John Anderson

John Joseph Anderson was born on December 14, 1873 in Sarpsborg, Norway, one of only three players in the history of major league baseball to come from the European country. At age eight John immigrated to the United States with his parents and settled in Worcester, Massachusetts. He first appeared in the National League in 1894. From 1894 to 1908, Anderson played for six different franchises in seven different cities. He played for winners, such as the pennant winning 1899 Brooklyn Superbas, and losers, such as the dreadful 1907 Washington Senators .He managed to have one of his best seasons, leading the National League, before being purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers of the newly formed American League. Since 1900 to 1908 Anderson was one of the league’s best hitters in the AL’s first year as a Major League. He died at age 75 on July 23, 1949 in Worcester, the place where his baseball odyssey began, and was buried there in Swedish Cemetery.

Art Jorgens

Arndt Ludwig “Art” Jorgens was born in Modum, Buskerud County, Norway. His family moved to the United States. Jorgens was purchased by the New York Yankees from Oklahoma City (Western) in 1928. His debut game with the New York Yankees was on April 26, 1929. Jorgens played his entire major league career with the Yankees serving as a backup catcher. In 1935 Jorgens was a career 238 hitter with four home runs and 89 RBI in 307 games. He has been one of only three Norwegian-born players to reach the major leagues. His final games with the New York Yankees were on August 2, 1939. Jorgens died in Wilmette, Illinois, at age of 74.

Jimmy Wiggs

James Alvin Wiggs was born in Trondheim, Norway. Wiggs is one of three Norwegian major league baseball players in history. Wiggs was a big man at 6’4″ tall. In April 1903, Wiggs made his major league debut at age 26 with the Cincinnati Reds. In 1905, Wiggs got a second chance in the majors with the Detroit Tigers. According to records of long-term holdouts by major league baseball players, Wiggs became the first player (in 1905) to hold out for at least of month of the season. In 1909, Wiggs pitched for the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League, and appeared in the longest shutout in professional baseball history. Jimmy Wiggs died in Xenia, Ohio in 1963 at age 86.