Bill McGowan
Bill McGowan | |
|---|---|
 McGowan in 1925 | |
| Born | January 18, 1896 Wilmington, Delaware,U.S. |
| Died | December 9, 1954(aged 58) |
| Occupation | American Leagueumpire |
| Years active | 1925–1954 |
| Spouse |
Magdalein Ferry (m.1918) |
| Children | 1 |
|
Baseball career | |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1992 |
| Election method | Veterans Committee |
William Aloysius McGowan(January 18, 1896 – December 9, 1954) was an AmericanumpireinMajor League Baseballwho worked in theAmerican Leaguefrom 1925 to 1954. McGowan founded the second umpire school in the United States. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992, the first person born inDelawareso honored.
Early life and career
[edit]McGowan was born and grew up inWilmington, Delaware.In 1913, he began umpiring in theTri-State Leagueat the age of 17. He moved on to theVirginia Leaguein 1915, theInternational LeagueandNew York State Leaguein 1916, and theBlue Ridge Leaguein 1917.[1]McGowan served in theUnited States Armed ForcesduringWorld War Iin 1918, and then returned to the International League for 1919.[2]Following the 1922 season, McGowan left the International League and joined the umpiring staff of theSouthern Association,staying there until 1924.
Major league baseball
[edit]On April 14, 1925, McGowan umpired his firstAmerican Leaguegame, a Boston Red Sox-Philadelphia Athletics game at Shibe Park. He umpiredthird basein that game.[3]He would umpire for 30 seasons, umpiring in eightWorld Series(1928,1931,1935,1939,1941,1944,1947,and1950). He also worked fourAll-Star Games(1933,1937,1942,and1950). He umpired in 2,541 consecutive games, missing a game on September 3, 1940, due toneuritis.[4]
Off the field
[edit]McGowan spent time writing baseball-related newspaper articles in the offseasons, working for theNew Orleans Itemin the 1920s.[5]McGowan founded what is now known as theWendelstedt Umpire Schoolin 1938, which was run byAl Somersafter his death until 1977, when it was taken over by the Wendelstedt family.[6]
Death and posthumous honors
[edit]He died at age 58 at his home inSilver Spring, Maryland,after suffering two heart attacks in less than a week.[7]He was buried in Cathedral Cemetery in Wilmington. In 1977 McGowan was inducted into theDelaware Sports Hall of Fame.[8]He was also elected to theBaseball Hall of Famein 1992 by theVeterans Committee.
Ted Williamscalled McGowan "Number 1," considering him the best umpire of his playing days.[9]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^The Sporting News umpire card
- ^Hall of Fame Players:Cooperstown.Publications International. 2005. p. 198.ISBN1-4127-1217-3.
- ^April 14, 1925 at Retrosheet
- ^The Sporting News umpire card
- ^"Scribe 'Bill' McGowan Starts Work Today".The Sunday Morning Star.September 28, 1924.RetrievedJuly 8,2012.
- ^"McGowan School to Keep Going".Daytona Beach Morning Journal.December 10, 1954.RetrievedJuly 8,2012.
- ^Obituary
- ^"Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 1977".desports.org.
- ^Garver, Ned; Bozman, Bill; Joyner, Ronnie (2003).Touching All the Bases.Pepperpot Productions, Inc. p. 145.ASINB00B6JBVV6.
Further reading
[edit]- Luke, Bob (2005).Dean Of Umpires: A Biography Of Bill McGowan, 1896-1954.Jim Evans(foreword).McFarland & Company.ISBN978-0786421367.
External links
[edit]- Bill McGowanat theBaseball Hall of Fame
- Bill McGowanat theSABR Baseball Biography Project
- Retrosheet
- Bill McGowanatFind a Grave
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