JENKINS, FERGIE

born Dec. 13, 1943, Chatham, Ont., Can. Fergie Jenkins, 1983. in full Ferguson Arthur Jenkins Canadian-born professional baseball player, one of the premier pitchers in the game in the late 1960s and early '70s. A hard throwing black right-hander, he won at least 20 games in each of six consecutive seasons (196772) while playing for the Chicago Cubs. In 1971, in recognition of his 2413 record, 263 strikeouts, and 2.77 earned run average (ERA), Jenkins won the Cy Young Award as the National League's best pitcher. Jenkins grew up in Canada, where he excelled at baseball, basketball, and hockey, competing in Canada's highest amateur hockey league. Upon graduation from high school in the early 1960s, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Originally a relief pitcher, he was converted into a starting pitcher shortly after being acquired by the Chicago Cubs in 1966. The following year he was one of the aces of the Cubs' staff, accomplishing the first in a string of six years with 20 or more wins per season. From 1974 to 1981 Jenkins pitched for the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox, compiling a record of 115 wins and 93 losses. In 1982 he returned to the Cubs, where he pitched for two more years before retiring. A consistent pitcher with remarkable control, Jenkins was one of the leading pitchers of his era, which included such stars as Bob Gibson and Tom Seaver. He finished his career with a record of 284 wins and 226 losses, with an ERA of 3.34. His 3,192 strikeouts place him ninth among the all-time leaders. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.