Al Pfeifer

Alan Ross Pfeifer was born on December 27, 1928, in Newark, New Jersey. He earned All-State honors twice in football and once in baseball. Pfeifer concluded his college career with totals of 95 receptions for 1,346 yards and 16 touchdowns, which were all Fordham records. He was selected to play in the North–South Shrine Game after his senior year. He graduated from Fordham in 1951. ==Professional career==

New York Giants The Green Bay Packers were interested in selecting Pfeifer in the 1951 NFL draft. However, after learning that the New York Giants were also interested in him, Pfeifer told the Packers that he was probably going to get drafted into the United States Army. On August 17, 1951, he played in the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game against the NFL champion Cleveland Browns. Pfeifer caught a 15-yard pass from Fran Nagle as the College All-Stars lost to the Browns by a score of 33–0. Toronto Argonauts After being released by the Giants, Pfeifer signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU). Pfeifer played in six games, all starts, for the Argonauts in 1951, catching 43 catches for 799 yards. Pfeifer was named an IRFU All-Star for his performance during the 1951 season. Pfeifer missed the entire 1952 season while serving in the United States Army during the Korean War. He returned to the Argonauts in 1953 on a part-time basis. He was released from the Army in December 1953. Pfeifer played in 12 games in 1955, catching 75 passes for 1,342 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense while making one interception on defense. His receiving yardage and touchdown totals also led the league. Toronto finished the year with a 4–8 record. They beat the Tiger-Cats in the IRFU semifinals by a score of 32–28 before losing to the Montreal Alouettes in the finals 38–36. Pfeifer was released by Toronto on August 11, 1957. Pfeifer finished his stint in Toronto with team records for most 100-yard games in a career (17) and in a season (eight). He played in all 14 games for the Rough Riders during the 1957 season, catching 44 passes for 700 yards and three touchdowns. Pfeifer was waived on May 29, 1958. ==Personal life and legacy==

Pfeifer worked in Toronto during the IRFU offseasons. After his IRFU career, he lived in western Canada and Phoenix, Arizona, before moving to California in the late 1990s. He worked in the equestrian supply industry. He was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Hasbrouck Heights High School Hall of Fame in 2003. He died on March 6, 2013, in Woodland Hills, California, after a long illness. ==References==