Baseball Legends: Ferguson Jenkins (Phillies 1965-1966, Cubs 1966-1973, 1982-1983, Rangers 1974-1975, 1978-1981, Red Sox 1976-1977)

“The game is easy. Life is hard — No guarantees.” ~ Ferguson Jenkins

Known as “Jenks” to his teammates, he was better known as “Fergie” to the baseball fans of the time. The day Jenkins was traded to the Chicago Cubs, one newspaper headline read “Ferguson Who?” In 1966 Jenkins pitched in relief and won 6 games. On August 25, 1966 Leo Durocher made him a starting pitcher. Jenkins pitched every fourth day for the next six years accumulating more than 20 wins each year. From 1967 to 1980, Jenkins led Major League Baseball with the most wins (251) in that 14-season span while often pitching at home in hitter’s ballparks.

In the 1967 All Star game Jenkins struck out six of the best sluggers in modern American League (AL) history. He fanned Harmon Killebrew, Tony Conigliaro, Mickey Mantle, Jim Fregosi, Rod Carew and Tony Oliva.

He led the league in complete games in four different years, finishing 30 times in 39 starts in 1971. He also set Cubs’ team strikeout records in four consecutive years starting in 1967 with 236, 260, 273 and 274. In his career he compiled 284 wins with a 3.34 ERA. In 1971, Jenkins’ went 24-13 with a 2.77 ERA and 263 strikeouts, with only 37 walks, to win the Cy Young award.

Jenkins and Robin Roberts share something in common — excellent control and the tendency to lead the league in home runs allowed. Jenkins and Roberts share the records of most seasons leading the league in home runs allowed with 5.

The 6’ 5”, lanky right-hander had a jerky, but effortless delivery with a low leg kick. The result was pinpoint accuracy. At the time he was the only pitcher in history to strike out more than 3000 hitters and walk less than 1000 (3,192 strikeouts, 997 walks). Since then Greg Maddux, Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez have accomplished the fete.

His nine-shutout losses in ‘68 were the most in the 20^th Century by a 20-game winner. He could have easily been a 25 game winner if his team could have scored some runs for him. He also felt he would have done better if Cubs had decent relief pitching. Playing for the Cubs also meant he never got a chance to pitch in the postseason.

Jenkins became only the fourth pitcher to win more than 100 games in both leagues. Cy Young, Jim Bunning, and Gaylord Perry were the first to accomplish this rare pitching feat. Only Nolan Ryan and Dennis Martinez have since joined them.

During one game Jenkins was caught chewing bubble gum and blowing a bubble the size of a grapefruit on the mound. Durocher reamed him out and threatened to send him to the minors if he did it again. While Wrigley made chewing gum, they did not produce bubble gum. The next day Jenkins found that equipment man, Yosh Kawano, had filled the top of his locker with Wrigley’s Spearmint gum. Jenkins’ bubble blowing days were over.

Jenkins was an excellent hitter with power and a batting average of .243 one year. Some believed he had the skill to be a professional hockey player, but he decided to pursue baseball instead. He also played for the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team in 1967-1969.

In August, 1980, Jenkins was caught with cocaine in his luggage. Charges of possession were eventually dismissed. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspended Jenkins and some wondered if Jenkins’ drug possession might keep him from the Hall of Fame. He was reinstated the next year and played until 1983. Jenkins later said he had been transporting the drugs for teammates.

He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987 and enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY on July 21, 1991 with 75.4% of the vote as the only Canadian honored there.

See Jenkins’ career statistics at baseball-reference.com.

Written by Bill at the Golden Age of Baseball Cards.