View from the Hill: Volume 4, No. 1

Volume 4, No. 1 July 2012

“Serving Humanitarian Need Through the Love of Sport”

Forty-six days. Five ballparks. Eleven recipient charities. Countless lasting memories.

These details summarize the experiences of the Fergie Jenkins Foundation, who just returned from its annual six-week trip to Arizona, hosting charity autograph signings during baseball’s Cactus League Spring Training.

2012 represented the largest commitment the Foundation has made to charity fundraising in Arizona and the results were incredible. Bringing in many former baseball players to sign

autographs, not a day went by throughout the month of March without an autograph session taking place.

The Foundation set up booths at ballparks in Phoenix (Oakland Athletics), Mesa (Chicago Cubs), Scottsdale (San Francisco Giants), Peoria (San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners) and Surprise (Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals), with proceeds from the

signings being directed towards charities affiliated with the team or having a presence in Arizona.

The charities who benefited from the signings are the Mesa Hohokams, the Scottsdale Charros, the Peoria Diamond Club, St.

Mary’s Food Bank, JDRF, the American Cancer Society, the Texas Rangers Foundation, Surprise Youth Programs, the Oakland A’s Community Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix and the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter.

Baseball greats and special guests that signed with the Foundation throughout the month included Fergie, Gaylord Perry, Rollie Fingers, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, Lee Smith, Jody Davis, Dave Kingman, Bert Campaneris, George Foster, Willie Wilson, Dave Stewart, John “Blue Moon” Odom, Bill Buckner, Pete LaCock and Meadowlark Lemon. Each game brought about a different rotation of celebrity signees with fans eager to get an opportunity to meet their heroes, often for the first time.

Foundation event calendar ..... 4

Fergie’s garage treasures ..... 5

At home at the Hampton ..... 7

MLB FanFests ..... 11

Accolates for Turcotte ..... 13

Fantasy Camp 2012 ..... 15

Inside This Issue

View from the HillThe Fergie Jenkins Foundation Newsletter

Spring Training fundraisers come through for charities

Continued on pg. 3

With Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers (center) looking on, a young fan tries on Jim “Mudcat” Grant’s All-Star and World

Series rings.

An autographed Fergie Jenkins jersey for a young fan and his grandfather.

Top: ©photo by Adrienne Helitzer/ Still Productions/2012

2

The Fergie Jenkins FoundationWho We Are

Fergie Jenkins .................... ChairmanCarl Kovacs .................... PresidentJohn Oddi ........ Executive Director

Board of Directors

Jaff Stevenson Paul CartwrightReid Strongman Kelly McGiffinBarry House David SchurmanRick Quirk Denise StonePeter Warkentin Dave Hamilton

Elite Volunteers

Bill LoftusSid Stern

Dennis CoulsonBen Craig

Foundation Staff

Craig NymanDirector, Special Events

Mike TreadgoldCommunications Officer

Editor-in-Chief

Ryan NavaCommunity Relations Officer

Rachel PrayExecutive Assistant

Alyssa MunroAdministrative Assistant

Kerrigan McNeillPublic Relations Intern

For more information Mail to: 67 Commerce Place - Suite 3, St.Catharines, ON, Canada L2R 6P7

905-688-9418 • [email protected]

Swinging for the FencesPROFILING THE CHARITIES

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT

For more than a century, the Canadian Red Cross has offered emergency response, first aid training, community health programs, family reunification and many more services across Canada. The Canadian Red Cross is guided by the principles of humanity and provides help to anyone who needs it regardless of their location, race, political beliefs, religion, social status or culture.

In June, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation will continue its longstanding relationship with the Canadian Red Cross by once again supporting the organization through the 19th Annual Fergie Jenkins Charity Classic.

The YMCA is a charitable organization dedicated to helping build strong individuals, families and communities. For over 150 years, the YMCA has offered a number of programs focusing on health, fitness, recreation, child care, employment training and a number of other services meant to help improve and strengthen one’s life.

Each year, nearly 200,000 people benefit from the services offered by the YMCA Wanakita. In June, the Fergie Jenkins will offer its support to help the YMCA Wanakita continue its mission as the charity is a major supporter of the 19th Annual Fergie Jenkins Charity Classic .

Brock University Interns

Tyler Harrison Sport Management

Noah Anderson Sport Management

Dexter McQueen Sport Management

Nick Butts Sport Management

Zack Schipper Sport Management

Brett Varey Sport Management

3

The players were visibly thrilled to participate in the charity events as well, taking

time to engage with each fan, take pictures and share stories of their playing days. While each fan went home with an autographed souvenir, many surely felt that the personal time spent with each former player was what was truly valuable.

Fergie and the Foundation would like to thank everyone who helped make Spring Training such

a great success. We look forward to continuing to develop and maintain such great relationships in the Phoenix area and hope that we can expand our goodwill missions there in 2013.

A home run for Arizona charities

Continued from pg. 1

John “Blue Moon” Odom, a three-time World Series champion with Oakland, takes a break between autographs. Also pictured are Mudcat Grant, Gaylord Perry and Jody Davis.

©photo by Adrienne Helitzer/ Still Productions/2012

Rollie Fingers (left-center) and Bert Campaneris pose with two volunteers from Arizona State University.

If you stopped by the Fergie Jenkins Foundation booth this year at any of the Chicago Cubs Spring Training games in Mesa, Arizona, you might have seen some unfamiliar faces among the players signing autographs for charity.

During the last two weeks of Spring Training, the Foundation was lucky enough to be joined by Tammy Lechner and Marla McKenna, a pair of great authors who spent time signing, promoting and selling their baseball books with a portion of the proceeds being directed towards the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.

McKenna is the author of Mom’s Big Catch, a children’s book based on real events that took place at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The book was a hit with families with young children at the game, as well as other fans who purchased the book to take home to their kids. McKenna was very engaging with the young children and families with whom she met. The Fergie Jenkins Foundation looks forward to partnering with McKenna again

later this summer when it makes its annual trip to Milwaukee.

