Norway – passion for baseball

When the War Between the States erupted, Norway, like most small towns in Iowa, sent many of its sons off to fight in that war; it was there that they learned about the game of baseball from soldiers from the State of New York, where the game had its beginnings.  When Norway’s veterans returned home, they quickly taught the game of baseball to family, friends and neighbors… and so began Norway’s long time “love affair” with the game of baseball. In 1863, the railroad – now the Union Pacific’s main line – came to Norway.  Osman Tuttle donated five acres of ground to the Chicago and Northwester Railway for a town, on the condition that the new town would bear the name of his native country: Norway. Around 1900, Charles Trojovsky moved to Norway and bought a brick and tile company.  He also started Norway’s first volunteer fire department, and just as important, taught his sons to play baseball. Just one generation later, his grandson would become a Major Leaguer. In 1933, with a slightly shortened name; Hal Trosky was called up by the Cleveland Indians and became Norway’s first big leaguer.  His career lasted thirteen years, in which he would: hit 228 homers, drive in 1,021 runs, and end up with a lifetime batting average of 302. Twenty five years later, Hall Trosky’s son, Hal Trosky Jr, became the second big leaguer from Norway, pitching for the Chicago White Sox in 1958.In the fall of 1965, Norway High School won its first State Baseball Championship.  It would go on to win twenty more titles before the school closed, becoming part of the present day Benton Community School District.  In 1991, the school’s final year, Norway won its last State Championship… that story was brought to life in the inspirational motion picture: The Final Season, filmed in Norway in 2006. In 1976, Bruce Kimm became the third Major Leaguer from Norway, Mike Boddicker followed in 1980 and in 2010, the Iowa Baseball Museum of Norway opened its doors to celebrate Norway’s long-time love affair with the game of baseball.  Lest you think the love affair is over, Norway’s town team – the Bandits – won its latest Iowa Amateur Baseball Association State Championship in 2013; fittingly, Norway celebrated its Sesqui-Centennial the same year.  And in the spring of 2016, Norway Veterans won the “50 & Over” National Championship in Las Vegas… the saga continues.

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