It used to be a rarity for a Canadian to crack the lineup of a major league baseball team, and even more uncommon for a northerner to shine in this American-dominated sport.
Since it’s MLB #openingday, we’re looking at the story of right-handed pitcher Ferguson Jenkins of Chatham, Ontario! #hofweekly
Fergie was an anomaly; a Canadian who took both the American and National Leagues by storm as he toured the majors for 19 years.
Fergie signed his first pro contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1962. After three years in the minors, he was called up as a relief pitcher for the Phillies in 1965, but before he had a chance to unleash his burgeoning talent, the team traded him to the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs made Fergie a starting pitcher in 1966, and the young Canadian was soon hurling his way into the record books. He won at least 20 games in seven of his 19 seasons on the mound, six of which were consecutive years between 1967 and 1972. In 1971, his best season, he led the National League with a 24-13 record, 263 strikeouts, and a 2.77 ERA. He received the Cy Young award that year as the best pitcher in the game.
When Fergie failed to win 20 games in 1973, however, he was traded to the Texas Rangers, the last placed team in the Western Division. The Cubs must have been kicking themselves when, in his first season with the Rangers, Fergie bounced back with 25 wins and only 12 losses. The Rangers finished in second place, and Jenkins was dubbed American League comeback player of the year.
Fergie spent 1976 and 1977 with the Boston Red Sox before returning to Texas for three more seasons. He played his last two seasons with the Cubs, retiring in 1983.
Known as one of the best control pitchers in history, Jenkins's outstanding record includes more than 3,000 strikeouts and fewer than 1,000 walks, a rare combination of power and control. He was also only the fourth pitcher in history to have won more than 100 games in both the American and National Leagues. His career 284 wins against 226 losses, as well as his ERA of 3.31 are remarkable when one considers that he played 12 of his 19 seasons at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, both of which are known as hitters' ballparks.
In addition, many of his losses can be partly attributed to his team's hitting ability. Jenkins never played for a pennant-winning club, and his team was shut out in 77 of his starting games.
Fergie was four times named Canada's top male athlete of the year and was the first baseball player to receive the Lou Marsh Trophy (now known as the Northern Star Award) as Canada's outstanding athlete, in 1974. He received the Order of Canada in 1980 and was honoured by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1987. In 1991, he became the first Canadian to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown.
Fergie Jenkins was awarded the Order of Sport & inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
|