| NUMBER FIFTY-SEVEN | ||
| NAME | POSITION | YEAR |
| Walt Bilicki (also #47) | LB, C | 1956-60 |
| Charlie Brandon | G | 1967 |
| Jon Florence | FW | 1949 |
| Manase Foketi | OL | 2016, 2018 |
| Jermese Jones | OL | 2003-06 |
| Brendon LaBatte | OL | 2008-11 |
| Cec Luining (also #73) | DE, G | 1954-63 |
| Bob MacDonald | G, E | 1960 |
| Brett MacNeil | OL | 1992-97, 1999-2002 |
| Phil Minnick (also #54, #56) | LB | 1965-70, 1972 |
| Bill Nairn (also #27) | G, K | 1934, 1936-40 |
| Jim Palmer (also #71) | HB | 1954 |
| James Reed | LB | 1979-81, 1983 |
| Steve Rodehutskors (also #66) | OL | 1987-91 |
| Mark Seale | DE | 1987-88 |
| John Sturdivant | DE | 1983-87 |
| Devin Tyler | OL | 2014-15 |
Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Famers:
- Bill Nairn (1985)
- Phil Minnick (1988)
- Brett MacNeil (2006)
CFL All-Stars:
- Brett MacNeil (2001)
- Brendon LaBatte (2011)
Division All-Stars:
- Phil Minnick (1966, 1968)
- Brett MacNeil (2001)
- Brendon LaBatte (2009, 2010, 2011)
Bomber Team Awards:
- Most Outstanding Player – Phil Minnick, 1969
- Most Outstanding Lineman – Phil Minnick, 1966, 1968, 1969
- Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman – Brendon LaBatte, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Most Outstanding Defensive Player – James Reed, 1981
- Most Outstanding Rookie – Brendon LaBatte, 2008
- Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award – Brett MacNeil, 2001
He Wore it Well:
Brett MacNeil, OL, 1992-97; 1999-2002
It could be argued nobody suffered losses more than Brett MacNeil, one of the most intense players in Bomber history. He was an intimidating force in the trenches and, early in his career, was given the occasional green light by head coach Cal Murphy to light somebody up – at the risk of an unnecessary roughness penalty – to set a tone for the game.
Notable:
The Bombers were without a first-round draft pick in 12 of 14 years during a stretch between 1997 and 2010. One they hung on to – and got right – was selecting Brendon LaBatte sixth overall in 2008. He was not only the club’s top rookie in 2008, he was a divisional All-Star in the ensuing three years and a CFL All-Star in 2011 before leaving for the Saskatchewan Roughriders – he is a product of the University of Regina – and being named the league’s top lineman in 2013.
FYI:
Bill Nairn was born and raised in Winnipeg and joined the Winnipeg Football Club in 1936 – one year after his Winnipeg Victorias lost to them in the city final and watched as they became the first western cub to capture the Grey Cup. Nairn would help the Blue Bombers capture the 1939 Grey Cup. In 1945 he was part of the Bombers coaching staff as they won another championship.
It was during his playing days that Nairn first started his career as an official, refereeing high school and junior games. He was a CFL official from 1946-59 and was part of the crews that worked 12 Grey Cup games, including the infamous 1962 Fog Bowl.
He was made an Honourary Life Member of the Manitoba Football Officials Association in 1964 and inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1985.
