MLB HOF Pitcher Fergie Jenkins and the Harlem Globetrotters
The baseball great was also a talented basketball player and played for several years with the world’s greatest touring team
Right-handed pitcher Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins was a terrific baseball player; so good that he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame following the conclusion of his playing career. He was also a skilled basketball player and spent several years playing in the baseball offseason for the world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters.
Jenkins was a dominant athlete from Canada, who played multiple sports growing up. With a powerful arm, he was quickly recognized as a promising pitcher and embarked on a professional career in baseball after signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. He did break through to the big leagues with them after several years in their minor league system but was traded away after just eight games.
Although the Phillies didn’t work out, Jenkins went on to find success with other teams, propelling himself to Cooperstown in 1991 after a 19-year career (1965–1983). During that time, he also pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers, accumulating a record of 283–226 with a 3.34 ERA. He won 20 more games on seven different occasions and took home the 1971…
