What's in a Name? Fergie Jenkins Field
Fergie Jenkins Field in Chatham
Watching minor baseball players trot onto the field at Rotary Park in Chatham, most people probably forget what’s in the name. Sometimes, the names behind ball diamonds and arenas are plastered with corporate sponsors, and other times, people are simply distracted by their sons and daughters on the field, playing the game they love.
Fergie Jenkins at the Chatham Armoury - Photo by Ian Kennedy
In Chatham, Fergie Jenkins Field is quickly becoming Chatham-Kent’s premier baseball destination, housing tournaments and Chatham’s top team, the Maple City Brewers, while seating 300 fans in the beautiful renovated grandstands. Although the Field is building new memories for local youth, it’s important to remember, what’s in the name.
Ferguson Jenkins, a Chatham product and namesake of Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park, is a three-time Major League Baseball All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner, and Baseball Hall of Fame member.
More importantly, Jenkins is proud of his heritage and his hometown, a point he made clear earlier year at a ceremony in his honour at the Chatham Armoury, ” This home town of mine, Chatham, I can’t say enough about it. The roots are deep here,” said Jenkins.
Jenkins is also a symbol for local youth in terms of Chatham-Kent’s strong connections to Black History. Whether it be Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or South Buxton National Historic Site, Black History runs deep in Chatham-Kent, and Fergie Jenkins, along with other local legends such as Eddie Wright, are examples of the talented an influential Black athletes who broke ground for others across the globe.
At the same ceremony this year in Chatham, Councillor Anne Gilbert spoke about Jenkins’ contributions to Chatham-Kent’s local history and story, “We have a world class story to tell and we need to tell it. When we celebrate stars such as Ferguson Jenkins, that is a part of our story.”
This story of Fergie Jenkins, and other great athletes continues to develop in Chatham-Kent at Fergie Jenkins Field, which is why the next time your child slides into home plate, or you site in the bleachers, make sure you talk about what’s in the name, at Fergie Jenkins Field in Chatham.