Bill Gannon

William G. Gannon

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut September 9, 1901
• Final Game October 6, 1901
• Born 1876 in New Haven, CT USA
• Died April 26, 1927 in Fort Worth, TX USA

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Biographical Information

Bill Gannon had a long minor league career and came to the majors for a month in 1901. With the 1901 Chicago Orphans, he was 28 years old, four years older than teammate Frank Chance (who would become the team's manager beginning in 1905).

Bill was born in Connecticut in 1873, the same year that Red Donahue and Billy Lush were born in the state. From 1894-1901 he played pro ball in the northeastern part of the country, primarily in the New York State League. After his month in the majors, he continued to play minor league ball through 1907; he was in other parts of the country from 1902-05, but returned to the northeast in 1906-07.

He committed suicide in 1927 at age 41 by drowning himself.

There have been (through 2024) two other major leaguers named Gannon, Gussie Gannon (who came up in 1895) and Joe Gannon (who came up in 1898). He also shares the same name as a main character from the show Dragnet, who was also named Bill Gannon.

"PLAYERS IN DEMAND. 'Bill' Gannon has been claimed by Louisville and Kansas City, and Schenectady seems quite anxious to secure him: but as he has accepted terms with the locals, we feel quite safe." - report from Sporting Life's Binghamton correspondent, in the March 22, 1902 issue; however, Gannon played for both Louisville and Kansas City in 1902, but not Binghamton