Ernie Pitts

Ernie Pitts (March 8, 1935 - 1970) was a Canadian Football League wide receiver and defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC Lions in a 14-year career in the CFL from 1957 to 1970. He won four Grey Cups with Winnipeg.

College
Ernie Pitts played college football at Denver University.

Winnipeg
Ernie Pitts was a standout wide receiver and defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1957 to 1969. From 1957 to 1967, Pitts was one of the favorite targets of Ken Ploen, a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Together, they were major factors in Winnipeg's six Grey Cup appearances (1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1965), including four victories: 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and two losses: 1957, 1965. After the 1962 Grey Cup win, he was already acknowledged as an elite receiver in the league, a Western all-star 3 times. Before the 1963 season, Pitts' individual accomplishments in a season include catching 68 passes, with 1126 yards received and 16 touchdown passes. He once caught 5 touchdown passes in one game and scored on a 107-yard touchdown pass play. From 1965 to 1969, Winnipeg also featured Ken Nielsen at wide receiver.

BC
Pitts ended his career with the BC Lions in 1970.

Sudden death
Pitts died suddenly in 1970, shot in a domestic dispute in Denver Colorado.