WHO IS FERGIE JENKINS?
Ferguson Jenkins Jr. is a hometown hero and a true baseball legend.
One of the game's best pitchers of all time, Fergie was the first Canadian inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And his story starts in Chatham-Kent.
Fergie Jenkins grew up in Chatham, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and hockey. In his first MLB season as a full-time starter with the Cubs, he recorded 20 wins and was selected to play in the 1967 All-Star Game.
Jenkins played the majority of his career for the Cubs. He was a National League (NL) and Cubs All-Star for three seasons, and in 1971, he was the first Canadian and Cubs pitcher to win a Cy Young Award. He was a 20-game winner for seven seasons, including six consecutive seasons for the Cubs. He was the NL leader in wins, in 1971, and the American League (AL) leader in wins, in 1974. Jenkins was also the NL leader in complete games in 1967, 1970, and 1971, and the AL leader in complete games in 1974. He led the NL in strikeouts in 1969 and had over 3,000 strikeouts during his career.
Fergie retired with 284 career wins and 267 complete games. His 284 victories are the most by a black pitcher in major league history.[2] Jenkins is the only pitcher in history to record more than 3,000 strikeouts (3,192), while allowing fewer than 1,000 walks (997). Jenkins was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1991, becoming the first Canadian to be so honored. He is also a Canadian Hall of Fame honored player.
Jenkins also played basketball in the off-season for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1967 to 1969, and pitched two seasons in Canada for the IBL's London Majors following his major league career.[3]
Fergie's baseball story truly began in Chatham's Stirling Park where his father, Ferguson Sr played as part of the historic Chatham Coloured All Stars. The All Stars were riddled with obstacles and discrimination beyond belief, yet still managed to become the first all-black team to win an Ontario baseball championship in 1934 - 13 years before Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in Major League Baseball.
Fergie is now our Chatham-Kent IBL franchise's Honourary Team President and says he is very excited and happy that his home now has an IBL team in the ballpark bearing his name.
“I am convinced that the population as well as the corporations will greatly support our team,” said Jenkins. “It is an honour for me to become the team’s Honorary President and I hope I will have a chance to meet with you in 2024 at one of the team’s games.Go CK Go!”
CLICK HERE FOR FERGIE'S CAREER STATISTICS
CLICK HERE FOR FERGIE'S FULL BIOGRAPHY
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