HAM, PAYTON AMONG CANADIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Long-time quarterback Tracy Ham and star defender Elfrid Payton headline the list of four players and one builder who have been selected for induction to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Joining Ham and Payton in the Players Category are long-time Saskatchewan receiver Donald Narcisse and veteran Winnipeg punter Bob Cameron. Former Football Canada president Joe Pistilli was chosen for induction in the Builders Category.

The Class of 2010 was announced by the Hall of Fame on Tuesday. The group will be inducted this summer in a ceremony in Hamilton.

Tracy Ham

Ham played for four teams during a career that spanned from 1987-1999. He was the CFL’s most outstanding player in 1989 with the Edmonton Eskimos, when in addition to throwing for 30 touchdowns, he became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He went on to play for the Toronto Argonauts, Baltimore Stallions, and Montreal Alouettes, and made three Grey Cup appearances in his career. He won his only championship in 1995 by leading Baltimore over the Calgary Stampeders, and was named the game’s most outstanding player.

Ham, 46, is still second on the CFL’s all-time list for most rushing yards by a quarterback (8,043).

Elfrid Payton

Payton, 42, was known as one of the league’s premier defenders during a career that spanned from 1991-2004. He played for six teams, including the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on three separate occasions. He was named an All-Canadian defensive end four times, and in 1993 and 2002 was voted the league’s most outstanding defensive player. When he retired, his 154 career quarterback sacks were the second-most all-time, and his 52 sacks with the Montreal Alouettes were a team record.

Payton played in six Grey Cups, and won titles with Baltimore (1995), and Edmonton (2003).

Donald Narcisse

Narcisse proved to be one of the most popular Saskatchewan Roughriders ever over his 13-season career in Regina. During a breakout season in 1989, the wide receiver had 81 receptions for over 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he capped the campaign with his only Grey Cup title during a memorable win over Hamilton. Narcisse went on to record six consecutive seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards, and had seven overall. He also recorded a streak of 216 consecutive games with at least one catch.

Narcisse, 44, was named the Riders’ most popular player by fans on three occasions, and was inducted into the team’s Plaza of Honour in 2003.

Bob Cameron

Cameron’s punting career spanned over parts of three decades (1980-2002), and he played each of his 23 seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His longevity and durability allowed him to eventually leave the game as holder of most of the league’s punting records, and he also set a record for consecutive games played with 353. Cameron competed in six Grey Cup games, and won three rings with the Blue Bombers (1984, 1988, 1990).

Prior to breaking into the CFL, Cameron, 55, had a stellar CIAU career as a quarterback with Acadia, and won the Hec Crighton trophy as top university player in 1977. He will become the first Hec Crighton winner to be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Joe Pistilli

Pistilli will be enshrined as a builder for his contributions to minor football in Canada. He was a former Commissioner and Director of the Quebec Junior Football League, and later served in a number of roles with Football Canada. He was president of the organization from 1992-98.

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