This feature documentary follows one of the greatest Canadian baseball players of all time, Ferguson Jenkins, through the 1972-1973 season. From the hope and innocence of spring training to the dog days of an August slump, the camera gets up close and personal at the home plate and records the intimate chatter on the mound, in the dugout and in the locker room. It provides a glimpse into the rewards and pressures of sports stardom and the easy camaraderie of the quintessential summer sport.
Ages 16 to 17
Diversity - Black Studies
Health/Personal Development - Fitness/Physical Activities
Physical Education - Outdoor Education
Have students compare the star quality of Ferguson Jenkins with modern-day athletes like Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby. Did the personal nature of this film alter your perceptions about professional athletes? Discuss Jenkins’ comment regarding equal treatment as opposed to fair treatment. To learn more about Ferguson Jenkins’ award-winning career since this film was made, go to Canada’s Walk of Fame.