Ferguson Jenkins Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ferguson Jenkins Sr.
|
|
|---|---|
Jenkins, circa 1935
|
|
| Born |
Ferguson Holmes Jenkins
1909 Windsor, Ontario, Canada
|
| Died | October 31, 1996 (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Known for | Baseball player with the Chatham Coloured All-Stars |
| Spouse(s) | Delores Jackson |
| Children | Ferguson Jenkins |
Ferguson Holmes Jenkins (born in 1909, died in 1996) was a Canadian baseball player. He was also known as Ferguson "Fergie" Jenkins Sr.. He is famous for being the father of Ferguson Jenkins, a legendary pitcher who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Contents
His Early Life and Family
Ferguson Jenkins Sr. was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. His parents, Joseph Jenkins and Gertrude Holmes, had moved to Canada from Barbados.
In 1942, Ferguson Jenkins Sr. married Delores Jackson. They had one son, Ferguson Arthur Jenkins. Their son grew up to become a very famous baseball player, just like his dad.
A Family of Baseball Stars
Ferguson Jenkins Sr.'s son, Ferguson Arthur Jenkins, loved baseball too. He became a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox. His career lasted from 1965 to 1983.
Later, his son was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ferguson Jenkins Sr. and his wife often went to their son's games. Even when his wife, Dolores, lost her eyesight, she would listen to the games on the radio.
His Baseball Career
Ferguson Jenkins Sr. started his baseball journey playing for teams in Detroit. Later, a player named Earl "Flat" Chase asked him to join the Chatham Coloured All-Stars. This team was based in Chatham, Ontario.
Playing for the All-Stars
Jenkins played as an outfielder for the All-Stars. He was usually the first player to bat in the game. The Chatham Coloured All-Stars made history. They were the first all-Black baseball team to win an Ontario Amateur Baseball Association championship.
His teammate, Kingsley Terrell, said that Jenkins was an amazing outfielder. He could catch balls that seemed impossible to reach.
Life Outside Baseball
Besides playing baseball, Ferguson Jenkins Sr. had other jobs. He worked as a cook on Great Lakes Freighters. He also became a chef at the William Pitt Hotel in Chatham. He even worked as a chef and driver for the Houston family in Chatham.
He was a member of Branch 628 of the Royal Canadian Legion. Ferguson Jenkins Sr. passed away in 1996 when he was 87 years old.
