Nearly seven decades after the Edmonton football team’s 1956 Grey Cup victory, a stolen football has been returned to the son of the player it was taken from. In the final minutes of the game, Jackie Parker scored a touchdown and the ball was stolen by a fan named Doug Bower, leaving the team without a ball to play with. The players came together to decide to end the game with a final score of Edmonton 50, Montreal Alouettes 27. The fate of the stolen football remained a mystery until Bower returned it to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame many years later, for reasons unknown.
The son of Jackie Parker, Jack Parker Jr., was surprised and thrilled to receive the 1956 Grey Cup winning ball at an Edmonton Elks’ alumni dinner. He described it as a special moment that brings his father’s history and the CFL’s history full circle. His father, who passed away in 2006, was known for his humility and love for the game, his teammates, and the city of Edmonton. Parker Jr. believes his father would have been surprised and made a lighthearted remark upon receiving the ball, which has been authenticated and will be displayed in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
The return of the stolen football has brought closure to a decades-old mystery and symbolizes the connection between the past and present of the Canadian Football League. The ball, a J5E Spalding with the 1956 Grey Cup logo, holds significance as a piece of the league’s history and the diversity and inclusion it represents. The ball’s return was a full-circle moment that highlights the lasting impact of the game and the players who contributed to CFL history. The event was a touching reminder of the legacy of the players and the importance of honoring their contributions.
The stolen football incident in 1956 left a mark on the Grey Cup game and the Edmonton football team’s victory. The moment when Jackie Parker scored the touchdown and the ball was stolen by a fan led to the end of the game abruptly, with players deciding to call it due to the lack of a ball. The return of the stolen ball by Doug Bower many years later has closed the chapter on a long-standing mystery and brought a sense of resolution to the events of that day. The ball’s authentication and display in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame serve as a reminder of the league’s history and the impact of its players.
The significance of the stolen football’s return to the son of the player it was stolen from highlights the enduring legacy of the game and the connections between past and present. Jack Parker Jr. expressed his gratitude for the special moment of receiving the ball and honoring his father’s history in the CFL. The humility and love for the game that his father exhibited are reflected in the manner in which the stolen football was returned after so many years. The event serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of the game and the players who contributed to its history.
Overall, the return of the stolen football from the 1956 Grey Cup victory game to the son of the player it was stolen from is a heartfelt and symbolic moment in CFL history. The closure of a long-standing mystery and the connection between past and present exemplify the enduring legacy of the game and its players. The authentication and display of the ball in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame underscore its significance as a piece of CFL history and a testament to the diversity and inclusion that the league represents. The event marks a full-circle moment in the league’s history, bringing together the past and present in a touching and meaningful way.
