Goldie Wiggins was born December 6, 1903 at Hargrave, Manitoba. ln 1904 the family moved to the homestead at Huronville, Saskatchewan.
Goldie attended school at Frewell School #2050 and Fillmore High School #929. He then attended Normal School in Regina. After teaching for a time, Goldie attended Regina College and returned to teaching. Later in his life, Goldie worked on farms and in 1944 he took over the home farm after his father passed away. He became interested in the Co-operative movement and in 1948 moved to Fillmore and worked for the Co-op, then at the Co-op in Riceton then Landis until he retired. He took an active part in the church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, was a Sunday School Superintendant and served on Church Boards. Goldie also served on the Landis Town Council and helped at the Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre and was overseer for years at a church camp near Battleford.
From an early age, baseball was Goldie's passion, especially pitching. He would practice his curve ball by standing parallel to the barn and throwing the ball alongside the barn so it would curve into the open barn door. Growing up Goldie played many scrub games with family and relatives. His mother always played first base. He first played with the Huronville and Fillmore baseball teams as a pitcher. Attending Regina College in 1924, Goldie played on their team. Later for three years, he played with Arcola A11 Stars in the Border League. They also played exhibition games against the travelling teams which Goldie really enjoyed, especially when he hit a home run off one of their star pitchers. Playing with different teams at the various Sports Days, Goldie would pitch as many as 21 innings in one day. He would then not pitch for a week. He was a talented submarine pitcher, with a very effective upshoot ball. He also was a very good batter. In the l92O's and 1930's Goldie played with many of the well known players like Lefty White, Cliff Ball and Gayle Shupe. Arnold Treble, now deceased, stated he does not remember Goldie ever making an error on the diamond.
Goldie played baseball well into his forties and even pitched the odd game when he was in his fifties. He then coached baseball and was instrumental in organizing and promoting active minor baseball wherever he was, and wherever he was needed. Goldie's philosophy was "If work interferes with baseball, you have to let the work go."
The following are two quotes of many from very old newspaper clippings:
June 8, 1925-"Wiggins, the college pitcher who did mound duty for Eastview, had the hard hitting St. Mary's team at his mercy all night. They managed to get 3 hits off him while he struck out 10. In five innings only 15 men faced him, and he disposed of them as fast as they arrived at the platter----"
June 17, 1925-"Eastside Baseball----one of the snappiest games of the year. Wiggins bested in a pitching duel--. Incidentally, he banged a triple in the fourth driving in---and coming home himself, proving to be the winning run."
Goldie Wiggins died February 9,1987 at Weyburn, Saskatchewan.
