The 32-year-old seamer overtook his hero Sir Ian Botham's haul of 383 wickets on the final day of England's first Test against West Indies in Antigua when he had Denesh Ramdin caught by Alastair Cook at first slip - fittingly reaching the landmark in his 100th format appearance for his country.
That road to history began at Lord's in 2003 when as Ashley Giles, one of his England team-mates that day, recollects, a gloomy 20-year-old announced himself on the world stage with a first-innings five-for against Zimbabwe.
“My memories of Jimmy are someone who, when he first came on the scene, was pretty miserable,” jokes Giles, who is now the cricket director and head coach at Anderson's county, Lancashire.
“He was quiet in the dressing room but a wonderful bowler who bowled with pace and swung the ball both ways.
“He's still doing that and he's probably a bit more cheerful! He's a great guy and we wish him all the best.”
Those who stand 22 yards away from an incoming Anderson might claim they have never witnessed the cheerful side Giles alludes to.
Most fast bowlers are, after all, renowned for their prolonged stares and intense attitudes, a persona aimed to help them gain a psychological advantage in the battle of bat versus ball.
But, outside of the ropes, Anderson's demeanour could not be more different.
“It takes a certain kind of person to be successful in professional sport and even more so at international level,” admits long-time Lancashire colleague Glen Chapple.
“You've really got to have that fire and belief in yourself when you get on the pitch. Off the pitch you can be yourself in a different way and Jimmy's a quiet and reserved fella.
“He's obviously opened up a lot over the years; he's a well-rounded person, certainly, but still very quiet. But not on the pitch!”
Giles concurs, adding: “The coaches with England often joked when he's not like that he doesn't perform the same way.
“You need to respect the game but certainly being that way brings the best out of Jimmy and that's what England need.”
Given his importance as the go-to guy in the Three Lions' attack over the past few years, it is difficult to remember a time when Anderson was not his country's leading light.
But between December 2003 and March 2008, the Lancastrian appeared in only 12 Tests as he struggled to tailor his unconventional action to allow him to avoid injury and swing the ball both ways on a consistent basis.
However, once he hit upon a winning formula that worked for him, he started to reap the rewards and has never looked back.
“He was pretty strong because there's a lot of advice medically and scientifically with bowling coaching,” Chapple recalls.
“People with their own action which differs from the model have decisions to make: how much to conform to a much scientific, efficient action and when to stick to your own strengths.
“He's been quite strong on that and quite determined and knowledgeable about what he wants to do. Credit to him there because he's shown character in that respect.”
Anderson's England exploits have left the Red Rose without the paceman for the majority of recent summers.
Yet Chapple knows he does not see the domestic circuit as a chore upon his return, more of an opportunity to feed a passion for a sport he adores.
“He's helped us out tremendously when he comes back from playing for England; he plays for two or three games and he gives us everything he's got,” says Chapple.
“That's what you like about the bloke and you respect him for that. His achievements are something that everybody at Lancashire can be happy about.
“He's Lancastrian through and through. He's a bit of a cricket badger in a way, it doesn't really matter who he's playing for he'll be giving everything, whether that be England, Lancashire or probably Burnley he'd still be keen.”
After 384 Test dismissals, that lad from the Lancashire League is now England's greatest ever bowler.