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January 28, 2017

Number 56

 

NUMBER FIFTY-SIX
NAME POSITION YEAR
Harry Badger (also #26) HB 1936-40, 1947
Stevie Baggs (also #52) LB, DE 2006-07
Greg Battle (also #34) LB 1987-93, 1997-98
Daved Benefield DE 2002-03
Marvin Booker DE 2014
Buddy Brown (also #65) G 1975-78
Wayne Dennis (also #63) DT 1964-67
Faith Ekakitie DT 2017
Al Forkheim (also #69) HB 1950
Roy Gardiner (also #63) C, E 1947-48, 1950-51
Jeff Henry DT 1980
Harold Jackmann OL 1983
Charlie Johnson T 1965
Derrell Johnson DE, LB 2015
Fernand Kashama DL 2010-12
Ed Kotowich G 1955-61
Ted Lozanski QB 1949
Del Lyles LB 1993-95
Leon Lyszkiewicz DT 1978-79
Mike Mahoney LB, LS 2007
Phil Minnick (also #54, #57) LB 1965-70, 1972
Sam Nevills (also #68) T 1952-53
Chase Ortiz DE 2009
Elfrid Payton DE 1990-93, 2000, 2004
Shont’e Peoples DE 1997-98
Jim Phillips G, DT 1968
Bob Pritchett LB 1974
Dick Quast (also #58) G 1964
Frank Reid DT 1970-71
Gerald Rivers DE 2018
William (Buck) Rogers (also #40) G, C 1953-55
Morley Rolhiser G 1965-67
Ken Times OL 1980
Hugh Turnbull (also #74) OL 1980

Canadian Football Hall of Famers:

  • Greg Battle (2007)
  • Elfrid Payton (2010)

 

Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Famers:

  • Ed Kotowich (1986)
  • Phil Minnick (1988)
  • Greg Battle (2001)

CFL All-Stars:

  • Phil Minnick (1966, 1969)
  • Greg Battle (1990, 1991)
  • Elfrid Payton (1993)
  • Shont’e Peoples (1997)
  • Daved Benefield (2003)

Division All-Stars:

  • Ed Kotowich (1959)
  • Phil Minnick (1966, 1968)
  • Greg Battle (1989, 1990, 1991)
  • Elfrid Payton (1993)
  • Shont’e Peoples (1997)
  • Daved Benefield (2003)

CFL Award Winners:

  • Most Outstanding Defensive Player – Greg Battle, 1990, 1991
  • James McCaffrey Trophy (Most Outstanding Defensive Player, East Division) – Greg Battle, 1989, 1990, 1991
  • Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Most Outstanding Canadian Player, West Division) – Gord Paterson, 1977
  • Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy (West Division leading scorer) – Bud Korchack, 1953
  • Grey Cup Defensive MVP — Greg Battle, 1990

Bomber Team Awards:

  • Most Outstanding Player — Phil Minnick, 1969; Greg Battle, 1989
  • Most Outstanding Lineman — Phil Minnick, 1966, 1968, 1969
  • Most Outstanding Defensive Player — Greg Battle, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992; Elfrid Payton, 1993; Shont’e Peoples, 1997; Daved Benefield, 2003
  • Most Outstanding Rookie Player — Eflrid Payton, 1991

He Wore It Well:

Ed Kotowich, G, 1955-61

A Winnipeg product, Kotowich came to the Bombers from the Rods junior program and spent seven years with the team, appearing in three Grey Cups and earning West All-Star honours in 1959. But it’s what he did after he retired that led to an award – the Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award, for ‘football ability, team camaraderie, and extraordinary effort off the field’ – being named in his honour.
When he finished playing Kotowich returned to the Rods as an assistant coach and later worked with the minor football programs at Winakwa and Windsor Park. He also served as an alderman for the City of St. Boniface between 1968 and 1977 while working on a number of community boards, including the St. Boniface Parks Board, the St. Boniface Museum and Knights of Columbus.
Sadly, he passed away in 1986 at the age of 52 after suffering a stroke.

Notable:

Elfrid Payton was one of the most feared pass rushers in CFL history during his days and his 154 career quarterback sacks is second-most all-time to Grover Covington (157). Payton was one of the most gregarious and instantly likable players to ever pull on a Bomber uniform and holds the club record with 22 sacks in a season (1993).
During his three stints with the Bombers he racked up 47 sacks, fourth on the all-time list.

FYI:

In case you missed it, we mentioned Minnick at the number he wore most often, Number 54; Greg Battle wore Number 56 at the start of his career, but was highlighted at Number 34.