Councillors in Chatham-Kent are being asked to approve $20,000 to promote and deliver a ceremony to unveil the much-anticipated Fergie Jenkins statue at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
A staff report going to council Monday night said the money would come from the Together CK reserve fund and details are still being finalized for the event expected to cost around $60,000. Details such as a national broadcast to show off Chatham-Kent and event sponsorships still need to be finalized.
Local baseball legend and hall of famer, Fergie Jenkins is being honoured with a statue that will be unveiled on June 10, 2023 at 3 p.m. in front of the Civic Centre in Chatham. The statue will be similar to the one dedicated to him last year at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
The statue unveiling will be public and the municipality said a family friendly event will follow the ceremony. Celebrities will also be attending the ceremony.
"Fergie is known for his exceptional pitching abilities, as well as his durability and consistency," said the municipality in the report. "Fergie Jenkins is known not just for his outstanding career as a Major League baseball player, but also for his character and community service."
Jenkins is being touted for his humility and dedication to helping others and the municipality said he often uses his success as a platform to give back to Chatham-Kent.
"Jenkins is a great role model for young people and continues to be celebrated as both a player and a person. His efforts to help others and give back to his community serve as a reminder of the positive impact that athletes can have on communities," said the municipality.
The Civic Centre is a temporary location for the statue and will have a cement pad, lights and landscaping to highlight it.
The statue was donated and dedicated to the community by two sponsors.
Jenkins is a former Chatham Major League baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1965 to 1983.
He is one of two Canadian-born Hall of Famers and was Canada’s first Major League baseball player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1971, Jenkins was the first Canadian and Cubs pitcher to win the coveted Cy Young award.
He pitched 18 seasons in the majors and struck out more than 3,000 batters.