The 1974 National Film Board of Canada documentary “King of the Hill” showcases black Canadian professional baseball pitcher Ferguson Jenkins and a slice of baseball as it was in 1972/73 when he played for the Chicago Cubs.
Who is Ferguson Jenkins you may ask? Born in Chatham, Ontario in 1942 just about says it all as by that time in baseball history only 117 Canadians had played in the big leagues and Jenkins, or “Fergie” as he was known to Canadians, was the best and about as beloved as hockey legend Gordie Howe to Canadians. I saw him playing in Montreal’s Parc Jarry when he pitched against the Montreal Expos. He played in the big leagues from 1965-1983 with 284 wins and 226 losses with an earned run average of 3.34. He is both a Cy Young winner and a Baseball Hall of Famer.
Classic throwback narration gives us a glimpse not only of Jenkins, his family and friends but of life on a baseball team, the history of blacks in baseball, chatter amongst coaches and players on the field and the locker room. We learn what life on the road is like, negotiations of contracts and the philosophy of baseball as perceived by its players.
This gem of a Canadian documentary was written and narrated by Donald Brittain.
Like a fine Bordeaux the documentary has aged extremely well.
RKS Documentary Rating 89/100.
Watch the documentary here https://www.nfb.ca/film/king_of_the_hill/
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