Click here for more detailed information on the event and how to register.
Showing posts with label Ferguson Jenkins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ferguson Jenkins. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
6th Annual Lou DeMartino Baseball Clinic to be held at John Jay College December 27th
Click here for more detailed information on the event and how to register.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Ferguson Jenkins and Montclair youth baseball pay homage to the Negro Leagues
Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins was in Montclair this past Saturday to support their youth baseball league's tribute to the Negro Leagues.
Yogi Berra Stadium was filled with players aged 12 and 13 fitted in
uniforms that not only sported the names of championship teams such as
the Chicago American Giants, Homestead Grays Kansas City Monarchs and
Newark Eagles, but also displayed the names of legends such as Cool Papa
Bell, Larry Doby, Josh Gibson, Ray Dandridge and Satchel Paige. This
event was the brainchild of Richard Berg and league president Garland
Thornton. Berg hopes that the uniforms provide a sense of pride for the
youngsters.
"Each time these kids go to bat or make a play in the field, they will be representing one of the greats of the Negro Leagues," Berg said.
Berg should know a thing or two about the history of the Negro Leagues, as he was the former president of the Negro League Baseball Players Association. During the opening day festivities Berg presented Jenkins with a proclamation from Montclair's Mayor Jerry Friend, who deemed April 10th Ferguson Jenkins Day for his support of Montclair baseball and his philanthropic efforts nationwide. Jenkins took the time to explain the current efforts of his foundation.
"I work with the Fergie Jenkins Foundation in St. Catharines, Ontario," Jenkins said. "We were just in spring training in Mesa. We worked with the Cubs, Texas, Oakland and the Giants. We brought players in, they gave their time, signing autographs and letting people know that the foundation was raising money for all different types of charities.
"Bob Feller, Vida Blue, Gaylord Perry, and Rollie Fingers have all signed on with us. We raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Make a Wish Foundation, American Red Cross, Institute for the Blind, and cancer research. We try to let people know that we're raising money on a daily basis to help these organizations. It gives people the opportunity to come and get an autograph, and when you bring in other Hall of Famers, I think that brings the public in and raises the awareness for the causes we support."
Jenkins who was also in town for a pitching clinic later that day, participated in the opening day photo shoot with the league's players and coaches. Even though Jenkins did not play in the Negro Leagues, he recognized the importance of promoting the league's history.
"The Fergie Jenkins Foundation has been in touch with the Kansas City Museum with Buck O'Neil before he passed away," he said. "The museum in Kansas City is struggling right now. Unfortunately, without donations, it might go under. I'm not sure if its going to go under. Right now, they're looking for pledges and donations across the country. Everyone is hoping that they can get enough money to keep it open. It used to be open all day, now it is open only on the weekends."
Knowing that the museum is experiencing difficulties, Jenkins has hit the pavement to spread the word directly to a growing diversity of fans. He aimed to increase awareness about how the game has grown due to integration and globalization.
"We try to enhance the knowledge of youngsters and adults that the Negro Leagues were in existence like the Major Leagues, and that a lot of players didn't get the opportunity to play because of their skin color," he said. "Jackie [Robinson] was the first, [Larry] Doby was second, and then it was a kind of a snowball effect that brought players in. It enhanced the game even more; it made teams better. Now what you see in baseball is an international game. Kids from all different places like Canada, Australia, Germany, Phillippines, Puerto Rico, and Cuba are playing."
Jenkins first learned about the history of Negro League baseball from his father Ferguson Holmes Jenkins, who played in the Negro Leagues in Canada. It is a legacy that he continues to pass on wherever he travels.
"My father played in the Negro Leagues in Ontario," he said. "His nickname was Hershey; he played on two championship teams in 1938 and 1939. The Chatham team was called the Chatham Black All-Stars, the next year they were the Black Panthers. They toured through Detroit, also in Buffalo, all across Ontario. They barnstormed a lot. My dad didn't tell me they had a lot of problems. People went out to the park to see baseball. That was fundamentally what they were trying to do, play the game of baseball."
