Friday’s game was rained out and there hasn’t been much Cubs news since then, so I thought I’d post another history piece since today marks the anniversary of a significant milestone in Cubs history.
Fergie Jenkins had several strong seasons with the Cubs in the late 1960s and early 1970s, winning 20 or more games six straight years (when that counted) and winning the NL Cy Young Award in 1971.
With the disintegration of that great Cubs team after 1973, Fergie was traded to the Texas Rangers. He played the next eight years with the Rangers and Red Sox, contemplating retirement after a mediocre season in 1981.
But Dallas Green, Fergie’s teammate in the Phillies organization in the 1960s, became general manager of the Cubs and contacted Fergie, asking if there was anything left.
Thus, Fergie Jenkins returned to the Cubs in 1982, nine years after leaving the team.
The 1982 Cubs weren’t expected to do much better, and they didn’t, starting 8-18 and quickly slipping to the bottom of the NL East, but Jenkins pitched well nonetheless, showing some signs of the pitcher he once was, posting a 2.98 ERA in nine starts on May 25 against San Diego.
Jenkins had a career strikeout total of 2,962 in 1982, but his early season success had him within one strikeout of 3,000 when he started against the Padres in San Diego.
The Cubs scored a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Leon Durham.
In the bottom of the inning, Alan Wiggins walked and stole second base, and Jenkins got Tim Flannery out on a pop fly.
Garry Templeton is in the spotlight [VIDEO].
As you can see in the clip, a fitting roar and celebration ensued, with the San Diego crowd erupting in applause.
Jenkins pitched seven innings that night, giving up two runs. Unfortunately, the Cubs were unable to score any more runs and lost the game, 2–1.
Fergie returned to the Cubs and performed well, going 14-15 with a 3.15 ERA and 3.7 bWAR at age 39. But he didn’t fare much better the following year and was released during spring training in 1984.
At the time he reached 3,000 strikeouts, Jenkins became just the seventh pitcher in MLB history to reach the milestone; he now has 19, with Fergie ranking 14th all-time. Another pitcher, Greg Maddux, reached 3,000 strikeouts at Wrigley Field in 2005 while playing for the Cubs.
Fergie Jenkins’ 3,000th career strikeout occurred 42 years ago today, on Tuesday, May 25, 1982.
