Ed White of West Middlesex Pa., (left) gets an autograph Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (right) on “Grassroots Baseball” a book of photography by Jean Fruth (center) at the 2022 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Aug. 20, 2022. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins held a meet-and-greet at the Little League World Series Saturday afternoon while signing copies of “Grassroots Baseball: Route 66.”
“We met quite a few people today, mostly baseball fans,” Jenkins said.
Once he finished, the first Canadian Hall of Famer said hello to Team Canada and threw out the first pitch for Midwest vs. Northwest.
“Grassroots Baseball: Route 66” features more than 250 pictures from photographer Jean Fruth. Jenkins and Fruth were joined by retired Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson, who asked Jenkins to do the signing.
The book features shots of “the amateur game intertwined with poignant imagery of the Americana,” Fruth said, but it is mostly a collection of “terrific essays.” Each chapter in the book is a different state, represented by Hall of Famers and retired legends who started out playing there, both in small towns and large cities. Near the start of Route 66 is the Wrigley Field, where Jenkins pitched home games for the Cubs.
“Fergie is just a big supporter of Grassroots Baseball,” Fruth said. “Which is why he’s here today.”
Reid Acord stopped by the stand outside the Main Little League Gift Shop, where the book is available, to get signatures. Reid wanted to get Jenkins’ autograph in his copy of the book because he said he is a fan of the Cubs.
“I like baseball pictures,” he said. Reid pitched for the Upper Loudoun Little League in Purcellville, Virginia. The team lost in the championships, but his dad, Coach Doug Acord, brought half of the team to South Williamsport to watch some of the games in the Little League World Series.
Rex Parsons, of Austin, Texas, knew this would be his chance to once again see Fruth, his Facebook friend. They had met years ago in San Francisco after Fruth released her first book in the series “Grassroots Baseball: Where Legends Begin.”
“I came back to get the second book signed,” Parsons said.
“Grassroots Baseball: Route 66” began almost immediately after Fruth finished “Grassroots Baseball: Where Legends Begin.”
“We wanted to give back to the game we love,” Fruth said.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America held camps where participants received a new baseball and glove from sponsors. All proceeds from the book will be donated back to Little League Baseball and Softball.
Fruth also has just started working on her next book, which will tell the stories of past, present and future women in baseball, both on and off the field.
Ed White brought his wife and kids to the Little League World Series from West Middlesex. He had just purchased the book and had the opportunity to flip through it to pick which picture he wanted signed.
“(The pictures) are pretty sweet,” White said.
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