Chatham-Kent shows its love for Fergie Jenkins

Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins is no stranger to accolades and honors, but having hundreds of people, including sports greats, honor him in his hometown Saturday was special.

“It is right up on the top,” Jenkins said of the honour, shortly after family members unveiled the same sculpture of him in the midst of hurling a pitch that was unveiled at Wrigley Field in Chicago on May 20, 2022.

He added having the opportunity for his kids and grandkids to see the sculpture in Chatham, “believe me, I’m super proud.”

Jenkins credits the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, led by Mayor Darrin Canniff, for bringing the replica sculpture to Chatham-Kent.

Canniff, who attended the unveiling at Wrigley Field, said, “During the ceremony, I thought, ‘We need to do this for him in his hometown of Chatham-Kent.’ ”

He thanked Cubs chairpeerson Tom Ricketts and artist Lou Cella for helping to make it happen.

In 1991, when Jenkins was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, former Chatham Daily News sports editor Mike Bennett wrote a column saying the community needed a statue to commemorate Jenkins and his contributions to the community, Canniff said.

“Well, 32 years later, here we are,” he added.

“This sculpture not only celebrates Fergie’s life and achievements, but it also serves as a beacon of inspiration for all us, for what can be achieved through hard work, determination and the power of community.”

Jenkins had a lot of help and support during his 21 seasons in Major League Baseball playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox.

That support, he said, began with his “incredible” parents, Ferguson Jenkins Sr. and Delores Louis Jenkins.

“Without their support and just letting me know, ‘Hey, if you want to be a professional athlete, it’s up to you. You’ve got to do your job.’ ”

He recalled earning his first win at 21 with the Phillies, when he was called in as a relief pitcher and beat “the immortal Bob Gibson” and the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I couldn’t wait to get on the phone and call my dad and tell him, ‘Dad, I just beat one of the best pitchers in baseball.’ ”

Jenkins, who was also a talented basketball player, also shared a memory with his dad that helped influence his decision to pursue baseball. He recalled his father taking him to Tiger Stadium in Detroit when he was 15 to see the Tigers play Cleveland.

He recalled the crowd cheering when Larry Doby, the second player of color in the big leagues, after Jackie Robinson, hit two home runs.

“I kind of nudged my father and I said, ‘Dad, this might not be a bad sport. I might want to play baseball.’ ”

Another man who had a major influence on Jenkins’ baseball career was the late Gene Dziadura, who was a Phillies scout when he met Jenkins.

Dziadura’s son, Chris Dziadura, told the crowd Jenkins invited him to tell their story.

His father and Jenkins had spoken publicly about each other over the years, Dziadura said, “but Fergie asked me to put a different spin on this speech, and it was quite an honor.”

His father, Gene, scouted Jenkins and helped him sign his first contract with the Phillies, which grew into a special bond between the two men.

“This story is about hard work, dedication, respect and a genuine friendship that lasted a lifetime,” Dziadura said.

Another aspect of their story, he said, is how a scout and a talent forged an enduring bond despite their different skin colours.

At that time, “society didn’t really embrace a friendship between a black man and a white man, but they set an example going forward,” Dziadura said.

He said the relationship between his father and Jenkins encompassed more than baseball. “It was about friendship and family.”

Dziadura recalled Oct. 22, 2010, his ailing father’s birthday, when his mother learned Jenkins was in Windsor.

Jenkins got a phone call, and on learning his longtime friend likely wouldn’t see another birthday, he was there within 90 minutes, he said.

“My father got to spend his last birthday with someone he considered a brother,” Dziadura said. His father died a few weeks later.

“All of us here are incredibly proud of what you have done for our community,” Dziadura told Jenkins.

Jenkins recalled the impact of Gene Dziadura’s guidance.

“Gene knew before I did that I wasn’t a first baseman, I was a pitcher,” he said.

Jenkins also spoke about Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks influencing his career when they were roommates for a few years.

“The inspiration that he gave a lot of younger players like myself is what the game is all about,” Jenkins said. “You go out there, you do your job and things are going to happen for you. And have fun doing it.”

Jenkins was a true team player as he named several teammates during his career.

“I had great teammates telling me, ‘Hey, we’re going to back you, we’re going to play hard for you.’ They scored runs for me, played good defence.”

Jenkins spoke about the three incentives a player has, including team, family and organization.

“You play for the name of the front of the uniform, not the name on the back.”

Jenkins also credits his achievements to hard work. “I didn’t shy from hard work, I enjoyed that part of it.”

His message to young people to youth playing any sport is it is “all up to you go out there and achieve something.

“If you’ve got the opportunity to play. . . whatever sport it is, play it as tough as you can and have fun doing it.”

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FACTS ABOUT FERGIE JENKINS CAREER

Statistics

Honors

• National League Cy Young Award (Best Pitcher, 1971)
• Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s best male athlete of the year, 1967, ’68, ’71, ’74)
• Lou Marsh Trophy (Canada’s top athlete, 1974)
• Order of Canada (1979)
• Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (1987)
• Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (1987)
• National Baseball Hall of Fame (1991)