On the blog today, re-doing Chicago Cubs legend Fergie Jenkins' 1974 Topps card, showing him one last time as a Cub rather than the nondescript Texas Rangers hatless version Topps had out there way back when:
Granted,
Topps had it correct with the Rangers versions, being that Jenkins was
sent packing South in a blockbuster deal after an incredible run in the
"Windy City".
I just wanted to have a landscape Cubs card for him in the 1974 set since the Cubs' colors in the 1974 template was so nice.
He'd eventually post six 20-win seasons, six 200-strikeout seasons,
five 300+-inning years, four sub-3.00 E.R.A. Years and become the first
pitcher in Major League history to finish with 3000+ strikeouts with
LESS than 1000 base on balls.
Overall in 19-seasons Jenkins finished with a 284-226 record, with a
3.34 earned run average, 49 shutouts and 3192 strikeouts over 664
games, 594 of which were starts.
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.
