FERGIE JENKINS FIELD AT ROTARY PARK
In the 1950s and 60s, Chatham's Rotary Park was considered one of the premier baseball diamonds in this part of Ontario.
Its finely manicured infield and spacious grandstand was home to numerous Ontario Baseball Association championship winning teams during an era when Chatham was a dynasty at the highest level of competition in the province.
The grand old lady at the corner of Queen and Tweedsmuir helped launch the professional careers of Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins, former Montreal Expos’ reliever Bill Atkinson and current Milwaukee Brewers’ president/general manager Doug Melvin.
Unfortunately, the park lost its lustre and charm in the late 70s when the infield turf was removed, making it look more like a softball field than a baseball diamond.
And after years of neglect, the old grandstand was condemned and torn down in 1984.
Over the years, life was restored to the park with new fencing, dugouts and a scoreboard. The infield grass was reinstalled along with a new skin surface.
Financing from the Rotary Club and the dedicated work of the Friends Of Rotary Park helped to turn the ‘pasture with a backstop’ back into a quality baseball diamond.
Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park was a great place to play baseball, but an uncomfortable place for spectators to enjoy the game and for off-field officials to conduct their business.
Starting in 2006, several large-scale projects have been completed which have placed FJF at Rotary Park as one of the Premier baseball facilities in Southwestern Ontario.
Current Amenities Available at Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park:
- 300+ seat covered Grandstand with Press Box and outdoor PA system
- 500+ bleachers
- Brick backstop with mesh safety netting
- Professional grade warning track
- Fully functional NEVCO scoreboard with Full Colour Digital Message Centre
- Professional sunken style dugouts
- Double rubber bullpens on both sides of field
- Concrete concourse surrounding the Grandstand
- Team souvenir shop
- Concessions and VIP suites
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