Local legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins will soon have his likeness immortalized in his hometown.
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff, alongside Jenkins, announced on Thursday that a nine-foot-tall bronze statue will be erected to honour the Chatham native. The statue of Jenkins will be an exact replica of one unveiled at by the Chicago Cubs outside of Wrigley Field in May.
Jenkins said it is very humbling to have been recognized by his former team with a statue, and now to be honoured with the replica in his hometown.
“It’s surprising each time I think about it,” he said. “When I go down to see my grandkids and relatives, they can understand that I had the opportunity to play one of the best games in the world.”
The Hall of Famer said he hopes erecting the statue in Chatham will bring more recognition to the sport of baseball within CK.
“Chatham was a town that fundamentally supported baseball in the summer months,” said Jenkins. ” I started off in squirt, peewee, bantam, midget, all the way up to senior ball before I got signed. If kids really want to play the sport of baseball, we have the facilities here, we have good coaches… I think that’s a big plus.”
Canniff said he began the process of bringing the statue to Chatham-Kent months ago when the initial statue was unveiled in Chicago.
“When I was there I was able to meet with the owner of the Cubs and talk to the artist of the statue there,” said Canniff. “Through all of this, I said, why are we not recognizing [Fergie] and doing the same thing here in Chatham-Kent?”
An anonymous private donor has since come forward to cover the cost of creating the bronze fixture and bringing it to Chatham.
Canniff said the statue is expected to be completed and delivered from the United States to Chatham in April or May 2023.
The statue will be placed in the atrium of the existing Civic Centre temporarily until the permanent location is determined.
The municipality is currently deliberating the construction of a new community hub and entertainment complex in downtown Chatham, where the statue of Jenkins may find its permanent home in the future.
“If by chance we [build] the new civic centre, there would be plans to put this statue right in the courtyard, so everyone can see it,” said Canniff.
Lou Cella, who sculpted the statue, said he used more than 100 photos of Jenkins from throughout his baseball career to create the original sculpture. The entire piece took approximately nine months to complete.
“It was a real honour in the first place to sculpt the Fergie Jenkins sculpture for the Cubs,” said Cella. “This is a first-time honour for me to be able to recreate this sculpture for his hometown.”
Jenkins pitched at least 20 complete games in six consecutive seasons with the Cubs between 1967-1972. Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, and had his No. 31 retired in 2009 alongside fellow player No. 31 Greg Maddux.