Bill McGowan

William Aloysius McGowan

• Height 5' 9½", Weight 178 lb.

• Born March 21, 1896 in Wilmington, DE USA
• Died December 9, 1954 in Silver Spring, MD USA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1992

BR page

Biographical Information

Umpire Bill McGowan began his career in the Tri-State League in 1913. He worked a semi-pro league in 1914, the Virginia League in 1915, the International League and the New York State League in 1916, and the Blue Ridge League in 1917. He was out of the game in 1918, returned to the IL from 1919 to 1922 and worked the Southern Association from 1923 to 1924.

McGowan was an American League umpire from 1925 to 1954. He was on the crew of the first All-Star Game and worked eight World Series. McGowan did not miss a game from 1925 until September 3, 1940, 2,532 consecutive games.

"My advice to young umpires is this: Make the players and managers respect by your hustle. Keep on top of plays. Always try to give a manager or player a civil answer. Then walk away, tough." Bill McGowan.

Further Reading

• Bob Luke: Dean of Umpires: Bill McGowan, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2005. ISBN 978-0-7864-2136-7

Related Sites

• Bill McGowan at the SABR Bio Project
• Bill McGowan on Retrosheet.org
• Sporting News umpire card