Lechner, who arrived in Arizona with former LA Times photographer Adrienne Helitzer, was promoting her book, The Chicago Cubs – Our Team, Our Dream – A Cubs Fan’s Journey into Baseball’s Greatest Romance, a photo documentary

that looks at 15 years of Cubs history. Both Lechner and Helitzer are accomplished photojournalists and the book has always been very well received by Cubs fans who enjoy the opportunity to reminisce about the history of their beloved team. Lechner has spent time in Arizona with the Fergie Jenkins Foundation in previous years and her book continues to be a hit with fans, especially when Fergie autographs one particular page that is devoted to him.

It was a great pleasure to work with both Lechner and McKenna during Spring Training

this year. Their books are both available online and we all look forward to working with them again in the future.

Tammy Lechner (left) and Marla McKenna spent a week with the Foundation, promoting their great baseball books.


Accomplished authors tag along with the Fergie gang

During Fergie Jenkins’ cross-Canada stamp tour last February, one particular location in St. Catharines proved to be especially interesting as Fergie helped promote Black History initiatives across the country.

The British Methodist Episcopalian (BME) Church on Geneva St. was once a stop along the Underground Railroad in the 19th Century, the network used by African-Americans escaping slavery south of the border. Harriet Tubman, the great abolitionist, brought escaped slaves to the St. Catharines location during the 1850s with the church becoming one of the great landmarks in Canadian history. In November 2011, Harlem Globetrotter legend, Meadowlark Lemon, also a close friend of Fergie dating back to their basketball-playing days, led a worship service there.

The BME Church has been recognized as a national heritage site, but despite its place in history, the church has been long overdue in receiving the necessary upgrades to its appearance to keep it functional. That has since changed as on Monday, April 9, renovations began as the result of a project led by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Restored windows are the first of many steps that will drastically improve the look of the church.

Roof repair, the addition of an accessible elevator and upgrades to the lower level are next on the agenda with hopes of the project being completed before March 10, 2013, the centennial of Tubman’s death.

BME Church gets an update

December 2011December 2 - 4 • Doug Davis Foundation Charity Golf/Poker Tournament • Phoenix, AZ

December 14 - 18 • Holiday JDRF Signing • Sports N More • Yorktown Mall • Lombard, IL

January 2012January 4 - 5 • It’s All in the Game Holiday Baseball Camp • Peoria Sports Complex • Peoria, AZ

January 13 - 15 • Cubs Convention • The Hilton Chicago • Chicago, IL

January 13 - 15 • Texas Rangers FanFest • Arlington Convention Center • Arlington, TX

January 22 - 27 • Randy Hundley’s Fantasy Camp • Mesa, AZ

January 26 • Warren Spahn Award Dinner • Jim Thorpe Museum • Oklahoma City, OK

January 27 - 29 • TwinsFest • H.H.H. Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN

February 2012February 1 • Black History Month Kick Off and Autograph Signing • Ottawa, ON

February 2 - 5 • Waste Management Open • Phoenix, AZ

February 23 • Speaking Engagement • Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School • Mississauga, ON

February 24 - 26 • Scottsdale Charros Fan Fest • Scottsdale, AZ

March 2012 March 1 • The Fergie Jenkins Foundation officially submits its Trillium Foundation grant proposal to expand the Fergie Jenkins Museum

March 2 - April 3 • Charity autograph signings at Cactus League Spring Training • Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Surprise, Peoria, AZ

April 2012 April 5 • Opening Day Activities • Wrigley Field • Chicago, IL

April 7 • Meijer Cooking Guest Appearance • Chicago, IL

April 24-26 • Navy Pier appearance with the Chicago Cubs • Chicago, IL

April 28 • Christian Baseball League Appearance, London, ON

April 29 • Toronto Maple Leafs pitching clinic • Dominico Field at Christie Pits Park • Toronto, ON

May 2012 May 3 • Shopping mall appearance • Lawrence Square • Toronto, ON

May 4-6 • 44th Annual Sportcard & Memorabilia Expo • International Centre • Toronto, ON

May 16-17 • Barrie Baycats Celebrity Sports dinner • Barrie, ON

June 2012 June 12-13 • Scatcherd Golf Scramble • Oakwood Resort • Grand Bend, ON

June 15 • 19th Annual Fergie Jenkins Charity Classic • Rockway Glen Golf Course & Estate Winery • St. Catharines, ON

June 22 • 16th Annual Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Charity Golf Tournament • St. Mary’s, ON

4

FOUNDATION ROAD MAPWHERE WE’VE BEEN AND WHERE WE’RE GOING

Remember when...?

On May 3, 2009, former Cubs star pitchers Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux had their number, 31, retired in a ceremony at Wrigley Field.

5

When you spend your entire life eating, sleeping and breathing baseball, the memories that are created can – and should – last a lifetime.

For Fergie Jenkins, those memories have spanned more than 60 years, a time period in which he has gathered some incredibly valuable and story-laden pieces of memorabilia.

Equipment bags filled with game-used uniforms, boxes of autographed baseballs, signed bats, priceless photos and Fergie’s personal awards were some of the more interesting items that Fergie and several members of the Foundation uncovered as they sorted through two garages filled with treasures in Fergie’s Arizona home.

The purpose of the “treasure hunt” was to bring some of Fergie’s prized possessions up to Canada to put on display in his new museum in St. Catharines. It was a generous offer made by Fergie to decide to part with

some of his personal belongings, and he understands that displaying his memorabilia is the best way to educate people about his history and his accomplishments, which is what the museum will do.

Memorabilia fanatics and those interested in the history of baseball would be amazed with some of the relics that were uncovered: a bat signed by the great members of

the Negro Leagues, Mickey Mantle autographed baseballs, a poster signed by every member of the 1969 Cubs, and pieces bearing the autograph of “The Splendid Splinter” Ted Williams. These, in addition to Fergie’s uniforms, were but a few of the items found in his garages that have since made their way north to soon be put on display.

With all the pieces in place, the next challenge for the Foundation is to determine the best way to display all of Fergie’s items. Each of the pieces of memorabilia tells a story about a certain time in his life – stories that anyone would find fascinating.

Fergie’s garage provides a trip down memory lane

In November 2011, hundreds of people witnessed the grand opening of the Fergie Jenkins Museum at the Foundation office in St. Catharines.