He viewed Saturday's clinic as an avenue to share his advanced knowledge about the game to children who are at a younger age then when he was able to receive it. He hopes that they will take that information and use it on the field.
"I hope that the kids grasp a little bit from what I'm trying to get across to them," he said. "When I was younger, I didn't learn how to pitch until I was 16 years old. These youngsters are 12 and 13. I played a lot of hockey growing up and on the advice from one of my coaches, I stopped playing hockey at 17. I was able to get my interests more in the game of baseball and pitching, and I was able to sign after my senior year in high school. I just hope that the kids understand that what I am trying to get across is something that was taught to me at an older age. They're getting taught at an younger age, and if they can grasp it they can use it when they play in their leagues."
While not every player at the clinic is going to play baseball in high school and beyond, Jenkins wanted to deliver the message that baseball is to be enjoyed. It is a message that he feels is often lost in today's current hyper-competitive climate of youth sports.
"I tell kids to have fun," he said. "Learn to play as a team with your teammates and understand that all of your coaches try to give the best advice they can, because none of them are ex-MLB players, so they're just trying to pass on the same knowledge that I am getting across to them. The game is fun, have fun! What you try to learn now at a young age, you try to build on so that by the time you get into high school, the coaching aspect will be a lot more and you will be much better ballplayers."
 |
| Ferguson Jenkins (standing) among all of the Montclair players honoring the Negro Leagues / N. Diunte |
"Each time these kids go to bat or make a play in the field, they will be representing one of the greats of the Negro Leagues," Berg said.
Berg should know a thing or two about the history of the Negro Leagues, as he was the former president of the Negro League Baseball Players Association. During the opening day festivities Berg presented Jenkins with a proclamation from Montclair's Mayor Jerry Friend, who deemed April 10th Ferguson Jenkins Day for his support of Montclair baseball and his philanthropic efforts nationwide. Jenkins took the time to explain the current efforts of his foundation.
"I work with the Fergie Jenkins Foundation in St. Catharines, Ontario," Jenkins said. "We were just in spring training in Mesa. We worked with the Cubs, Texas, Oakland and the Giants. We brought players in, they gave their time, signing autographs and letting people know that the foundation was raising money for all different types of charities.
"Bob Feller, Vida Blue, Gaylord Perry, and Rollie Fingers have all signed on with us. We raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Make a Wish Foundation, American Red Cross, Institute for the Blind, and cancer research. We try to let people know that we're raising money on a daily basis to help these organizations. It gives people the opportunity to come and get an autograph, and when you bring in other Hall of Famers, I think that brings the public in and raises the awareness for the causes we support."
Jenkins who was also in town for a pitching clinic later that day, participated in the opening day photo shoot with the league's players and coaches. Even though Jenkins did not play in the Negro Leagues, he recognized the importance of promoting the league's history.
"The Fergie Jenkins Foundation has been in touch with the Kansas City Museum with Buck O'Neil before he passed away," he said. "The museum in Kansas City is struggling right now. Unfortunately, without donations, it might go under. I'm not sure if its going to go under. Right now, they're looking for pledges and donations across the country. Everyone is hoping that they can get enough money to keep it open. It used to be open all day, now it is open only on the weekends."
Knowing that the museum is experiencing difficulties, Jenkins has hit the pavement to spread the word directly to a growing diversity of fans. He aimed to increase awareness about how the game has grown due to integration and globalization.
"We try to enhance the knowledge of youngsters and adults that the Negro Leagues were in existence like the Major Leagues, and that a lot of players didn't get the opportunity to play because of their skin color," he said. "Jackie [Robinson] was the first, [Larry] Doby was second, and then it was a kind of a snowball effect that brought players in. It enhanced the game even more; it made teams better. Now what you see in baseball is an international game. Kids from all different places like Canada, Australia, Germany, Phillippines, Puerto Rico, and Cuba are playing."
