Barnstormers honouring Fergie Jenkins

Baseball Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins stands with his bronze sculpture in front of the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre. Photo credit: Robyn Brady, CKXS News.Jenkins

This Saturday will be a big day at Fergie Jenkins Field. The Chatham-Kent Barnstormers IBL team will honour one of Chatham’s favourite sons.

It will be Fergie Jenkins Day, with the Barnstormers retiring Jenkins’ number 31.

Although the community has honoured Jenkins in the past, it will give fans another chance to recognize Jenkins, this time on the baseball diamond where he played and grew up as a young man.

Fans are encouraged to come early. Ceremony starts at 6:52p.m.

The Barnstormers are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Jenkins was the first Canadian inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. A right-handed pitcher, played for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers.