Pete Titanic one of the great Toronto Argonaut of the CFL

Pete Titanic — A Multi-Sport Champion Remembered in Markham

On a quiet walk through Elmwood Cemetery in Markham, Ontario, football in hand, I came across the grave of a name once celebrated in Canadian sports — Pete Titanic, a Toronto Argonaut and local legend whose athletic legacy spans football, fastball, and basketball.

Born and raised in Mimico, Titanic was an exceptional wide receiver, known for his speed, hands, and athleticism. He played four seasons with the Toronto Argonauts and helped lead the team to three Grey Cup championships in 1946, 1947, and 1950 — a golden era in Argo history. That 1950 championship, famously dubbed the “Mud Bowl,” remains one of the most iconic games in CFL lore.

But Pete wasn’t just a football star. He was a multi-sport athlete in the truest sense. He excelled in fastball — his first love — and even competed at the world championship level as a catcher, a position that demands toughness, intelligence, and leadership. He also shone on the basketball court, rounding out a remarkable athletic résumé that few can match.

Peter David Titanic died in Newmarket, Ontario on January 20, 2014. He was 93.

1920-2014

Pete Titanic  on the far right.