Chatham baseball icon Fergie Jenkins will forever be immortalized outside of Wrigley Field in Chicago.
A bronze statue of the 79-year-old hall-of-famer was unveiled Friday morning outside the stadium. It's part of the Chicago Cubs' new “Statue Row” outside of Wrigley Field where the Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Billy Williams statues are also located.
George Sims introduces Fergie Jenkins at Wrigley Field in Chicago on May 20, 2022. (Screengrab via WGNTV)
Jenkins was introduced to the packed crowd by Chatham-Kent Municipal Town Crier George Sims, who was decked out in his traditional town crier gear while holding a scroll adorned with Chatham-Kent's municipal crest.
"On December 13, 1941, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada a boy was born. Ferguson Arthur Jenkins. A son, an athlete, a gifted person he became," Sims said during his cry. "Whereas, The Chicago Cubs saw the potential. They knew he'd develop into something very, very special. Fergie went on, an excellent professional pitcher to be, he ensured into the character of a fine man. A citizen, team player, coach, philanthropist with a magnanimous personality."
Fergie Jenkins statue unveiling at Wrigley Field in Chicago on May 20, 2022. (Screengrab via WGN9)
Sims named off several of the highlights throughout Jenkins' career, including being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, receiving the Order of Canada in 2007 and having a Canada Post stamp created in his honour in 2011.
"Now, here we are, as family, teammates, friends and acquaintances beaming with pride to witness a well-deserved honour," Sims declared before officially introducing Jenkins.
Jenkins was met with roaring applause as he made his way to the podium in front of Wrigley Field, stopping for a congratulatory handshake at one point from Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff.
Chatham-Kent Mayor congratulates Fergie Jenkins during statue unveiling in Chicago on May 20, 2022. (Screengrab via WGN News YouTube)
"When I was a little kid growing up in Chatham, Ontario, throwing rocks as passenger trains, never did I imagine being a 20-game winner, being an all-star, winning a Cy Young, being a member of the 3000 strike-out club, or even being in the Hall of Fame," Jenkins told the crowd. "But now this statue is sitting beside my fellow teammates...Believe me, I'm humble. I stand here a proud man."
Jenkins took time to thank the fans, members of the Chicago Cubs organization and his family.
"This statue will be here long after I'm gone and it's a great tribute to me and my family," he said. "Being part of a professional family is not easy, they sacrifice a lot, day in and day out so an individual like myself can live out their dreams. It's nice to know my grandkids will be able to see Grandpa Fergie for days and years here in Wrigley Field."
A full video of the statue unveiling can be viewed below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67n2kIkz9dg