Jenkins, Ferguson A.
Baseball
b. Dec. 13, 1943, Chatham, ONT
A basketball and hockey star in high school, Jenkins chose a career in professional baseball and became the only pitcher in major league history to strike out more than 3,000 batters while walking fewer than 1,000. He's one of only four pitchers to win more than 100 games in each major league.
He played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1965 and appeared in one game for them in 1966 before being traded to the Chicago Cubs. With the weak-hitting Cubs, he won 20 or more games 6 consecutive seasons, from 1967 through 1972, despite losing five 1-0 games in 1968. The durable Jenkins led the NL in complete games with 20 in 1967, 24 in 1970, and 30 in 1971; in strikeouts with 273 in 1969; and in victories with 24 and innings pitched with 325 in 1971. He won the NL's Cy Young Award in 1971.
After slipping to a 14-16 mark in 1973, Jenkins was traded to the Texas Rangers of the AL. He led that league in victories with a 25-12 record and in complete games with 29 in 1974 to win the comeback player of the year award. Jenkins went to the Boston Red Sox in 1976, returned to Texas in 1978, and finished his career with the Cubs in 1982 and 1983.
Gifted with a live fastball and excellent control, Jenkins had a career record of 284 wins and 226 losses, with 49 shutouts and a 3.34 ERA. He struck out 3,192 hitters while walking only 997 in 4,500 2/3 innings.