With an abundance of media and local dignitaries in attendance, along with one very special custom-made cake, the event was a great success. Those in attendance got a glimpse of the future plans for a facility that

will honour the accomplishments of Canada’s greatest baseball player.

And while the second floor Black History exhibit has been mostly completed, the development of the lower level is largely contingent on securing a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

The Fergie Jenkins Foundation has recently submitted an application for funding to the OTF, following a long process that saw Carl Kovacs and Alyssa Munro travel to dozens of other sports-related museums across Canada. The purpose of their travels was to obtain as much information as possible about other museum features, ideas

about what to include and what to expect in terms of using a curator to display Fergie’s wealth of memorabilia.

Grant proposals of this magnitude – intended to fund an entire museum project – are taken very seriously by the Trillium Foundation, who has already enjoyed a successful partnership with the Fergie Jenkins Foundation. A great deal of hard work and detail has been put into this application, with results expected in early May of 2012. Stay tuned for the results of the application in the next issue of View from the Hill.

Fergie’s museum faces its next giant hurdle

Among the many pieces of sports memorabilia found in Fergie’s garage included the ball from the

1991 All-Star Game in Toronto in which Fergie threw out the first pitch.

Cheryl Miller, owner of Cake by Cheryl, created this special cake for the

occasion of the grand opening of the Fergie

Jenkins Museum.

6

Photos of charity check presentations made by the Fergie Jenkins Foundation in Arizona

Fergie and Gaylord Perry (right) present a check to Richard “Hoggy” Price, equipment and club-house manager with the Texas Rangers (representing the Texas Rangers Foundation).

Fergie presents a check to Roz Shanley, volunteer coordinator with the Peoria Diamond Club.

Meadowlark Lemon and Carl Kovacs present a check to Christina Calio, with the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance - ©photo by Adrienne Helitzer/ Still Productions/2012

Fergie presents a check to Nancy Roach, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Phoenix.

Fergie presents a check to Mark Coronado with the City of Surprise Youth Programs.

Carl Kovacs and Meadowlark Lemon present a check to Jenna Blusiewicz, with JDRF Desert Southwest Chapter Phoenix - ©photo by Adrienne Helitzer/ Still Productions/2012

7

The Fergie Jenkins Foundation’s home away from homeGiven the amount of time that the Fergie Jenkins Foundation

spends on the road, traveling across North America to raise money for charity, one must quickly become accustomed to hotel life. Year after year, Fergie and the Foundation make countless stopovers at hotels from coast to coast.

There is one hotel, however, that sets itself apart from the rest.

Each year during Spring Training, the Hampton Inn Phoenix Airport North opens its doors to the Foundation, providing a friendly and accommodating home away from home for Fergie, the Foundation staff and other ex-players throughout the month.

When the Fergie Jenkins event van rolls into the

parking lot at the beginning of the month, it doesn’t take long for the Foundation to “move in” where a banner is quickly hung pronouncing the Hampton Inn to be “The Home of the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.”

To know the staff at the Hampton is like having a second family. Every employee greets you warmly on a daily basis and goes above and beyond to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Hot breakfasts are provided daily and weekly hospitality evenings provide barbeque dinners, salads and famous pies for

anyone interested in enjoying some goodwill time with Fergie, former players and the Foundation staff.

At the heart of this incredible atmosphere is the hotel’s general manager, Diane Robins. One of the Foundation’s greatest supporters, Diane is one of the reasons we enjoy our time in Phoenix so much. She operates her hotel with the utmost class and professionalism and, Craig Nyman, the Foundation’s Director of Special Events, proudly calls her his “Arizona Mom” Throughout the month, you’ll likely find Diane proudly displaying pictures of the Foundation’s Hampton experiences on her Facebook page, complete with ear-to-ear smiles, representative of the great times had by all.

The Fergie Jenkins Foundation would like to thank the entire staff at the Hampton Inn for yet another wonderful month under your roof. To Diane, Dom, Terry, Emjay, Tammy, Lynnea, Gio, Ashley, Jakki, Becky, Al, Bruce, Christian, Demetrius, MoMo, Abraham, Chris and the rest of the hotel staff: we sincerely appreciate everything you do for us and can’t wait to be back!

Craig Nyman hangs the Fergie Jenkins Foundation banner in the Hampton lobby. Spring Training has officially begun.

Diane Robins (third from left), our “Arizona Mom” with her “children,” Laura, Kevin, Dexter, Ryan, Mike, Craig and Steven.

I’ve been with the Fergie Jenkins Foundation for more than a year and a half and it has been a great experience working with Fergie and some of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.

The highlight for me, however, was this past December when I had the opportunity to drive across the United States with Fergie. I was driving from Phoenix, Arizona, to St. Catharines, Ontario, and Fergie needed to get from Phoenix to Peoria, Illinois. Instead of taking a three-hour flight, he decided to drive with me, so I didn’t have to make the three-day road trip by myself.

We spent two days together in a van, packed with Fergie’s most valuable sports memorabilia from his playing days. The memorabilia was on its way from Fergie’s garage to the Fergie Jenkins Museum in Canada.

Halfway through the first day, Fergie took the reins and drove the stretch through the Colorado Mountains. The scenery was some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, but the drive was dangerous at times

due to a heavy snowfall that continued throughout our trek. I was extremely thankful that he was with me, but I also couldn’t believe that I was driving with one of Canada’s all-time greatest athletes.

The second day was unforgettable, especially for me since I work on the Foundation’s public relations team. Early in the day, it was announced that Fergie’s longtime friend and ex-teammate, Ron Santo, had finally been inducted in to the National Baseball Hall Fame. Santo passed away in December 2011, one year prior to the announcement of his Hall of Fame induction.

When the news broke, Fergie’s phone wouldn’t stop ringing as media outlets from across the continent wanted to know Fergie’s reaction and get it first. Needless to say, I got it first and it will be something I will cherish forever.

In true Fergie fashion, he answered every question with class and poise, despite the bittersweet nature of the announcement as he wished that Santo could have enjoyed this day with his family and friends.

Road tripping with Fergie - the experience of a lifetime

Throughout the past 19 years, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation has enjoyed a great partnership with Rockway Glen Golf Course and Estate Winery in St. Catharines.

