Ernie Pitts

You can divide Ernie Pitts' career into two phases.  From 1957 to 1963, Pitts was one of the to receivers i nthe CFL, and from 1964 to 1970, he was one of the top defensive backs in the leage.  Pitts joined Winnipeg in 1957 and spent his entire career with Winnipeg except for his final season in 1970 with BC.  Pitts' best seasons offensively came in 1959 with 68 catches and 1120 yards, and 1962 with 62 catches for 865 yards.  While some of his other years were in the 30s and 40s for catches, they need to be put in the context of the time when 40 catches might put you second or third in the division in receiving.  All in all, Pitts rang up 5443 yards receiving.  Perhaps because his production had fallen a bit by 1963m or perhaps just because Winnipeg needed a defensive back more than an pa pass receiver, Pitts was switch to defense full-time.  As a receiver, Pitts had captured three West All-Star honours (1957, 1959 and 1960), and he went on to capture three West-All star honours as a defensive back (1965, 1966 and 1968).  Other highlights of Pitt's defensive career include 7 interceptions in 1968 (second in the West) and 5 in 1969.  Pitts was an Amercan, but when the rules changed for how import and non-imports were determined, Pitts was one of the long time players like Ron Lancaster who was classified as a non-import (hence the asterisk beside his import status in the all-time roster).  Pitts is one of those players who seems somehow to have been miseed where the Hall of Fame is concerned, as his accomplishments seem to have earned him a position.

Games played stats were not kept in the West until 1964.