Cubs set to unveil amazing Fergie Jenkins statue on May 20

This offseason, the statues of Ron Santo and Billy Williams were temporarily placed in storage as construction began on a massive Wrigley Field sportsbook adjacent to the ballpark. We recently learned that all the team’s statues – with the exception of Harry Caray – will be moving to a new ‘Statues Row’ in Gallagher Way. Come May 20, Santo, Wiliams and Ernie Banks will be joined by the newest Cubs legend to be enshrined: Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins.

You can see the work in progress above – and it really does Jenkins justice. The greatest pitcher in franchise history is finally getting this long overdue honor, and becomes the very first Cubs pitcher to get a statue outside the Friendly Confines.

“Believe me, it’s some kind of honor. My kids will have that opportunity to see [it] if they … visit Wrigley Field,” Jenkins told Marquee Network. “Raymond, my son, lives in Wheaton [Ill.], so he’ll have more of an opportunity to come to Wrigley Field. I know he’s pretty proud. All my kids are pretty proud.”

Jenkins is the club’s all-time leader in the following categories:

• Pitcher WAR (53.0)
• Strikeouts (2,038)
• Games Started (347)

The right-hander spent 10 seasons of his big league career on the North Side and was the epitome of durability and dominance. From 1967 to 1972, Jenkins won 20 or more games annually, racking up over 1,800 innings of 2.77 FIP/3.00 ball for the Cubs. He earned the NL Cy Young in ’71 after he won a league-best 24 contests while racking up 325 innings pitched.

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In our detailed rankings of the 25 greatest Cubs players of all-time, Jenkins checked in at number 8 – the highest-ranked pitcher on the list. Seeing Jenkins finally get his due and join the team’s all-time greats with a statue outside the ballpark will make that May 20 game something truly special.