It was pitcher Ferguson Jenkins who single-handedly pitched the Chicago Cubs out of the second division and into a pennant contender. Jenkins honed his control as a boy by pitching pieces of coal through the gaps of passing boxcars. A local scout for the Philadelphia Phillies put the finishing touched on Jenkins’ form and by the age of 22 he was pitching in the majors. After a wobbly beginning, Jenkins found his legs after a 1966 trade to the Cubs. In his first full season in Wrigley he was a 20 game winner and just missed taking home the Cy Young Award. Starting in 1967 Jenkins reeled off six consecutive seasons of 20 or more wins and was consistently among the league leaders in strikeouts. In addition, the big Canadian ace was also either the league leader or among the top ten in complete games pitched throughout most of his tenure in Chicago and would top off his Hall of Fame career as a member of the 3,000 Career Strike Outs Club. Jenkins, along with Ernie Banks, brought respectability back to Chicago’s long suffering North Side fans. Jenkins started out the 1970’s with a great 22 win season. His 24 complete games led the National League and his 274 strikeouts had him tied for second place with Bob Gibson. Jenkins wore this classic Chicago Cubs road jersey during that great summer.

     The grey Wilson flannel boasts “CHICAGO” across the chest in royal blue tackle twill, below which is Jenkins’ number “31”. Fergie has signed his name in blue marker just above the “AG”. Wilson size “44” tagging is sewn in the lower left front tail and “1970” is chain stitched below in black thread. The Wilson tag shows puckering due to age and repeated laundering, but is still intact. The inside collar has a grey flannel strip tag with “31-70-2-44 in black chain stitching. Just below this tagging the Cubs Hall of Famer has signed his name in blue marker adding “To Barrie All The Best”. The left sleeve has the Cubs cubbie mascot head patch embroidered in royal blue, white and buff. The jersey’s back has the ace’s number “31” in large royal blue tackle twill numerals, rounding out one heck of an impressive gamer. Overall the piece is in beautiful condition showing heavy, even game wear with bright colors and light game use. The combination of classic Cubs graphics, great condition and dual autographs makes this a choice game used jersey from the best pitcher to ever call Wrigley Field home. Renowned uniform experts MEARS have thoroughly examined this jersey and have given it a grade of A 9.5, the .5 deducted solely due to the puckering of the Wilson tag.

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