The host of not one, but two annual Fergie Jenkins charity golf tournaments, Rockway Glen has opened its doors to the Foundation, providing exemplary facilities and a professional landscape for what has become one of the most prestigious charity events in the Niagara region. Local businesses and residents in the community have been quick to offer their annual support for the

Fergie Jenkins events, selling out the tournaments at a very early date and providing some incredible sponsorships.

The 2012 June golf event sold out faster than ever with only singles remaining after April 1. Corporations and tournament regulars had to move fast to submit their foursomes, knowing that the Fergie Jenkins Foundation and Rockway Glen were getting ready to host a terrific tournament, with widespread charity implications.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, CNIB, YMCA Camp Wanakita and Special Olympics

will all have a major presence on the day of the tournament, supervising one of the beautiful par 3’s at Rockway Glen as participants take aim at one of the elusive hole-in-one prizes. The Canadian Red Cross will, once again, handle the registration table where golfers enjoy a Halloween-like experience, filling their registration goodie bags with items provided by a number of corporate sponsors.

Following the tournament play, the participants always come together in the Rockway Glen banquet hall, gathering for an evening of check presentations, speeches and auctions. The meal that is provided during the banquet is always top-notch as Rockway Glen’s kitchen staff works tirelessly to put the finishing touches on a great day.

But the Fergie Jenkins Foundation’s illustrious

partnership with Rockway Glen goes beyond just golf. In addition to 18 holes of beauty, Rockway Glen has also become famous for its winery that wraps around the fairways. Fergie has put his own name on a number of different bottles that are distributed in the Rockway Glen wine boutique, many of which are award-winning labels. As part of their registration fee, golfers enjoy different Fergie Jenkins wines during the dinner banquet, often choosing to purchase additional bottles to take home and share with their families.

The Fergie Jenkins Foundation couldn’t be more thrilled to continue with its partnership with Rockway Glen. With two charity tournaments scheduled to take place there in 2012, great results are expected for the Foundation, the golf course and most importantly, the surrounding charities in the Niagara region.

8

Rockway Glen in a class by itself, preparing to host two more Fergie Jenkins golf events

Last summer during the 2011 Royal Tour of Canada, this picture found its way into newspapers across the globe as Rachel Pray displayed her affection for the Royal couple. Rachel’s current job: Administrative Assistant at the Fergie Jenkins Foundation. We welcome her enthusiasm to the team.

Recognize this picture?

With many charity golf tournaments under his belt,

Fergie has become a master of the greens at Rockway Glen.

Highlights of each Fergie Jenkins event are the check presentations made during the dinner banquet

to our family of supported charities.

©photo courtesy of the Canadian Press

9

Guy Yerama, Manager of Fund Development for the Canadian Red Cross, with Fergie, Tim Raines, Luis Tiant and Jim Rice at the Sportcard & Memorabilia Expo in Mississauga.

Sports fans and collectors gathered on the weekend of May 4-6 for the Sportcard and Memorabilia Expo held at the Toronto International Centre in Mississauga. In its 44th year, the expo included over 900 tables with sports and other memorabilia.

The three-day event offered fans and

collectors the opportunity to receive signatures from and interact with some of their favourite professional athletes.

Fergie, along with the Foundation staff, attended all three days of the event signing autographs and meeting with fans. Fergie was joined by fellow baseball stars Luis Tiant, Tim Raines and Hall of Famer Jim Rice.

The Foundation set up the only baseball-related table at the event while other autograph exhibitors featured appearances from professional athletes from a number of different sports. Some of the other featured guests included Stanley Cup-winning goalie Dominik Hasek, Sabres greats Pat LaFontaine and Gilbert Perreault, current Sabres forward Cody Hodgson, professional wrestling legend “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and current Calgary Flames forward Mike Cammalleri.

Each day, Fergie, Tiant, Raines and Rice signed autographs for the line of fans in exchange for donations in support of the Canadian Red Cross.

The Foundation has supported the goals of the Red Cross RespectED abuse prevention program since day one and the two organizations have worked together on numerous events including the 19th Annual Fergie Jenkins Foundation Charity Golf Classic, held June 15 at Rockway Glen Golf Course and Estate Winery in St. Catharines.

Jenkins, Raines, Tiant and Rice sign for Red Cross at annual Toronto memorabilia expo

Representing the Cubs, Fergie lends a hand at 2012 MLB Draft

Fergie Jenkins fondly recalls the time when he was signed to his first pro contract by Philadelphia Phillies scout Gene Dziadura in 1962. It was a time of realizing his dream of becoming a major league baseball player.

And on June 4, Fergie helped another young player try to realize his own dream, as he announced the Cubs draft selection of right-handed pitcher Pierce Johnson, chosen 43rd overall in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Johnson was the Cubs second selection of the evening after taking outfielder Albert Almora sixth overall.

The draft was all part of Fergie’s whirlwind weekend in New York as he not only represented the Cubs at the draft, but also rang the bell with fellow MLB greats (pictured, right) at the Nasdaq stock market.

©photo c/o MLB.com/2012

Fergie (fifth from right) joins fellow MLB greats Frank Robinson, Tommy Lasorda, Ivan Rodriguez and Rick Cey to ring the bell at the Nasdaq stock market.

At the 2012 MLB Draft, Fergie proudly announces the Cubs selection of right-handed pitcher, Pierce Johnson.

The next Cubs ace?Name: Pierce JohnsonPosition: Right-handed PitcherHeight: 6’3”Weight: 180 lbCollege: Missouri State BearsVelocity: 91-95mphBest pitch: Curveball2012 Stats: 4-6, 2.53 ERA, 119K’s/99.2 IP Claim to Fame: Introduced by Fergie Jenkins as Cubs draft pick. ©photo c/o Robert Mayer/US PRESSWIRE/2012

©photo c/o MLB.com/2012

Tony Oliva was at TwinsFest with a group advocating for his Hall of Fame candidacy

Bert Blyleven stopped by the booth to sign for Fergie

Eric Gagne, the only Canadian to win the Cy Young besides Fergie

Acclaimed artist Randall Hedden with one of his paint masterpieces at the Doug Davis charity event in Scottsdale






All photos, unless otherwise marked, are property of the Fergie Jenkins Foundation

Clayton Kershaw, the 2011 winner of the Warren Spahn Award, with Warren’s son, Greg.

