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Dave Raimey

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Dave Raimey
Raimey on Michigan sideline, Oct. 1962
Date of birth (1940-11-18) November 18, 1940 (age 83)
Place of birthDayton, Ohio
Career information
StatusRetired
CFL statusInternational
Position(s)RB/DB
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
US collegeMichigan
NFL draft1963 / round: 9 / pick: 121
Drafted byCleveland Browns
Career history
As player
1964Cleveland Browns
1965–1968Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1969–1974Toronto Argonauts
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1966, 1969
CFL East All-Star1969
CFL West All-Star1965, 1966, 1967, 1968
Career stats

David E. Raimey (born November 18, 1940) is a former American football player. He played college football as a halfback for the University of Michigan from 1960 to 1962. He then played professional football as a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns in 1964 and as a running back and defensive back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1965-1968) and Toronto Argonauts (1969-1974). He played in two Grey Cups, one for the Blue Bombers and one for the Argonauts. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Early years

Raimey was born in 1940 in Dayton, Ohio.[1] He and three brothers were orphaned at an early age and were raised by their grandparents. When his grandmother became seriously ill, they moved to another home.[2]

Raimey initially attended Roosevelt High School in Dayton.[3] He was big for his age, and the football coaches wanted him to play on the line. Raimey recalled that he "wanted no part of that line business" and so he did not play football that year.[2] He remained at Roosevelt for his freshman year and the first semester of his sophomore year.[3] He then transferred Woodrow Wilson High School in Xenia, Ohio. He played football at the fullback and halfback positions. As a senior, he began his season at Wilson and then transferred back to Roosevelt in mid-October. He scored 19 touchdowns that year.[2]

Raimey also starred in track in high school. He led Wilson to the Ohio Class A track championship in 1958, placing first in the broad jump and 180-yard low hurdles. He also finished second in the 100-yard dash and as the anchor the school's 880-yard relay team.[4] He repeated in 1959 as state champion in the broad jump and low hurdles. In April 1959, he received the Agonis Award as Dayton's outstanding high school athlete during the 1958-1959 academic year.[5]

University of Michigan

Raimey enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1959 and played for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1960 to 1962.[6] As a sophomore in 1960, Raimey started three games at the halfback position,[7] gained 342 net rushing yards in 62 attempts, and led the team in scoring with six touchdowns.[8]

1961 season

As a junior in 1961, Raimey helped lead Michigan to a 6–3 record, starting all nine games at right halfback.[9] He played on offense, defense, and on special teams as a return specialist. Against Duke on November 4, Raimey played 40 out of a possible 60 minutes. Head coach Bump Elliott noted: "I don't believe people know how well Dave plays on defense. Whenever things get tough for us, I've got him in there."[10] Against Ohio State on November 25, he returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. For the season, he led Michigan with 496 rushing yards on 99 attempts and was the team's leading scorer for the second consecutive year with six touchdowns.[8]

1962 season

As a senior in 1962, Raimey played one of the worst teams in Michigan football history, a team that compiled a 2–7 record, scored only 70 points for the season, and finished last in the Big Ten.[11] The Michigan Daily wrote that nobody blamed Raimey for the "impotent Michigan offense", noting that he played against defenses stacked to stop him and was nevertheless responsible for two-thirds of the team's touchdowns.[12] The Daily further noted that Raimey had a "rare combination of power and speed to make him a breakaway threat from any point on the field."[12]

Raimey led the Wolverines in rushing in 1962, gaining 385 yards and scoring five touchdowns on 124 carries.[8] He was also selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player for the 1962 season.[13] He finished his college career with more touchdowns than any Michigan player since Tom Harmon.[14]

Raimey played the 1962 season with a harness over his shoulders to protect an injury that was diagnosed as bone chips. After the season ended, he underwent surgery to remove the chips.[15]

Professional football

1963 and 1964 seasons

Raimey was selected in the ninth round of the 1963 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He turned down an offer from the Browns,[16] instead signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League for a $5,000 bonus and a three-year contract.[16] He suffered a recurrence of his prior shoulder injury and underwent surgery in the spring.[17][18] After spending time on Winnipeg's injured list, Raimey was cut by the club in September 1963.[19]

In October 1963, he signed a contract to play for the Browns in 1964.[16] He undertook an isometric training program to strengthen his shoulders and made the final cuts with the Browns in 1964.[20] He appeared in five games for the Browns during the 1964 NFL season, mostly on defense at cornerback and safety.[21] He was placed on waivers in late November.[22]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1965-1969)

Raimey signed with Winnipeg in March 1965.[23] He returned to the offensive halfback position in 1965, appearing in 16 games and tallying 1,052 rushing yards on 130 carries for an average of 8.1 yards per carry. He also caught 20 passes for 218 yards and returned 22 kickoffs for 635 yards, including a 105-yard return.[21] Columnist Don Blanchard of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote in August 1965 that Raimey was "operating like the best halfback in the league" since Leo Lewis a decade earlier.[24] He helped lead Winnipeg to a league-best record of 14–2. In the 1965 Western Conference semifinal, he scored both Winnipeg touchdowns on runs of 90 and 25 yards.[25] The team advanced to the 1965 Grey Cup game, known as the "Wind Bowl", where they lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was also selected as a Western Conference offensive all-star.[26]

Raimey returned to the Blue Bombers in 1966. He again appeared in all 16 games for the team, tallying a career-high 1,223 rushing yards on 188 carries for an average of 6.5 yards per carry. He also caught 28 passes for 389 yards and returned 21 kickoffs for 474 yards.[21] For the second consecutive season, he was selected as a CFL offensive all-star.[27] He also received the Blue Bombers' Most Outstanding Player award.[28]

In 1967, Raimey appeared in 15 games for Winnipeg. He totaled 773 rushing yards on 125 carries (6.2 yards per carry), caught 39 passes for 470 yards and four touchdowns, and returned 29 kickoffs for 744 yards (25.7 yard average).[21] He was again selected as a Western Conference All-Star.

