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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Fergie's stamp of approval

Legend is only Canadian inducted into baseball hall of fame

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 02/19/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Fergie Jenkins stands by a poster of the new postage stamp featuring him at a ceremony at city hall Friday in celebration of Black History Month across Canada. (WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA )

Not many opponents licked Fergie Jenkins during his illustrious major league baseball pitching career -- and thanks to Canada Post, Canadians won't be able to lick him, either.

Jenkins, who was born and raised in Chatham, Ont., was in Winnipeg on Friday for the local unveiling of the new 59-cent peel-and-stick stamp issued in his honour during Black History Month.

The stamp includes a present-day image of Jenkins -- the only Canadian inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. -- with a photograph in the background from a Sports Illustrated cover showing him in his pitching heyday.

It is sold in books of 10, with the cover reminiscent of a game ticket complete with Jenkins' pitching statistics.

"This is humbling," Jenkins said at city hall, after the ceremony hosted by Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz.

"You don't expect to get a stamp named after you, so this is wonderful. Heck, in the United States you'd have to be dead to get this honour.

"This is the most outstanding award I have received -- especially when it comes from your country."

Jenkins began his career in 1965 with the Philadelphia Phillies, but some of his most productive years were with the Chicago Cubs from 1966-73.

He won the Cy Young Award as the National League's most valuable pitcher in 1971, posting a record of 24-13 with an earned-run average (ERA) of just 2.77.

He ended his career with 284 wins, a career 3.34 ERA and 3,192 strikeouts. He's the only member of the 3,000-strikeout club to have given up less than 1,000 walks.

Jenkins was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2007.

During Friday's ceremony, Katz praised Jenkins for being the first Canadian in Cooperstown.

"Fergie, you have touched baseball in such a significant way," he said.

"As Tina Turner said, 'You're the best -- better than all the rest,' Fergie... and you have inspired generations of black Canadians to follow their dreams."

At 68, Jenkins looks very fit for a man who last pitched in the majors 28 years ago.

In fact, Katz, the owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, quipped: "You look fit enough to come into spring training," while presenting Jenkins with a Goldeyes team jersey

"This will go in my trophy room," Jenkins replied.

The stamps are on sale at Canada Post and postal outlets across the country.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 19, 2011 B3

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