On the
blog today, we spotlight my 1966 "dedicated rookie" card for pitching
great Fergie Jenkins, who began his fantastic career as a member of the
Philadelphia Phillies:
The
card was part of my fun "1960's Dedicated Rookie" set released a few
years back, easily one of the more popular sets I've produced since
starting the blog.
For
Jenkins, the 22-year-old appeared in seven games for the Phillies in
1965, going 2-1 over 12.1 innings with a very nice 2.19 EAR and 10
strikeouts.
After
one game with Philadelphia in 1966 he was shipped to Chicago in a
multi-player trade that the Phillies would LOVE to take back, as Jenkins
would go on to reel off six straight 20-win seasons beginning in 1967,
taking home the Cy Young Award in 1971.
As we all know, by the time he hung them up he put together a Hall of Fame career, topping 280 wins,
3000 strikeouts, with 49 shutouts, a Cy Young Award in 1971 and four
other top-3 finishes in the award voting.
In 1991 he capped off his career with an induction into Cooperstown on his third try, just getting the 75% of the vote with 75.4% support.
On a geeky side-note, “Fly” was also the first pitcher to ever register 3000+ strikeouts while issuing less than 1000 base on balls.
The man was truly "Fly"!In 1991 he capped off his career with an induction into Cooperstown on his third try, just getting the 75% of the vote with 75.4% support.
On a geeky side-note, “Fly” was also the first pitcher to ever register 3000+ strikeouts while issuing less than 1000 base on balls.