Ferguson Jenkins (1991)


Date of Birth: 12/13/1942
Birthplace: Chatham, Ontario, Canada

Ferguson Jenkins had a father who played semi-pro baseball. He followed in his father's footsteps, becoming an athlete in high school, playing several sports in addition to baseball (basketball, ice hockey, track and field). He started as a first baseman but transitioned to a pitcher during his high school years.

Philadelphia Phillies

Jenkins signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1962. He spent three years in the minor leagues before pitching in relief for the Phillies in seven games in 1965.

Chicago Cubs

In 1966, after pitching in just one game, the Phillies traded Jenkins to the Chicago Cubs. For the rest of that season, he played primarily as a relief pitcher with the Cubs, pitching in 60 games with them. He finished the season with 6 wins and 8 losses, 5 saves, 150 strikeouts to 52 walks, and a 3.32 ERA in 184.1 innings.

In 1967, Jenkins joined the Cubs' starting rotation, pitching in 38 games with them. That season he had a 20-13 record with 236 strikeouts to 83 walks and a 2.80 ERA in 289.1 innings. He led the NL in complete games with 20. The following season, his ERA improved to 2.63 and his strikes to walks ratio improved. He finished the season with 20 wins and 15 losses and 260 strikeouts to 65 walks in 308.0 innings in 40 games.

Jenkins led the NL in strikeouts with 273 in 1969. He had a 21-15 win-loss record and a 3.21 ERA in 311.1 innings in 43 games. He walked 71 batters. In 1970, he again led the NL in complete games. He had 22 wins and 16 losses, a career high 274 strikeouts to 60 walks, and a 3.39 ERA in 313.0 innings in 40 games. He pitched 24 complete games.

Jenkins won the National League Cy Young award and the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award in 1971. He also led the league in wins and complete games. That season he had a 24-13 record with 263 strikeouts to 37 walks and an ERA of 2.77 in 39 games. He pitched 30 complete games.

Jenkins had a 3.20 ERA in 1972. He had 20 wins and 12 losses and 184 strikeouts to 62 walks in 289.1 innings in 36 games. The following season, his ERA went up to 3.89, and his win-loss record was 14-16. He struck out 170 batters and walked 57 in 271.0 innings in 38 games.

Texas Rangers

The Cubs traded Jenkins to the Texas Rangers after the 1973 season. That trade proved beneficial for both the Rangers and Jenkins. In 41 games with the Rangers in 1974, Jenkins had a career high 25 wins, 225 strikeouts, and a 2.82 ERA in a career high 328.1 innnings. He pitched 29 complete games. He won the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year award and he led the American League in wins and complete games that season.

In 1975, Jenkins pitched in 37 games and he had an ERA of 3.93. He had 17 wins and 18 losses and 157 strikeouts to 56 walks in 270.0 innings.

Boston Red Sox

Jenkins left the Rangers in 1976 and moved to the Boston Red Sox. He played in just 28 games in 1977. He finished the season with 10 wins and 10 losses, 105 strikeouts to 36 walks, and a 3.68 ERA in 193.0 innings. He had a better ERA in 1978, but his other numbers didn't improve. He finished that season with a 3.27 ERA, 12 wins and 11 losses, and 142 strikeouts to 43 walks in 209.0 innings in 30 games.

Return to the Rangers

Jenkins returned to the Rangers in 1978. He had a better season that year, finishing with a 3.04 ERA, 18 wins and 8 losses, and 157 strikeouts to 41 walks in 249.0 innings in 34 games. He struggled in 1979, ending the season with a 4.07 ERA. He won 16 games and lost 14, and he struck out 164 batters and walked 81 in 37 games.

Jenkins continued to struggle in 1980, finishing with a 3.77 ERA and a 12-12 record. He struck out 129 batters and walked 52 in 29 games. He pitched in just 19 games in 1981, and he had a 4.50 ERA with 5 wins and 8 losses.

Return to the Cubs

Jenkins went back to the Cubs in 1982. His ERA improved and he finished that season with 14 wins and 15 losses and a 3.15 ERA in 34 games. He pitched 217.1 innings and he struck out 134 batters and walked 68.

In 1983, Jenkins pitched 167.1 innings in 33 games and he had a 4.30 ERA. He retired as a major league player after the season ended.

Awards and MLB Records

  • NL Cy Young award
  • Sporting News Pitcher of the Year
  • Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year
  • Led the NL in wins (2 times)
  • Led the NL in complete games (4 times)

Career Statistics

Statistics for Jenkins in 18 full seasons (1966-1983) in the major leagues include:

  • 7 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 25 in 1974
  • 12 seasons with over 150 strikeouts, with highs of 273 in 1969 and 274 in 1970
  • 4 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 2.63 in 1968

Career pitching statistics for Jenkins include:

  • 664 games played
  • 4,500.2 innings pitched
  • 284-226 win-loss record
  • 3,192 strikeouts to 997 walks
  • 3.34 ERA

Post Playing Career

Jenkins retired as a player in 1983. He then went to Canada to play in the minor leagues for two years. In 1985, he ran for political office but he lost the election.

Jenkins was elected to the Hall of Fame on the third ballot with 75.4% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ferguson Jenkins
ESPN - Ferguson Jenkins
Baseball Reference - Ferguson Jenkins

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