Fergie at the new Bullett Proof Baseball Academy in Welland

Fergie aboard a Boeing 737 Flight Simulator in Calgary, AB

At a Blackhawks game with former Cub Rick Monday

Dave Stewart (center) with a couple of dedicated Oakland A’s fans on St. Patrick’s Day


12

It’s said that the stars are brighter the further north you go. That couldn’t have been truer on Saturday, May 18, at the Barrie Sports Celebrity Dinner, where the stars were out and bigger than ever.

The bi-annual event in support of the Barrie Rotary Club was star studded, with three Hall of Famers at the head table as special guests, Fergie being one of them. Sandy Hawley (jockey) and Dale Hawerchuk (hockey) were the other two Hall of Famers with Angelo Mosca (CFL) joining them. Also, Johnny Bower (hockey) along with 30 other table celebrities were in attendance to help raise money for the rotary club.

For $150, dinner goers had a chance

to rub shoulders with local, national and international sport celebrities. They also were entertained by Mike Bullard, a Canadian entertainment icon. Known for his talk show and sometimes border line offensive humour, Bullard knocked it out of the park that night as he was

the master of ceremonies and had the place in stitches.

With over 300 people in attendance, the head table was introduced and each took their turns at the podium. They each told the audience stories from their playing days and, needless to say, there was a lot of ribbing going on. Fergie was the last to speak and received a huge ovation. After he finished speaking, an autographed Chicago Cubs jersey was put up for live auction, which helped raise $1,100 with the winning bid.

It was a great night for Barrie and the Rotary Club. It didn’t matter how far north you went on that night because the brightest stars were in Barrie.

Fergie’s star status captivates Rotary audience in Barrie

Fergie poses with the lucky winning bidder of an autographed Chicago Cubs jersey, capping off a great evening in Barrie.

On Friday, May 4, Fergie took time to head up to Toronto and pass along the baseball knowledge he gained through his Hall of Fame career to the Toronto Maple Leafs independent baseball team in the Intercounty Leage.

Fergie worked with the pitchers on and off the mound during one of their final pre-season practices. He started

the practice by explaining how to warm up properly and maximize their practice time by using every throw as a practice pitch. He then went on to work with the pitchers individually, focusing on their mechanics, and

giving them pointers on every aspect of the pitchm from set up to release to how to prepare to defend against a hit.

Fergie even picked up a tell on one of the young pitchers.

“Every time you stick your tongue out, you throw a fastball,” he said.

Fergie was right. These are the little things that sometimes, only a Hall of famer sees.

On Saturday, May 5, Fergie and the Foundation attended the 25th Annual Toronto Maple Leafs Sports Celebrity Dinner.

Fergie was again joined by Luis Tiant, Tim Raines, Jim Riceand 2011 Hall of Fame inductee and Toronto Blue Jays legend Roberto Alomar.

The dinner, hosted by Jack Dominico, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs independent league baseball team, was held at the Toronto Airport Marriot Hotel. The sold out event included a buffet dinner, autograph signings and a question-and answer period with the five stars.

Fans were eager to receive autographs from the five stars, but it was the stories and advice from Fergie, Tiant, Raines, Rice and Alomar that really made the evening.

Each player shared stories from their careers and offered valuable advice to the young fans that might be looking to pursue a professional baseball career.

Fergie’s pitching expertise comes in handy for Intercounty Maple Leafs

13

Fergie and Friends kick off Spring Training at Scottsdale Charros Fan Festival

The beginning of Spring Training has a longstanding symbolic nature to it; the end of winter, the beginning of spring and the start of a new baseball season.

Pitchers, in particular, enjoy a special relationship with Spring Training. They, along with catchers, are the first players to report to their respective camps, halfway through February for their first group of workouts as they prepare for another grueling season.

The beginning of the 2012 Spring Training season was marked by a fan festival in Scottsdale, AZ, recognizing the Scottsdale Charros, the non-profit organization affiliated with the San Francisco Giants.

The two-day event featured a

charity autograph session at the Fergie Jenkins Foundation booth that welcomed three former pitchers: Fergie, Rollie Fingers and Jim “Mudcat” Grant. These three great hurlers, excited to be taking part in the official kickoff to the 2012

season, were joined by former Cubs slugger, Dave Kingman.

A jazz and blues band was featured on the main stage, creating a great atmosphere for the event and at one point, they were joined by Grant, also an accomplished musician. Throughout his playing career, “Mudcat and his Kittens” traveled to night clubs across North America, recording and performing. And despite being 76 years old, Mudcat can still croon to an audience, breaking into a rendition of Jimmy Reed’s Baby What You Want Me To Do, much to the delight of the fans, most of whom were too young to know that Grant was a man of talents that went beyond just pitching.

There was a constant feeling of excitement in the air throughout the weekend as fans welcomed the opportunity to enjoy the start of a new year with their baseball heroes. With proceeds from the event being donated by Fergie to the Charros, the fan festival was a sign of great things to come throughout the rest of the month.

The Fergie Jenkins Foundation would like to wish Noah Anderson the best of luck as he travels to Illinois to play summer baseball for the MidWest Goobers of the Chicagoland Collegiate League and the Will County Crackerjacks of the MidWest Collegiate League.

Noah, an intern with the Foundation for the past 18 months, was a standout pitcher with the Brock Badgers, as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador Terra Novas at the 2009 Canada Games. We already know Chicago loves Canadian pitchers!

Go (Mid)West, young man!

Celebrities at the Charros Fan Festival included (left to right) Fergie, Dave Kingman, Jim “Mudcat” Grant and Rollie Fingers.

In a live exclusive television feature, Fergie offered baseball advice to 3TV’s Brittney Shipp at the fan festival.

14

Baseball celebrities, Texas Hold’Em, a charity golf tournament, Miss Illinois, live music, an artist painting, rare sports memorabilia and great food. You may be asking, what does this all mean? These are the components of a great weekend of raising money for charity.

