Art Jorgens
Encyclopedia
Arndt Ludwig Jorgens [Art] (May 18, 1905 - March 1, 1980) was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the New York Yankees
.
, Buskerud
County, Norway
. His brother Orville Jorgens
also played in the majors. Jorgens batted and threw right-handed. He was slender for a catcher, at 5' 9" 160-lb.
Jorgens was purchased by the New York Yankees from Oklahoma City
(Western) on August 24, 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
for Bill Dickey
during eleven consecutive seasons. In 1934, he posted career-highs in hits
(38), runs batted in (20) and (games
(58), and batted
a career-high .238 in 1935. Jorgens was a .238 hitter with four home run
s and 89 RBI in 307 games. He has been just one of three Norwegian born baseball players to reach the major leagues. His final games with the New York Yankees was on August 2, 1939.
Jorgens died in Wilmette, Illinois
, at age of 74.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played from through for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Biography
Jorgens was born in ModumModum
Modum is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Vikersund. The municipality of Modum was established on 1 January 1838 .The area has a long tradition of skiing with several famous...
, Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
County, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. His brother Orville Jorgens
Orville Jorgens
Orville Edward Jorgens was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Jorgens played for the Philadelphia Phillies form to . He batted and threw right-handed. Jorgens was the brother of fellow Major Leaguer, Art Jorgens....
also played in the majors. Jorgens batted and threw right-handed. He was slender for a catcher, at 5' 9" 160-lb.
Jorgens was purchased by the New York Yankees from Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
(Western) on August 24, 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
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
for Bill Dickey
Bill Dickey
William Malcolm Dickey was a Major League Baseball catcher and manager.He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the New York Yankees . During Dickey's playing career, the Yankees went to the World Series nine times, winning eight championships...
during eleven consecutive seasons. In 1934, he posted career-highs in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(38), runs batted in (20) and (games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(58), and batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
a career-high .238 in 1935. Jorgens was a .238 hitter with four home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 89 RBI in 307 games. He has been just one of three Norwegian born baseball players to reach the major leagues. His final games with the New York Yankees was on August 2, 1939.
Jorgens died in Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located north of Chicago's downtown district and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district...
, at age of 74.
Notable Achievements
- Won five World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
with the New York Yankees (1932, 1936, 1937, 1938 & 1939; he played in none of the World Series)