The legacy of Chatham's own baseball legend Fergie Jenkins is about to be introduced at multiple schools right across Canada.
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame has joined with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame pitcher himself to teach youth across the country about Jenkins' inspirational journey to Major League Baseball.
The news came on Tuesday, Jenkins' 80th birthday.
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame said it aims to inspire "the leaders of tomorrow through the invaluable lessons of sport." Their web-based education platform, www.beyondthewin.ca, provides classrooms across Canada curriculum-aligned education programs and resources at no cost.
The iconic Fergie Jenkins story and valuable lessons will be shared starting in June of 2023 through four newly launched asynchronous program modules.
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame President and CEO Cheryl Bernard said this is another demonstration of the Hall of Fame's commitment to connect youth to outstanding Canadian sport role models.
"We have worked extensively to provide an accessible, free education hub where teachers, students and coaches can easily access a variety of education assets. We are so proud to be developing and presenting a new asynchronous program, celebrating his 80th birthday and honouring Ferguson Jenkins as a role model in this country," said Bernard.
The first module of the education program will begin rolling out in June with all four modules accessible to schools for the start of the 2023/24 school year.
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Directors Chair Jeremy Diamond said they look forward to bringing the Jenkins story alive and sharing it with Canadians of all ages.
"Teaming up with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame to tell the story of Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins and his impact on sports history in Canada is a remarkable way to connect today’s youth with the past," Diamond said.
Jenkins is widely viewed as the greatest baseball player Canada has ever produced and one of this country’s most prolific athletes.
He played Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1983 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox.
Jenkins also played basketball in the off-season for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1967 to 1969, and pitched two seasons in Canada for the minor league London Majors following his major league career.
Jenkins became the first Canadian to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991 and remained the only one until Larry Walker's election in 2020.