From Dec. 2-4, Fergie and the Foundation attended the 4th Annual Doug Davis Miracle League Foundation Golf Tournament in Scottsdale, AZ. There were 200 participants in addition to 40 current and former professional baseball players. Some of the highlight celebrities included Fergie Jenkins, Robin Yount, Bob Uecker, Tim Raines, Luis Gonzalez, Justin Upton and Ryan Dempster.

The three-day event kicked off with a VIP meet and greet, and silent auction. The night was full of excitement, and upon arrival, you felt as if you were entering an exclusive party, which you were. The party was held in a beautiful private home surrounded by the hills on the outskirts of Phoenix.

On the second day, Doug Davis’s home was the location for a poker tournament. Set up in his backyard was a massive tent, where over 150 people played in the No-Limit tournament, a $100 donation was the buy-in and the prize for the final person sitting at the table was an all-inclusive trip to Hawaii. This is where Fergie, Craig and Ryan

from the Foundation showed their poker skills by making it down to the final four tables, with Fergie continuing further to the final two, only to get blinded out. Better luck next year, boys.

Sunday, was the final day of the event and the climax of what the previous two days led up to: the celebrity golf tournament. The tournament was held at Keirland Golf Club in Scottsdale. The course was challenging for some, but fun for all, and the tournament went off without a hitch. There were prizes and contests on most of the holes, including a “beat the pro” challenge, where challengers had to outdrive a professional long drive specialist.

The tournament concluded with an amazing dinner, which included a silent auction with over 80 sports memorabilia items to bid on, a live band and a painting of Muhammad Ali & Joe Frazier, created on the spot in 6 minutes. The brilliant piece of artwork sold for over $1,200 and all proceeds went to the charity.

The weekend was full of great moments. It gave participants the opportunity to sit back, talk to, and even get signatures from their favorite baseball players of past and present. The best part – it was all for a great cause.

“We were extremely happy the Foundation could help out and participate in this event,” said Craig Nyman, Director of Special Events for the Fergie Jenkins Foundation. “We look forward to many more years in partnering with Doug and his charity.”

The event raised more than $75,000 to help support six different charities, including The Miracle League of Arizona, The Purple Society, The Steele Children’s Research Center, The Ryan & Jenny

Dempster Family Foundation, The Fergie Jenkins Foundation and The Junior Spivey Little League Program.

“No Limits” to Fergie’s charitable reach as major leaguers, past and present, come together in Scottsdale

Participants of the 4th Annual Doug Davis Miracle League Celebrity Golf Tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fergie’s chip stacks were among the leaders throughout most of the charity poker tournament at the Doug Davis event.

A big thanks goes out to

the ladies from the Alpha Chi

Omega sorority at Arizona State

University for volunteering with

us during Spring Training!

Fergie would also like to offer a special thanks to Jennifer (left), Teri and Jim (not pictured) from the Niagara College Greenhouse Nursery for supplying us with poinsettias during the holiday season. The greenhouse off of Taylor Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake is open year round. Thank you!

15

Attendees of the 27th Annual Cubs Convention had but one individual on their minds as they descended on the Windy City for the yearly fan festival: Ron Santo.

The basement of the Downtown Hilton Chicago served as the venue for the three-day event. And the most common sight among the thousands of fans that packed the hotel were shirts and jerseys with Santo’s famous number 10 on the back. In July, the late Cubs third baseman and beloved broadcaster will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, having been named on 15 of 16 Veterans Committee ballots in December.

In addition to all the Santo hype, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation once again set up shop among the vendors, putting on an impressive autograph session that featured Hall of Famers Jenkins and Rollie Fingers, along with three other members of the 1982-83 Cubs: catcher Jody Davis, first baseman Bill Buckner and pitcher Lee Smith.

The five former players were signing for charity, with proceeds going to the Special Olympics and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

It was particularly important to Fergie to have JDRF has one of the Foundation’s recipient charities from the weekend signings due to the fact that Santo, his former teammate and close friend, had diabetes and became one of the leading advocates for education and awareness about the disease throughout his adult life.

Fergie and the other celebrities embraced the opportunity to relive old stories with Cubs fans and everyone was able to contribute to Fergie’s charity mission of supporting JDRF on behalf of his close friend, Ron Santo.

The Fergie Jenkins Foundation booth at the annual Minnesota TwinsFest in January had a different look to it this year. Instead of featuring Hall of Famers at its autograph sessions, Fergie and the Foundation decided to look at baseball from a more cultural perspective, bringing in five of the famous Black Aces.

The Black Aces are a group of 14 Black pitchers who have won more than 20 games in a single season throughout Major League Baseball history. Never before had the Foundation been able to bring in so many members of this group for a single autograph session. The concept of the Black Aces was founded by Jim “Mudcat” Grant, the first “Black Ace.”

Grant’s book, The Black Aces: Baseball’s Only African-American Twenty-Game Winners, was available in exchange for donation. The “Aces” who made the trip to

Minnesota to sign for charity were Fergie Jenkins, Dwight Gooden, Dave Stewart, J.R. Richard and Grant.

The presence of five of baseball’s greatest black pitchers drew long lineups of fans, eager to meet some of the individuals that not only reflected the game’s pitching history, but also its Black heritage. Fans thoroughly enjoyed Grant’s friendly demeanor and happiness to recall stories from his amazing 1965 season when he took the Twins to the seventh game of the World Series. Gooden was also a great attraction, a former National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award winner.

As one of the largest fan festivals in all of Major League Baseball, the event is always a favourite on the charity calendar. Fergie would particularly like to thank his fellow Black Aces who helped make the autograph signings so memorable and assisted his fundraising efforts for JDRF.

The fortunate location of the Fergie Jenkins Foundation booth at the Texas Rangers FanFest allowed a pair of one-time Lone Star greats to relive baseball memories with old friends.

With Fergie coping with Chicago’s cold weather at Cubs Convention, which took place on the same weekend (Jan. 13-15), Gaylord Perry and Bert Campaneris manned the Foundation booth on Fergie’s behalf at the annual fan festival at the Arlington Convention Center. The booth’s location, nearby the Rangers team photo booth, was a fortunate stroke of luck that brought back memories for Perry and “Campy.”

