The 1988 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season was the 31st season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and their 39th overall. The Tiger-Cats finished in third place in the East Division with a 9–9 record and lost the East Semi-Final to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Earl Winfield tied Steve Stapler's record for most touchdowns in one season with 13 (which Tony Champion broke the year later). It would be Stapler's final season with the Tiger-Cats, and he finished ranked fourth all-time in franchise history in touchdowns. Paul Osbaldiston would set a franchise record (which he would break on three separate occasions) for the most converts in one season with 49 made.
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance B June 28 at Toronto Argonauts L 12–16 0–1 Exhibition Stadium C July 6 vs. Ottawa Rough Riders L 34–36 0–2 Ivor Wynne Stadium
Regular season Season standings
Season schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 July 16 vs. Toronto Argonauts W 29–24 1–0 Ivor Wynne Stadium 2 July 21 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 9–21 1–1 Winnipeg Stadium 3 July 30 at Calgary Stampeders W 45–20 2–1 McMahon Stadium 4 Aug 5 vs. Calgary Stampeders L 14–38 2–2 Ivor Wynne Stadium 5 Aug 12 vs. Edmonton Eskimos W 22–14 3–2 Ivor Wynne Stadium 6 Aug 16 at Toronto Argonauts L 5–19 3–3 Exhibition Stadium 7 Aug 27 vs. Ottawa Rough Riders W 51–24 4–3 Ivor Wynne Stadium 8 Sept 1 at Ottawa Rough Riders W 46–20 5–3 Lansdowne Park 8 Sept 5 vs. Toronto Argonauts W 56–28 6–3 Ivor Wynne Stadium 9 Sept 11 at Edmonton Eskimos L 13–37 6–4 Commonwealth Stadium 10 Sept 18 vs. Ottawa Rough Riders W 35–25 7–4 Ivor Wynne Stadium 11 Sept 25 at Saskatchewan Roughriders L 24–26 7–5 Taylor Field 12 Oct 1 vs. BC Lions L 23–24 7–6 Ivor Wynne Stadium 13 Oct 6 at BC Lions L 21–25 7–7 BC Place 14 Oct 16 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 29–35 7–8 Ivor Wynne Stadium 15 Oct 21 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders W 24–21 8–8 Ivor Wynne Stadium 16 Oct 29 at Ottawa Rough Riders W 23–15 9–8 Lansdowne Park 17 Nov 6 at Toronto Argonauts 9–49 9–9 Exhibition Stadium
Postseason Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance East Semi-Final Nov 13 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 28–35 0–1 Winnipeg Stadium
Roster 1988 Hamilton Tiger-Cats final roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen T/G C/T T T G C G
Defensive linemen DE DT DE DE DT DT
Special teams K/P
Injured List QB Linebackers
Defensive backs
Italics indicate American players
Awards and honours Ralph Sazio was elected into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a Builder on March 5, 1988. CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Grover Covington (DE)
1988 CFL All-Stars DE – Grover Covington DB – Howard Fields DT – Mike Walker ST – Earl Winfield
References