Organizers have announced further details about the upcoming statue dedication for baseball hall of famer and Chatham native Fergie Jenkins.
The ceremony is slated to begin at 1:45 pm on Saturday, June 10 in front of the Chatham-Kent Civic Center.
It will be a full-size replica of a bronze statue of Jenkins dedicated at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs’ home park, last May.
Officials announced last September that he would receive a local statue.
“FirstOntario is proud to be part of the Chatham community and is excited to join the celebration and play a part in recognizing baseball hero and legend Fergie Jenkins,” Lloyd Smith, CEO, FirstOntario Credit Union, said in a release.
Jenkins is one of only two Canadians in the hall of fame. He played from 1965 to 1983 and became the first Canadian to win the Cy Young award in 1971.
He was a National League all-star for three seasons, and finished his career with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts.
“When you look at Fergie’s accomplishments in baseball, it is simply amazing,” Mayor Darrin Canniff said. “And the way Fergie has carried himself after his baseball career, is equally impressive.”
Local baseball groups, sports halls of fame, the Historic Downtown Chatham BIA, and other groups have expressed interest in joining the festivities. Cubs’ brass and various celebrities are also expected at the ceremony.
The event is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend.
A family-friendly after-party will be held at Sons of Kent Brewing Co., located at 27 Adelaide St. S. in Chatham, featuring the FirstOntario Family Fun Zone, where the first 300 children will receive a complimentary Rawlings Chicago Cubs baseball, hot dog and beverage.
For more information, visit www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/fergie-jenkins-statue-unveiling