Virgil Wagner played his college football at John Milliken University in Illinois and came North to the CFL in 1946 to join the Montreal Alouettes for their first season. Wagner played nine seasons for the Als from 1946 to 1954, winning four East All-Star honours at halfback in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949 (there were no CFL All-Stars until 1962). Wagner tied for the IRFU (East) scoring lead in his rookie season in 1946 with the great Joe Krol, and then won the scoring title in the next three seasons (1947-49). Wagner's touchdown production in his first five seasons was nothing short of sensational. In 60 games, Wagner scored 66 touchdowns, averaging better than one per game. Wagner would go on to finish with 79 career toudchdowns. In 1947, Wagner won the Jeff Russell Trophy as the Outstandng Player in the IRFU. Wagner played in two Grey Cups, winning one in 1949 and losing to Edmonton in his final season in 1954. Virgil Wagner was elected to no less than three Hall of Fames in 1980. They were his college Hall of Fame at Millikan, his hometown Hall of Fame in Belleville, IL, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Virgil Wagner passed away on August 22, 1997.
Wikipedia Article on Virgil Wagner
Virgil Wagner in the CFL Hall of Fame
Virgil Wagner in the Canadian Encyclopedia
Wagner Signs With 1947 Alouettes - June 13, 1947
1947 Article from the Ottawa Citizen on Wagner Winning the Scoring Title
Virgil Wagner Retires - June 10, 1955
Alouettes Retire Number 78 of Virgil Wagner (French) - September 13, 1955
Fans To Honor Herb, Virgil - September 15, 1955
Wagner's Number 78 Retired - October 10, 1955
Playing the Field - Wagner, Trawick Day - October 11, 1955
Wagner Elected to Canadian Football Hall of Fame - June 14, 1980
Four Titles In a Row For Wagner - July 8, 1980
Alouettes Re-Retire Virgil Wagner's #78 (French) - July 12, 2012
| Year | Team | GP | TC | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | MON | 12 | 65 | ||||||||||
| 1947 | MON | 12 | 71 | ||||||||||
| 1948 | MON | 12 | 60 | ||||||||||
| 1949 | MON | 12 | 77 | ||||||||||
| 1950 | MON | 12 | 60 | ||||||||||
| 1951 | MON | 11 | 30 | ||||||||||
| 1952 | MON | 12 | 20 | ||||||||||
| 1953 | MON | 14 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 1954 | MON | 14 | 68 | 329 | 4.9 | 2 | 21 | 5 | 63 | 12.6 | 0 | 21 | 10 |
Individual stats other than scoring and some limited games playes (for players who scored points) stats were not kept in the East in 1954. Wagner also kicked 3 converts, one in 1947 and two in 1949.
| Year | Team | Int | Yds | Avg | TDInt | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | MON | |||||
| 1947 | MON | |||||
| 1948 | MON | |||||
| 1949 | MON | |||||
| 1950 | MON | |||||
| 1951 | MON | |||||
| 1952 | MON | |||||
| 1953 | MON | |||||
| 1954 | MON | 2 | 27 | 13.5 | 0 | 27 |
