Athlete Modern
Jenkins, Fergie
SPORT | Baseball
EVENT | Pitcher
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 1984
(1943 – )
Fergie was born and raised in Chatham and was a talented athlete in hockey, basketball and baseball. He signed a baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and went on to play in the major leagues for 18 years setting many records and earning numerous awards over his career including a Cy Young Award in 1971. Fergie was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987 and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1991.
Career Highlights
1963 to 1969
1963 – signed by Philadelphia Phillies – in September 10, 1963 won first major league game by pitching 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in his major league debut
1966 – was traded to Chicago Clubs
1967 – won 20 games for the first of 6 consecutive 20-win seasons – struck out 6 batters in 3 innings during All-Star Game – led National League in complete games (20) – was awarded the Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year
1968 – won Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year for second straight year
1969 – led National League in strikeouts (273)
1971 – 1978
1970 – set a Cubs’ record for strikeouts (274)
1971 – led National League in games started (39), complete games (30), innings pitched (325), and wins (24) –was awarded the National League Cy Young Award as top pitcher in league – was awarded Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year for third time
1974 – traded to the Texas Rangers – led American League in complete games (29) and wins (25) – was chosen American League Comeback Player of the Year, was runner-up for Cy Young Award and was fifth for Most Valuable Player – was awarded Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s outstanding sports figure – was awarded Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year for fourth time
1976 – was traded to Boston Red Sox
1978 – was traded back to Texas Rangers
1980 to1987
1980 – became fourth pitcher in history to win 100 games in each league
1981 – returned to Chicago Cubs as free agent
1983 – September 21 – won last major league game and 284th of his career – retired from playing major league baseball as the only pitcher in history to have more than 3000 strikeouts and less than 1000 walks
1987 – was enshrined in Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Mary’s, Ontario
1991 – was enshrined in National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
1995 – 1996 – returned to major leagues as pitching coach for the Cubs
2009
The Cubs retired uniform number 31 in honour of Fergie and Greg Maddox, another Cub pitcher, who wore the number after Fergie retired.
Career Record
Games Played – 664, Won – 284, Lost – 226, Strikeouts – 3192, Walks – 997