Throughout the weekend, former Rangers players and coaches made their way to the photo booth to take shots with fans, while also stopping to say hello to Perry and Campaneris who were raising money for Rangers Care and Breast Cancer Research via autograph signings. As a result of this fortunate placement, the autograph signings were a great success with Perry and Campaneris enjoying their time spent with excited Rangers fans.

One of the highlight autograph items from the weekend was a custom made Texas Rangers horse saddle on which a woman wanted Perry’s autograph. These kinds of specialty items always bring smiles to the faces of the former players as they are creative alternatives to the traditional baseballs and photographs that they are more familiar with signing.

Having won two consecutive American League titles, the Rangers FanFest has become a highly anticipated winter event. With a lineup stacked with All-Stars and a talented young pitching staff, the Rangers will once again take a run at the American League pennant, with a World Series title clearly within reach.

On hand for Cubs Convention were (clockwise from top left Bill Buckner, Fergie Jenkins, Rollie Fingers, Jody Davis and Lee Smith.

The five “Black Aces” at Twins Fest were (from left) Dwight Gooden, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, J.R. Richard, Dave Stewart and Fergie Jenkins.

Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry leaves his mark on a custom Texas Rangers horse saddle at the team’s annual FanFest.

Rangers FanFest brings back old memories

Number 10 on Cubs fans’ minds A booth full of Aces

16

THE INSIDE PITCHBREAKING NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE FOUNDATION

• AROUND THE HORN •Kind words from across the continent and on the web

The Fergie Jenkins Foundation is on Twitter as we extend our charitable reach and interact with our supporters. Follow us @fergiejenkins31

Fergie and the Foundation

would like to express their

condolences to the family of Gary

Carter, the Hall of Fame catcher

who passed away recently from

cancer. Fergie and Gary played

against one another other during

Fergie’s second stint with the

Cubs in 1982-83 when Carter

was with the Montreal Expos.

We wish his family all the best.

The Foundation is pleased to announce that it raised more than $2,000 through its annual holiday auctions. Two fundraisers were coordinated; one by the Foundation’s accountants, DJB & Co., and another online event that was supervised by Mike Treadgold and Ryan Nava via www.fergiejenkins.ca. We appreciate your generosity during the holiday season.

The Foundation would like

to recognize that its banking

branch and major sponsor,

First Ontario Credit Union in

St. Catharines, will be moving

locations from Pelham Rd. to a

new facility on Fourth Ave. We

look forward to continuing to

enjoy a great partnership with

this organization.

Gary Gage @PerpetualDream_@FergieJenkins31 I still say you should have won the Cy Young over Catfish in ‘74. 25 wins, 29 complete games! 7 Feb

Back In Blue (BIB) @BackInBlue2012As a Canadian baseball fan if you don’t support and follow @FergieJenkins31 you best get on it! 6 Feb

Harrison barden @H_BardenSLP@FergieJenkins31 do u have any pitching tips? I wanna grow up and play like you, and kirby puckett. 15 Jan

Drew Taylor @DrewWTaylor@FergieJenkins31 @RyanDempsterFDN @robbutler30 @jamielehman3 @danbleiwas on @elliottbaseball list of most influential Canadians in baseball 5 Jan

splad5 @splad5@FergieJenkins31 just found out you are on twitter.met you 8 yrs ago- you are one of the most classiest athletes I have ever met. #thankyou 19 Dec

17

Fergie Fact

Did you know...

In Fergie’s first All-Star game appearance in 1967, he struck out a record six batters in

three innings. Three of those punchouts went on to become Hall of

Famers: Mickey Mantle, Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew. Fergie Jenkins

had arrived.

More than a few baseball fans probably found an autographed piece of Fergie Jenkins memorabilia underneath the tree this past Christmas.

In what has quickly become an annual holiday season tradition, Fergie and the Foundation traveled to Lombard, IL, from Dec. 19-22 to do a charity autograph signing at the Yorktown Center Mall, just outside Chicago.

Popular memorabilia store, Sports ‘N More, hosted the Foundation’s autograph signing, with Cubs fans and/or their family members turning out in droves as they finished their holiday shopping.

The four days of signing brought nonstop traffic to the store with many people calling their Fergie Jenkins autograph “the perfect gift.” Proceeds from the

signings were directed towards the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) as the news of Ron Santo’s Hall of Fame election was still fresh in the minds of Cubs faithful.

Sports ‘N More has become a commonplace for celebrity autograph signings. Fergie wasn’t the only Chicago sports celebrity on hand during the week as former Bears defensive end, Richard

Dent, was also signing autographs. Dent was recently inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, as part of the 2011 class of legends. The presence of two of Chicago’s finest athletes was a pleasant surprise for holiday shoppers and sports fans alike.

The Foundation also

welcomed another guest during its charity signings as they were

assisted by Valerie Stokes, the reigning Miss Illinois Teen.

Dressed in full pageant garb, complete with her sash and crown, Valerie sold raffle tickets for the Foundation and even took the time to take pictures with her own group of fans.

The charity signing at the Yorktown Center Mall was a great success,

allowing the Foundation to make a nice donation to JDRF for the holiday season.

Fergie and the Foundation would like to thank Mike, his family, and the entire staff at Sports ‘N More for being so accommodating and welcoming during our four days spent in Lombard. We look forward to coming back again next holiday season.

Holiday fundraising brings Fergie back to Chicago area

On Feb. 24, Grimsby author, Dorothy Turcotte, was recognized for her accomplishments in writing with the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award. The award, presented at Queen’s Park in Toronto, acknowledged the work of 15 Ontarians for their volunteer contributions to preserve local heritage.

Turcotte, an expert on the history of the Niagara region, is also the author of The Game is Easy, Life is Hard – the Story of Ferguson Jenkins Jr., a biography published in 2003 on Canada’s only Hall of

Famer. The book not only provides details about Fergie’s career as a pitcher, but also

goes in-depth about some of the personal tragedies he dealt with following his career, including coping with the losses of his wife, killed in a car accident, and a murdered daughter.

