined the Ontario Rugby Football Union resulting in their absence on Labour Day against the Argos. It would be the Hamilton Wildcats playing as host to Toronto. The Wildcats had joined the (Interprovincial Rugby Football Union) with the departure of the Tigers and kept Hamilton as a member of what was referred to as the “Big Four” (Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal).
The Hamilton Wildcats would represent the Steel City in the first two Labour Day Classic games played against the Argonauts.
It would be in 1950 when the Tigers and Wildcats would end their in-town fight over fan support and merge as one team. That year the Hamilton Tiger-Cats officially began a new chapter in history and the Tiger-Cats versus Argonauts rivalry was born.
There have been many memorable moments since the game’s inception.
In 1988, Ticats’ great Earl Winfield scoring touchdowns three different ways while also totalling over 400 yards in all-purpose yardage before a rowdy Hamilton crowd at the iconic Ivor Wynne Stadium. Those three touchdowns would include a 100-yard kickoff return score to go along with both a receiving and punt return touchdown.
Although playing for the Double Blue at the time, in 2006 Damon Allen surpassed Warren Moon for the all-time passing yards record in professional football against the Tiger-Cats in the annual Labour Day game.
Allen did have his time in the Black and Gold however when he played in Hamilton in 1992. Allen led the Tiger-Cats over the Argos that year with a 27-24 win.
That same 2006 Labour Day Classic saw something that may have been truly unique to that game as Hamilton dawned white helmets. It would be the only game they would wear such helmets, which also sported a new logo as well.
Hamilton hasn’t always faced the Argonauts in the mid-season showcase. In 1995, the year the Canadian Football League expanded south of the border, the Ticats faced the eventual Grey Cup Champs Baltimore Stallions. Hamilton would play host to the Montreal Alouettes as their Labour Day weekend matchup in 2011. In 2013, due to the construction of Tim Horton’s Field, Hamilton faced the BC Lions during their season playing at University of Guelph’s Alumni Stadium.
Hamilton holds the better record against their Ontario rival heading into the 2016 game, having won the coveted matchup 31 times. Over the years, Hamilton has averaged 23.5 points per game compared to their counterparts, who have only averaged 19.7 points on Labour Day when facing the Ticats.
Head Coach Kent Austin could also walk off Tim Horton’s Field Monday night with the Ballard Trophy in hand for the second straight year, adding to the excitement surrounding an already iconic day in the CFL. The trophy is awarded to the winner of the season series between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts and is named after the former owner of the Ticats, Harold Ballard.
The Ticats hold the advantage with having already beat the Argos 42-20 in the opening week of the CFL season.
It’s easy to see the Tiger-Cats and Argos rivalry is made for Labour Day. Since the inaugural game 47 years ago, it’s been a day that brings Toronto and Hamilton together, when the only win that matters is the win against the Argos on Labour Day Monday.