BIOGRAPHY

Born in Chatham, Ont., in 1942, Ferguson Arthur Jenkins was discovered by the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 15. His 18-year professional career began with the Phillies in 1965.

From 1966 – 1973 while with Chicago Cubs baseball club he accomplished a record achievement of six straight 20 win seasons, winning the 1971 Cy Young Award.

In 1974, after being traded to the Texas Rangers, Fergie won the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award after winning 25 games.

Fergie retired after the 1983 season, coming back to Chicago and retiring as a Cub.

Career Highlights also include; being the first and only Canadian to be inducted into Baseball’s National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in July of 1991, induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame at St. Marys, Ont., in 1987, Lou Marsh Award recipient as Canada’s top athlete, Canadian Athlete of the Year 1967,1968,1971 and 1974, inducted onto Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2001 and finally receiving the Order of Canada in 2007. On March 18, 2009 in Phoenix, AZ it was announced by members of the Chicago Cubs that Fergie’s number would be retired at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Il. In a ceremony on May 3, 2009 Fergie’s number 31 was raised up the historic right field foul pole enshrining him among the other greatest Chicago Cubs players in their storied 138-year history. In February of 2011, Fergie will be honoured with a special commemorative Canadian postage stamp celebration his accomplishments in sports and to Black History

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Fergie Jenkins has had an illustrious and memorable career. His ability to control games and nullify opponents led to him recieving many awards during and after his career. Some of these include the: 1971 NL CY YOUNG AWARD, 1971 SPORTING NEWS PITCHER OF THE YEAR, 1974 AL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR and him being selected as an All Star in three seasons.

With all of his many acheivements in baseball Fergie feels that some of the accolades that he has received outside baseball are his nearest and dearest. When asked what events and honours stand out the most, Fergie listed these in order of importance to him:

 

• Being Given a Star on Canada's Walk of Fame
• Having His Number Retired by the Chicago Cubs
• Becoming the first (and only) Canadian in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
• Receiving the Order of Canada

Major League Baseball Awards:
• 3 x National League All Star (1967, 1971, 1972)
• 1971 National League CY YOUNG AWARD Winner
• 1971 The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award Winner
• 1974 American League Comeback Player of the Year Award
• 1991 National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2009 #31 Retired by the Chicago Cubs in his honour

Canadian Honors & Awards:
• 4 x Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year (1967, 1968, 1971, 1974)
• 1974 Lou Marsh Trophy winner for Canada’s Top Athlete
• 1987 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee
• 1987 Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2001 Enshrined on Canada’s Walk of Fame
• 2004 Honorary Doctorate of Law from McMaster University
• 2007 Order of Canada Recipient – Canada’s highest Civilian honour
• 2010 Immortalized on a Canadian Postage Stamp (Released in 2011)
 

Information provided from the Fergie Jenkins Foundation