The Game is Easy, Life is Hard is one of the more comprehensive insights into the life of Fergie and he and the entire staff at

the Foundation would like to congratulate Dorothy on such a great accomplishment.

Fergie biographer, Turcotte, wins prestigious award

Following our signing in Lombard, a lucky fan found a a Fergie Jenkins autographed stocking underneath his Christmas tree.

On our final day of signings, Valerie traded in her pageant dress for Cubs gear, sporting the colours of her favourite team.

Dorothy Turcotte, author of Fergie Jenkins, the Game is Easy, Life is Hard

18

Back from Nicaragua, Fergie Jenkins Aims at Majors

PUBLISHED IN THE WINDSOR STAR

FEBRUARY 12, 1964

CHATHAM - An even taller appearing Fergie Jenkins has returned from winter baseball in Nicaragua, more confident of his ability and with his sights aimed on making his parent club the Philadaelphia Phillies of the National Baseball League.

Not that his last summer engagement to Chatham’s Kathy Williams didn’t spur his ambition to make the league. It probably did, but he has returned home a little different Fergie Jenkins than the city knows.

He’s still the same 6 ft. 5 in. baseball player, is still in his same good condition, or possibly even better than before, and he is already down to his 198-pound playing weight he wants.

Fergie, the 21-year-old Chatham native who skyrocketed from the Chatham seniors to Miami, an “A” club of the Phillies, and later to Buffalo, a “AAA” club, two years ago, explains it as education, experience and confidence.

His travel this winter with the Minnesota Twins organization under special agreement with the Phillies with Managua Lions in the Nicaraguan Baseball League took him many places around Central America.

Fergie finished up with a four wins, six loss record, the losses resulting during a mid-season trouble including a finger blister. His work wasn’t overlooked and was selected for the all-star team in the Caribbean inter-league playoffs.

The Lions, or Leons in Spanish, placed second in the regular winter league season in the “AAA” calibre league, with a record of 16 wins and 14 losses and two games behind the pennant-winning Orientals.

With Nicaragua in the playoffs in inter-league competition, the Chatham hurler worked 41/3 innings and didn’t give up an earned run, striking out seven.

His opposition included National and American League players, including Jose Pagan of San Francisco; Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh; Deacon Jones, Chicago White Sox; Jose Santiago, Kansas City, and Jerry McNertney of the White Sox.

The winter season followed an impressive 12 win and five loss record with Miami in the Florida State League and late season work with Little Rock.

Come mid-March, it will be back to the world of competitive baseball for Fergie, who will report to Dade City, Florida, the training camp centre for Little Rock, a new entry this year in the Pacific Coast League.

He said that he is looking forward to staying with Little Rock the whole year and hoping to win 10 or more games.

Once a player has played against the top major leaguers and gone back for more experience, he is more suited to go up, Fergie explained. There’s a fine line between “AAA” and the majors, he said.

Fergie’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson Jenkins, Adelaide St., have yet to see their son play pro baseball. Mrs. Jenkins and a niece, Miss Barbara Gibson, also of Chatham, hope to fly to Little Rock this summer.

Fergie, the 21-year-old Chatham native who skyrocketed [through the minor leagues], explains it as education, experience and confidence.

From the ArchivesA LOOK BACK AT WHAT SOME OF NORTH AMERICA’S GREATEST SPORTS WRITERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT FERGIE JENKINS

19

2012 COLUMBUS CLIPPERS FANTASY CAMPPresented by the Fergie Jenkins Foundation

We proudly announce the 26th Annual Columbus ClippersAdult Baseball Fantasy Camp!

CLIPPERS FANTASY CAMPAugust 10-12, 2012

Huntington ParkAge: 28 years and older

All talent levels welcome!

NEW SPECIAL PRICE --- $1,200On Sunday, August 12, you will play in front of your family and friends

with our former Major League greats as your coaches.

Learn from and be coached by former Major League players includingFergie Jenkins, Mike Hargrove, Len Barker, George Foster, Al Oliver and

our Clippers staff- Mike Sarbaugh, Phil Clark and Ruben Niebla.

The players will be signing autographs on Saturday, August 11 from6:00 PM until 7:30 PM. Autographs are free, and items to be signed

will be available for purchase.

Contact “our agent” Talis Sports Marketing at 614-443-3786 orby e-mail at [email protected]

Fergie’s hope of giving back to organizations and communities in need through the love of sport is being accomplished with the help of sponsors and supporters like you. He hopes that with your continued support, the Foundation will develop and

continue to help for years to come. For more information regarding the Fergie Jenkins Foundation, please visit:www.fergiejenkins.ca

20

Coming up in our next issue of View from the Hill:• Recapping June Golf 2012, St. Catharines• Ron Santo’s induction to Cooperstown• Fergie Jenkins Museum update• All-Star Fest 2012, Kansas City

From the Bullpen - Foundation experiences through the eyes of its dedicated internsBecoming an intern at the Fergie Jenkins Foundation is the best decision I have made since

my enrollment at Brock University three years ago. The Foundation has allowed me to experience many things such as working at spring training in Arizona and the opening of the new museum. These are things I take great pride in being a part of.

From these experiences, I have learned a lot that will help me grow as a sport management student and also as a person through the connections I make with all the people involved with the Foundation.

– Noah Anderson, Sport Management Intern

This edition of View from the Hill is proudly sponsored by:

In the USA, mail to:The Fergie Jenkins Foundation • 165 Portage Rd • Lewiston, NY • 14092

How to Make a Donation to the Fergie Jenkins FoundationAs a non-profit organization, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation relies on the generosity of its sponsors, donors and supporters to

conduct its day-to-day activities. There are a number of ways that you can assist the Foundation’s charitable efforts. • Tax-refundable cash or cheque donation • In-kind donation, which will also promote your business • Hole sponsorship at one of our three annual charity golf tournaments • Sponsorship of our quarterly newsletter • Decal sponsorship to have your company logo featured on one of our three event vans • If you have your own creative idea how you’d like to donate to Fergie’s charitable efforts, please contact the office at your earliest convenience.

Fergie would like to express his sincere thanks to PICS PLUS, GRIMSBY for its outstanding printing of

View from the Hill

Documents

View from the Hill: Volume 4, No. 1