Toronto Argonauts legend Peter Martin has passed away at the age of 83, the team announced on Monday morning.
“The Argos are saddened by the passing of Peter Martin,” the team wrote in a statement.
“From his fierce days on the field to his legendary voice in the broadcast booth, his passion for the Double Blue never wavered. A true icon and forever part of our Argonauts family. Our deepest condolences to his family.”
The Western University product played 104 career games with the Argonauts at linebacker from 1965 to 1972, recording seven interceptions and seven fumble recoveries and appearing in one Grey Cup. It’s unclear how many tackles or sacks he made as they weren’t recorded as official statistics during his playing career.
The native of Scarborough, Ont. spent more than 25 years as the team’s colour commentator on radio and was inducted into the media wing of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He also spent two years as the team’s in-house public announcer, a stint as the president of the Argo Alumni Association, and as a board member of the CFL Alumni Association.
Martin spent 33 years working in education and coached high school football at Port Credit Secondary School. He helped found the Mississauga Football League and was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
“Pete Martin will forever be the definition of true blue. Many think of their playing careers as the most important chapters in their lives, but Pete wrote the book on lifelong devotion to the Toronto Argonauts,” wrote CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie in a statement.
“He flawlessly transitioned his passion on the field to the broadcast booth, the alumni movement, and any place where he could support the Argos and the CFL. A teammate to many, and a friend to all, he will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.”
In 2016, the Canadian Football League Alumni Association named Martin as their co-Man of the Year alongside Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons. He was also named to the All-Time Argos list earlier this year.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy, as well as their four children.
“He dedicated his life to the sport and his family,” wrote team communications manager and play-by-play voice Mike Hogan. “Sending love to Wendy, their four children, and their kids, all of whom he loved greatly. Today we’re not Double Blue, we’re just blue.”
