William Aloysius McGowan (January 18, 1896 – December 9, 1954) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 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 in Delaware so honored.
Early life and career
McGowan was born and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1913, he began umpiring in the
Tri-State League at the age of 17. He moved on to the
Virginia League in 1915, the International League and New York State League in 1916, and the Blue Ridge League in 1917.
[ The Sporting News umpire card] McGowan served in the United States Armed Forces during World War I in 1918, and then returned to the International League for 1919.
Following the 1922 season, McGowan left the International League and joined the umpiring staff of the Southern Association, staying there until 1924.
Major league baseball
On April 14, 1925, McGowan umpired his first
American League game, a Boston Red Sox-Philadelphia Athletics game at Shibe Park. He umpired
third base in that game.
[ April 14, 1925 at Retrosheet] He would umpire for 30 seasons, umpiring in eight
World Series (1928, 1931, 1935, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1947, and 1950). He also worked four All-Star Games (1933, 1937, 1942, and 1950). He umpired in 2,541 consecutive games, missing a game on September 3, 1940, due to
neuritis.
[The Sporting News umpire card]
McGowan retired following the 1954 season. His final game was on July 27, between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees at Comiskey Park.
Off the field
McGowan spent time writing baseball-related newspaper articles in the offseasons, working for the
New Orleans Item in the 1920s.
McGowan founded what is now known as the Wendelstedt Umpire School in 1938, which was run by
Al Somers after his death until 1977, when it was taken over by the Wendelstedt family.
Death and posthumous honors
He died at age 58 at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, after suffering two heart attacks in less than a week.
[ Obituary] He was buried in Cathedral Cemetery in Wilmington. In 1977 McGowan was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.
He was also elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 by the Veterans Committee.
Ted Williams called McGowan "Number 1," considering him the best umpire of his playing days.
See also
-
List of Major League Baseball umpires (disambiguation)
Further reading
External links
