Bill McGowan Essentials Positions: Bats: Throws: Weight: 178 Born: Year: 1896 in Wilmington, DE USA Died: 12 9 1954 in Silver Spring, MD USA Debut: Last Game: Hall of Fame: Inducted as a Umpire in 1992 by Veterans Full Name: William Aloysius McGowan
While fans have long marveled at the “iron man” feats of players like Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken Jr., umpire Bill McGowan personified longevity behind home plate, calling balls and strikes in 2,541 consecutive games during a streak that lasted 16 years. In his nearly 30-year career as a major-league umpire, McGowan would oversee the…
1992 – Pitcher Hal Newhouser and umpire Bill McGowan are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
On December 9, 1954, former umpire Bill McGowan died at the age of 58 at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, two days after suffering a heart attack. McGowan umpired in the American League from 1925 until his death, officiating in eight World Series. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992.
On June 7, 1938, at Fenway Park umpire Bill McGowan orders Cleveland pitcher Johnny Allen to trim off the tattered sleeves of his undershirt because they distract opposing batters. The ill-tempered Allen had cut the sleeves of one of his sweatshirts and worn it under his jersey during several of his starts in ’38. He…
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