Fergie jenkins | The Baseball Zealot

Jenkins turn to get licked

Speaking of Canadian baseball players, former Cub pitcher Ferguson Jenkins can add one more to his list of accomplishments.

Fergie’s face will adorn a postage stamp. This will be part of an effort to commemorate Black History Month this upcoming February. Along with his portrait, there will be a backdrop of Jenkins throwing off the mound in a Cubs uniform. Jenkins was in Ottawa on Monday to help Canada Post to celebrate the event (and apparently his birthday as well).

Ferguson Jenkins is the only Canadian-born player in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Cubs retire #31: Get two for one

The question is: Why wasn’t it done before?

The Chicago Cubs will retire the uniform number 31 to honor pitchers Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux. It was the fifth number retired by the Cubs. The other numbers are (chronologically) #14 Ernie Banks, #26 Billy Williams, #10 Ron Santo, and #23 Ryne Sandberg.

No doubt both pitchers are very worthy of this honor. Interestingly, both served the Cubs in two separate stints. Jenkins was 167-132 with a 3.20 ERA in 401 appearances including six 20-win seasons.

Maddux won 133 games for the Cubs and his first Cy Young came when he was still with the Cubs.

Both have a great place in Cub history and it’s about time for Jenkins, in my opinion.