In 1968, Raimey appeared in 16 games for the Blue Bombers. He totaled 781 rushing yards, 559 receiving yards, and 930 yards on kickoff returns. His total of 2,278 all-purpose yards was a career high, and he was selected as a Western Conference all-star for the fourth consecutive season.[21] He was also selected for the second time as the Blue Bombers' Most Outstanding Player.[28]

In July 1969, during a practice session, Raimey had an angry "exchange of words" with Winnipeg quarterback John Schneider. Schneider "rifled" a pass at Raimey, and the exchange of words continued, and Raimey was sent home.[29] A short time later, Raimey was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for another former Michigan player, Wally Gabler.[30]

Toronto Argonauts (1969-1975)

Raimey appeared in three games for Winnipeg and nine for Toronto during the 1969 season. [21] His season ended in late October when he tore ligaments in his left leg during a game against Hamilton.[31] For the 1969 season, he tallied 829 rushing yards.[21] Despite limited playing time, Raimmey was selected as a CFL all-star in 1969.[32]

In June 1970, Toronto team physicians declared Raimmey's knee fit, but he reported that it still hurt and even rattled at times.[33] He appeared in 14 games during the 1970 season, tallying 839 rushing yards on 142 carries (5.9 yards per carry).[21]

Raimey went through an intensive training program prior to the 1971 season. In June 1971, the Argonauts moved him to the defensive back position. He remained at the defensive back position for the remainder of his career through the 1974 season.[21] Raimey suffered a knee injury late in the 1974 season. He underwent surgery and was expected to return to the Argonauts in 1975. Instead, in June 1975, Raimey announced his retirement.[34] He attempted a comeback,[35] but his knee did not hold up after three days of workouts, and he renewed his retirement.[36]

Over his 10-year career, six at running back, Raimey rushed for 5,528 yards and 25 touchdowns on 883 carries for a 6.3 yard per rush average.[27] He also intercepted 15 passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns.[27][37]

Personal life and later years

Raimey married Marlena Price in the fall of 1962.[12]

Raimey was inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 1989.[28] In February 2000, Raimey was selected for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.[38] He was inducted in September 2000 at age 59.[39] As of December 2000, Raimey was living in Dayton, Ohio, where he was renovating a storefront in the city's Wright-Dunbar Historic District.[40]

References

  1. ^ "Dave Raimey". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Raimey Wanted No Part Of Line". Herald-Press. October 13, 1960. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Jim Ferguson (October 21, 1958). "Roosevelt Regains Brilliant Raimey". Dayton Daily News. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Jerry Howe (October 22, 1958). "Dave Raimey Is Welcome Addition At Roosevelt". Journal Herald. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Jim Nichols (April 30, 1959). "Raimey Win Agonis Award". Dayton Daily News. p. 24.
  6. ^ "All-Time Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. ^ "1960 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Michigan Football Statistical Archive". University of Michigan. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. ^ "1961 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ^ Joe Falls (November 7, 1961). "Raimey a Starmaker, Too". Detroit Free Press. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "1962 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Raimey Battles Stacked Defenses". The Michigan Daily. November 8, 1962. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Wolverines Pick Raimey MVP". Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1962. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Joe Falls (November 21, 1962). "Raimey Not Greatest -- But Has His Points: Top Scorer Since '98'". Detroit Free Press. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Surgery Ends Raimey's Track Career". The Michigan Daily. December 19, 1962. p. 6 – via Bentley Historical Library.
  16. ^ a b c "Daytonian Dave Raimey Signs With Browns for Next Season". Dayton Daily News. October 29, 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Browns To Try Michigan's Raimey". Toledo Blade. March 12, 1964. p. 31.
  18. ^ "Dave Raimey To Play In 'Semi-Pro Bowl'". The Journal Herald. December 13, 1964. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Raimey Goes On Waivers". The Leader-Post. September 5, 1963. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Caylor, Raimey Get Big Grid Break When They Got By Browns' Last Cut". The Journal Herald. September 17, 1964. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Dave Raimey". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "Browns Put Dave Raimey on Waivers". Dayton Daily News. November 29, 1964. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Blue Bombers Sign Raimey". The Gazette. March 11, 1965. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Canadian Pro Fans Like Raimmey". Dayton Daily News. August 22, 1965. p. 9D – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Bombers Kayo Riders: Dave Raimey Gives 'Peg Big Push". The Vancouver Sun. November 8, 1965. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Riders put five players on offensive all-star team". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. November 19, 1965. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b c "Dave Raimey". Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  28. ^ a b c "Dave Raimey". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  29. ^ "Raimey sent home". The Ottawa Citizen. July 22, 1969. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Jack Matheson (August 19, 1969). "Fans For Raimey But He Had To Go". Calgary Herald. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Argos win; Raimey out". The Ottawa Sun. October 20, 1969. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Russ Jackson Almost Unanimous All-Star". Calgary Herald. December 5, 1969. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Raimey's knee declared 'fit'". The Kingston Whig-Standard. June 5, 1970. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Veteran Dave Raimey: Argo back retires". The Sault Daily Star. June 19, 1975. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Raimey returns to camp". Star-Phoenix. June 21, 1975. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Raimey leaves training camp". The Sun Times. June 24, 1975. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Dave Raimey". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  38. ^ Dan Ralph (February 23, 2000). "Covington leads charge into CF Hall of Fame". Star-Phoenix. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Covington comes home to the Hall". The Leader-Post. September 30, 2000. p. C16 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Forgotten gem hidden in Dayton". Dayton Daily News. December 10, 2000. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
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