Jenkins first learned about the history of Negro League baseball from his father Ferguson Holmes Jenkins, who played in the Negro Leagues in Canada. It is a legacy that he continues to pass on wherever he travels.
"My father played in the Negro Leagues in Ontario," he said. "His nickname was Hershey; he played on two championship teams in 1938 and 1939. The Chatham team was called the Chatham Black All-Stars, the next year they were the Black Panthers. They toured through Detroit, also in Buffalo, all across Ontario. They barnstormed a lot. My dad didn't tell me they had a lot of problems. People went out to the park to see baseball. That was fundamentally what they were trying to do, play the game of baseball."
He viewed Saturday's clinic as an avenue to share his advanced knowledge about the game to children who are at a younger age then when he was able to receive it. He hopes that they will take that information and use it on the field.
"I hope that the kids grasp a little bit from what I'm trying to get across to them," he said. "When I was younger, I didn't learn how to pitch until I was 16 years old. These youngsters are 12 and 13. I played a lot of hockey growing up and on the advice from one of my coaches, I stopped playing hockey at 17. I was able to get my interests more in the game of baseball and pitching, and I was able to sign after my senior year in high school. I just hope that the kids understand that what I am trying to get across is something that was taught to me at an older age. They're getting taught at an younger age, and if they can grasp it they can use it when they play in their leagues."
While not every player at the clinic is going to play baseball in high school and beyond, Jenkins wanted to deliver the message that baseball is to be enjoyed. It is a message that he feels is often lost in today's current hyper-competitive climate of youth sports.
"I tell kids to have fun," he said. "Learn to play as a team with your teammates and understand that all of your coaches try to give the best advice they can, because none of them are ex-MLB players, so they're just trying to pass on the same knowledge that I am getting across to them. The game is fun, have fun! What you try to learn now at a young age, you try to build on so that by the time you get into high school, the coaching aspect will be a lot more and you will be much better ballplayers."
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins to host clinic to support Montclair youth baseball
Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins will hold a pitching clinic on Saturday April 10, 2010 at Fred Hill's Baseball Academy in Verona, NJ. Also appearing will be Roberto Clemente Jr. to provide batting instruction to those attending the clinic. The clinic is in support of the Montclair Baseball Club U12 team, to assist in their fundraising efforts to attend a national tournament in Cooperstown, NY.
Mayor Jerry Fried of Montclair has proclaimed April 10th 2010, "Ferguson Jenkins Day", for his unselfish contributions to Montclair Baseball. Jenkins will also be participating in Montclair's tribute to the Negro Leagues prior to the clinic. This season, all of the 5th and 6th grade teams will be representing eight of the most historical teams from the Negro Leagues (Baltimore Elite Giants, Chicago American Giants, Cuban Stars, Homestead Grays, Lincoln Giants, Kansas City Monarchs, Newark Eagles, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords). It is likely you will be seeing the youngsters wearing the jerseys of such luminaries as Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, Monte Irvin and Satchel Paige. In addition to having the players wear the uniforms that bear the legacy of the Negro Leagues, their all-star game will be fashioned after the Negro League's East-West All-Star game. The league will be providing continuing education on the Negro Leagues as the season progresses.
Ferguson Jenkins and Roberto Clemente Jr. Pitching and Batting Clinic details:
When: April 10th, 2010
Session I - 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm
Session II - 3:30 pm until 4:30 pm
Where: Fred Hill Baseball Academy
3 Fairview Ave, Verona, NJ
(973) 239-3472
Cost: $30 for EACH clinic, $50 for both (per session)
$50 for pitching clinic with one autographed item by Fergie supplied by participant (All other Fergie autographs will be $25 per signature. Roberto Clemente Jr. will be signing autographs for free.)
Please make checks out to Montclair Baseball Club (Include phone # and session preference)
Send checks to:
Scott Nadison
6 Inwood Terrace
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
For further inquiries, email Richard Berg at: richardberg@me.com