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On this day: Baseball legend; brother Ferguson Jenkins honored with postage stamp

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On this day: Baseball legend; brother Ferguson Jenkins honored with his own Canadian postage stamp

fergiestamps

In February of 2011, baseball legend and honorary initiate of the Beta-Omnicron Zeta at Illinois State, was issued his own commemorative stamp by the Canadian Post to celebrate Black History Month and the ballplayer’s achievements.

The stamp depicts a young Jenkins on the pitcher’s mound with the Cubs, set behind a modern photo of Jenkins at his Order of Canada ceremony in 2007. (Via ESPN)

“Fergie” was honorarily initiated by the Illinois State chapter on Jan. 6, 1973. Soon after, Fergie would leave the Cubs when he was traded to the Texas Rangers for the 1974 season. After a stellar career, Jenkins’ number 31 would be retired by the Chicago Cubs in 2009.

Jenkins led the league in wins twice, (1971, 1974) fewest walks per 9 innings five times, complete games nine times, and home runs allowed seven times. He led the league in strikeouts once (1969, with 273). His streak of six straight seasons with 20 or more wins (1967–1972) is the longest streak in the major leagues since Warren Spahn performed the feat between 1956 and 1961.

Jenkins, fellow Cub Greg Maddux, Curt Schilling, and Pedro Martínez are the only major league pitchers to ever record more than 3,000 strikeouts with fewer than 1,000 walks. Only Robin Roberts and Jamie Moyer allowed more home runs over a career. Jenkins achieved his 3000th strikeout on May 25, 1982 against Garry Templeton.

He is considered the anchor of the 12 Black Aces, a group of African American pitchers with at least twenty wins in one season. (Via Wikipedia)

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