Tiger-Cats legend Angelo Mosca dies at 84 after lengthy battle with Alzheimer's

He was a five-time Grey Cup champion and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

But Angelo Mosca will forever be remembered for the controversial hit that knocked tailback Willie Fleming out of the '63 CFL title game, and subsequent fight with Joe Kapp, Fleming's teammate, more than 40 years later.

The often colourful Mosca died Saturday at the age of 84. His wife Helen Mosca announced his death in a Facebook post.

"It is with great sadness that the family of Angelo Mosca announce his passing . . . after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's," Helen wrote. "Angelo was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather as well as friend to so many."

Mosca was diagnosed with Alzheimer's shortly after his 78th birthday in 2015.

Around the CFL on Saturday, Mosca was remembered as a "superstar" and a "legend."

Mosca was born Feb. 13, 1938 in Waltham, Mass., and played college football at Notre Dame. He joined the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1958 before being selected in the 30th round, 350th overall, in the '59 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mosca elected to remain in Canada and was dealt to the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1960, eventually earning the first of his five Grey Cup rings that year.

Mosca spent two seasons with the Riders before joining the Montreal Alouettes in 1962. He returned to Hamilton in 1963 and remained with the Ticats until his retirement following the club's home Grey Cup win over Saskatchewan in 1972.

"The thing about Angelo, he was just bigger than everybody else and nastier than everybody else," said former Toronto Argonauts quarterback Joe Theismann.

"He was just flat nasty. Fortunately he only landed on me a few times. That's why I was still able to keep playing."

The Ticats called Mosca the most legendary player to ever wear a Hamilton jersey.

"His contributions to the game of Canadian football, to our organization, and to the Hamilton community will never be forgotten," the club said in a statement.

A five-time all-star, Mosca appeared in nine Grey Cup games but gained national notoriety for his vicious hit on Fleming in the '63 contest. Fleming took the ball on a pitchout and was running to his right. He had been tackled just inside the sidelines and was lying on his stomach when Mosca came flying over top the Lions' player. Fleming took a minute before rolling over and appearing visibly stunned. No penalty was called on the play but many — including then Lions quarterback Kapp — felt Mosca's hit was not only late but dirty.