Over a generation has passed since the glory days of senior baseball in Nova Scotia, but from the mid-1940’s to the mid-1950’s the grand old game was a dominant sport in Nova Scotia. For the most part, American imports dominated the Halifax and District League (H&D), but one of the most impressive players of them all was a Cape Breton born left-handed by the name of Philip Ferguson.

In his rookie season, with the 1946 Truro Bearcats, he compiled an unbelievable 18-1 record (including playoffs) while batting a league-leading .468. The Bearcats went on to win the provincial title and it wasn’t long before professional scouts were watching. Ferguson was offered three professional offers but declined them all due to his decision to pursue an engineering degree.

In his career with the Dominion Hawks, Truro Bearcats and the Halifax Shipyards, Ferguson won 50 of an overall 55 games. He was never replaced as a starting pitcher, finishing every game he started. After a highly successful season with Drummondville, in the Quebec provincial league in 1947, he returned to Nova Scotia with the Halifax Shipyards. His 1948 record was 13-4, leading the league with five shutouts and a 1.01 earned run average.

During this era in Nova Scotia sport, Ferguson found time to play varsity baseball and hockey at St. Francis Xavier University from which he graduated in 1946. “Skit” Ferguson was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1980.