Black History Month feature: Dave Raimey

During Black History Month this February bluebombers.com will once again salute some of the players who have played significant roles in the Blue Bombers’ long history.

Today: Dave Raimey — running back/defensive back, 1965-69

Dave Raimey stood out at a time when the Blue Bombers ‘Glory Days’ of the late 1950s-early 60s were ending. He joined the club in 1965 — they lost in the Grey Cup that season to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after having won four championships in five years from 1958-62 — and was a star during his time through 1969 and a trade that sent him to the Toronto Argonauts.

A product of Dayton, Ohio, Raimey gained prominence during his days at the University of Michigan where he led the team in rushing and was named the team’s MVP in 1962. He was selected in the ninth round of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns but a shoulder injury cost him his 1963 season and he later came north to Winnipeg in ’65.

His first season as a Blue Bomber was sensational as he rushed for 1,052 yards – and an 8.1-yard average – caught 20 passes and led the West Division in kickoff returns. He was a CFL All-Star in 1966 after rushing for a career high 1,223 yards and adding 389 yards through the air, and 474 yards on kickoff returns. Those numbers led to him also being named as the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Player.

Raimey was a West Division All-Star again in 1968 — his fourth consecutive season on that squad — after setting a career-high with 2,278 all-purpose yards: 781 rushing, 559 receiving and 930 on kickoffs. Winnipeg struggled that year with a 3-13 record, but Raimey was clearly a shining star and again was named as the Most Outstanding Player

The Blue Bombers would again struggle in 1969, finishing 3-12-1 and during the season opted to deal Raimey to the Argos for quarterback Wally Gabler. Raimey injured his knee after his arrival in Toronto but played through the injury.

He had played some defensive back during his days in Winnipeg and the Argos opted to move him to defence in 1971 where he played through 1974.

Raimey was inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1989 and then the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Black History Month Archives:

-Greg Battle

–Darryl Sampson

-Tyrone Jones

-Leo Lewis

–Rod Hill

–Ed Ulmer

-James Murphy

-Tom Casey

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