The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will induct Gerry James into the Ring of Honour at Investors Group Field on July 21 st when they host the Calgary Stampeders.

James, the third name to go up in the Ring of Honour, joined the franchise in 1952 at the young age of 17. Playing both the kicker and running back position, he played a huge role in creating a dynasty in Winnipeg. The Regina, Saskatchewan native appeared in six Grey Cups, winning four, in 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962.

The now 81-year- old was a multi-sport athlete. While being with the Bombers, he played hockey for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1954 to 1960. Sometimes the two sports fell on the same day. After winning the 1957 Grey Cup in the afternoon, James dressed for a game against the Boston Bruins that evening.

“Gerry James was a phenomenal athlete that excelled not only in the Canadian Football League as both a running back and a kicker, but also played five seasons in the National Hockey League while also in the CFL,” said President & CEO, Wade Miller. “That kind of athleticism has remained unsurpassed, and we are thrilled to be able to add Kid Dynamite, as he was known, into the Ring of Honour.”

James won the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 1954 and 1957. He was names to the West Division All-Star Team in 1955 and 1957 and was inducted in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1981. He would later be inducted in the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1984. James retired in 1984 as the second leading rusher among Canadian tailbacks with 5,554 yards and 57 touchdowns. His 63 total touchdowns stand as the fourth most in Bomber’s history.

“It’s a great honour in the fact that I’ve been away from the game for so long,” said James. “To be thought of for this new Ring of Honour so early in its inception is just a wonderful feeling, knowing that people feel I made some sort of a small impact on the football club.”