He was the best, Ploen and simple

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This article was published 27/09/2009 (5849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG Blue Bomber fans have long been appreciative of the work of Ken Ploen during his days in blue and gold.

And now, it seems, the rest of the Canada was paying attention during his heyday as well.

Ploen was chosen by Canadian Football League fans as the Most Outstanding Player of the 1960s, as part of this year’s Retro Celebration. Fans were asked to vote online at CFL.ca on each team’s top player of the decade, then the top player for the East and West divisions, and finally the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player of the 1960s.

“On behalf of our fans, I want to congratulate Kenny Ploen on a unique and special honour,” said CFL commissioner Mark Cohon. “The very best players are even revered by those who never saw them play. And this tribute establishes Kenny Ploen as one of our very best, in the eyes of more than one generation of CFL fans.”

Ploen was honoured in front of Bomber fans in a pre-game ceremony prior to Saturday’s tilt between the Bombers and Toronto Argonauts in the league’s annual Hall of Fame game.

“I want to thank all the CFL fans who voted, and especially everyone here in Manitoba, for this privilege,” Ploen said in a press release. “It has been an honour to be mentioned in the same breath with so many great players, including a fellow quarterback, Russ Jackson, the eastern nominee. The game gave me so much, including my start in Canada, which led to so many good friends and, of course, my wonderful family. To think that it is still giving me thrills after all these years — and this really is a thrill — is really something.”

Ploen came to Winnipeg after leading the University of Iowa to a Rose Bowl victory in 1957 and for the next 11 years helped lead the Bombers to six Grey Cup appearances, including four victories (1958, 1959, 1961, 1962).