Jimmy Wiggs
Encyclopedia
James Alvin Wiggs nicknamed "Big Jim," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball
for the Cincinnati Reds
(1903) and Detroit Tigers
(1905–06).
Born in Trondheim
, Norway
in 1876, 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
. He appeared in only two games for the Reds, pitching in only 5 innings with a 5.40 ERA
.
In 1905, Wiggs got a second chance in the majors with the Detroit Tigers
. He pitched in 11 games for the Tigers in the 1905 and 1906 seasons. In 1905, Wiggs pitched 41-1/3 innings (including 4 complete games) with a 3.27 ERA
and a 3-3 record.
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. http://www.roadsidephotos.com/baseball/longtermholdouts.htm
In 1906, Wiggs pitched in only 10-1/3 innings and saw his ERA jump to 5.23—two points higher than the previous season. Wiggs pitched his final game for the Tigers on May 25, 1903, and did not play another game in the major leagues.
After being cut by the Tigers, Wiggs played for the Toledo Mud Hens
in 1906.
In 1909, Wiggs pitched for the Oakland Oaks
in the Pacific Coast League
, and appeared in the longest shutout in professional baseball history, a 24-inning 1-0 loss to the San Francisco Seals. In what was called "the greatest game ever seen west of the Rockies," Wiggs struck out 11 batters,http://books.google.com/books?id=UCeQ8kdRy-0C&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=%22jimmy+wiggs%22&source=web&ots=y4oR5dkOnO&sig=79wkV2Gqf4TBOFuIcnOLSpOfA1k and held the Seals scoreless through 23 innings, but lost the 3-hour, 35-minute game when the Oaks allowed an unearned run in the 24th inning. Cack Henley pitched the complete game shutout for the Seals. ("Runs, Hits, and an Era: The Pacific Coast League, 1903-58," By Paul J Zingg)
Jimmy Wiggs died in Xenia, Ohio
in 1963 at age 86.
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...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1903) and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1905–06).
Born in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, 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...
in 1876, 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
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He appeared in only two games for the Reds, pitching in only 5 innings with a 5.40 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
In 1905, Wiggs got a second chance in the majors with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He pitched in 11 games for the Tigers in the 1905 and 1906 seasons. In 1905, Wiggs pitched 41-1/3 innings (including 4 complete games) with a 3.27 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and a 3-3 record.
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. http://www.roadsidephotos.com/baseball/longtermholdouts.htm
In 1906, Wiggs pitched in only 10-1/3 innings and saw his ERA jump to 5.23—two points higher than the previous season. Wiggs pitched his final game for the Tigers on May 25, 1903, and did not play another game in the major leagues.
After being cut by the Tigers, Wiggs played for the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
in 1906.
In 1909, Wiggs pitched for the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, and appeared in the longest shutout in professional baseball history, a 24-inning 1-0 loss to the San Francisco Seals. In what was called "the greatest game ever seen west of the Rockies," Wiggs struck out 11 batters,http://books.google.com/books?id=UCeQ8kdRy-0C&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=%22jimmy+wiggs%22&source=web&ots=y4oR5dkOnO&sig=79wkV2Gqf4TBOFuIcnOLSpOfA1k and held the Seals scoreless through 23 innings, but lost the 3-hour, 35-minute game when the Oaks allowed an unearned run in the 24th inning. Cack Henley pitched the complete game shutout for the Seals. ("Runs, Hits, and an Era: The Pacific Coast League, 1903-58," By Paul J Zingg)
Jimmy Wiggs died in Xenia, Ohio
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1963 at age 86.