Born: December 13, 1942, in Chatham, Canada, was Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher Fergie Jenkins. This legend was a three-time MLB All-Star and even won the Cy Young Award! Jenkins pitched for multiple clubs including the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and the Boston Red Sox.
Sports History
Fergie Jenkins from a Baseball Unknown to the HOFA Right-Handed Runaway Train of Excellence
Born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, in 1942, Jenkins' talent blossomed in the minor leagues. His effortless grace and pinpoint control quickly caught the eye of the Philadelphia Phillies, who called him up in 1965. The following year, he cemented his place as a rising star, winning 20 games and finishing second in the Cy Young Award vote.
This was just the beginning. For the next seven seasons, Jenkins became a model of consistency. He notched at least 20 wins yearly, a feat only Warren Spahn had achieved in the previous decade. With his trademark high leg kick and smooth delivery, he led the league in complete games four times and earned the Cy Young Award in 1971 and 1974.
Jenkins's journey was far from having smooth sailing. Trades led him to the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox, but his dominance remained unfazed. 1979 with the Cubs, he threw the fourth and final no-hitter of his career, tying Nolan Ryan's record. His 300th career win came in 1982, solidifying his place among the all-time greats.
He retired in 1983 with 3,141 strikeouts, ranked 10th all-time then, and a win-loss record of 284-229. In 1991, he joined baseball's highest honor, the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving over 80% of the vote.
Fergie Jenkins wasn't just a pitcher; he was a craftsman, an artist of the mound. His legacy stretches far beyond his impressive statistics. He inspired generations of Canadian players, proved that consistency reigns supreme, and etched his name in the pantheon of baseball's elite. The quiet man with the powerful arm forever holds a place among the game's legends.
May 9 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 4 - 5 -19 May 9, 1901 - Cleveland Blue's rookie pitcher, Earl Moore threw a no-hit ballgame for a full nine innings...
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May 8 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 10 - 17 - 32 - 4 - 22 May 8, 1878 - Paul Hines made the very first recorded triple play in professional baseball as a member of th...
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May 7 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 3 - 51 - 34 May 7, 1917 - Babe Ruth was an outstanding hitter right? Well he was a pretty good pitcher too. On this day in history...
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May 6 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 3 - 5 - 22 - 7 - 8 May 6, 1915 - The Sultan of Swing, Future Baseball Hall of Fame hitter, Babe Ruth smacked his first M...
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May 5 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. May 5, 1904 - Did you ever wonder how you get your name on an iconic award? This next story is a great step towards doing just that...
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