PLAYER #126 - TOM DUBLINSKI (1955-57, 62)

Tom Dublinski and Al Pfeifer made quite a combination for the Argonauts on the field in the 1950's, and 40 years later, their close relationship has continued off the gridiron.

"We've been good friends since the Argo years," said Dublinski, who lives just outside of Phoenix, Arizona in a town called Fountain Hills. Pfeifer lives nearby, and the two often play golf together. "I can beat him one out of every four, if we play with a handicap," laughed Dublinski, refuting Pfeifer's claim that Dublinski can never beat him.

When it comes to being unbeatable, this quarterback and receiver duo were nearly that when Dublinski first joined the Double Blue in 1955 out of the University of Utah. The Chicago native signed for $17,500 a year, which Dublinski admits was the highest contract in the CFL that year, ahead of greats like Sam Etcheverry and Jackie Parker. But he earned it, setting all kinds of Argo quarterbacking records when he completed 225-of-388 passes for 3,561 yards and 30 touchdowns. His comrade at the receiver spot, Pfeifer, caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and 15 touchdowns, also records across the board.

"My first game was probably one of my best in pro football," said Dublinski, who completed 16-of-18 passes for five touchdowns in a win over Hamilton, before being pulled by head coach Bill Swiacki in the third quarter. "Then we played them again on Monday and we lost. I was on my fanny (after every play)."

During the 1955 season, the team was up and down all year, finishing with a disappointing record of 4-8. But they came on in the playoffs, beating Hamilton 32-28 in the semi-final before losing 38-36 to the Montreal Alouettes in the East final. The two combatants meet again this Sunday in the 1996 version, but the Argos are hoping the end result this time will be different.

"We were so upset at that game, about five of us didn't go home with the team and stayed in Montreal," said Dublinski, remembering that the locals bought them drinks all night, making the loss a little easier to take. "That was my only great year."

The next summer, Dublinski badly hurt his knee in an exhibition game against B.C., and was replaced by Arnold Galiffa, who broke all his records from the previous year. In 1957, a healthier Dublinski returned, but this time dislocated his thumb in a game against Montreal. He ended up throwing for only 863 yards that year, and after that was let go by the Argos.

Over the next four years, Dublinski bounced around the NFL and AFL with the New York Giants and Denver Broncos, as well as playing back-up to Bernie Faloney for a couple of Grey Cup-losing campaigns in Hamilton. In 1962, he returned to the Argos as a back-up to Tobin Rote, but rarely saw playing time.

Away from football, Dublinski lived in Toronto for 11 years, where he was a salesman for Revere Electric. From there, he became a regional manager for Mutual United of Omaha Insurance, where he spent stints in Detroit, Chicago and Boston, and later worked for Federation Life. Dublinski retired 10 years ago with his wife JoAnn, and the couple raised five children (Michael, Karen, William, Mary-Jo and Richard).