Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Ferguson Jenkins

Chicago Cubs: Fergie remains one of the team’s most beloved

Throughout his career, Jenkins was known as being somewhat of an unlucky player of sorts. He never made the postseason because he never played for a first-place team. When he joined the Red Sox in 1976, it was the year after they reached the World Series. He also lost thirteen separate 1-0 outings in games where he pitched complete games.

Despite his bad luck, he molded a stellar career with many accolades along the way. He led the National League in complete games three times (1967, 1970-71) and strikeouts once (1969). During the span of his consecutive 20-win seasons from 1967-72, he was the Major League leader in wins and strikeouts.

He provided a reliable glove in the field, as well. In four separate seasons (1968, 1976, 1981, 1983), he had a perfect fielding percentage.

He is one of four players in Major League history to record 3,000 strikeouts with fewer than 1,000 walks (Greg Maddux, Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez). He also is one of only six players in history to have won 100 games in both the National and American Leagues (Cy Young, Jim Bunning, Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan and Dennis Martinez).

Fergie Jenkins’ dominance eventually merited a call from Cooperstown and he was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. To this day, he is the first and only Hall of Famer born in Canada. That same year, the 1991 All-Star Game, being held in Toronto, was dedicated to Jenkins.

Jenkins has his name etched in the Cubs record books, holding franchise records in strikeouts (2,038) and games started (347).

On May 3, 2009, the Cubs retired the No. 31 in honor Jenkins and Greg Maddux. Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins will forever remain in the upper echelon of the Chicago Cubs.