George Magerkurth
George Levi Magerkurth
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 240 lbs.
- Born December 30, 1888 in McPherson, KS USA
- Died October 7, 1966 in Rock Island, IL USA
Biographical information[edit]
George Magerkurth fought 70 professional fights as a boxer before becoming a National League umpire from 1929 to 1947.
Magerkurth started out as a minor league catcher, getting trials Hannibal, Rockford, and Duluth in 1907 and 1908. He played for the Kearney Kapitalists in 1910-1911. After working in a factory job, he played football for the Rock Island Independents in 1920 and became a minor league umpire in 1922.
Magerkurth umped in the Mississippi Valley League in 1922 and the International League in 1923. He also worked in the American Association and Pacific Coast League before moving up to the NL in 1929.
After leaving the NL, Magerkurth umped in some college semi-pro games, and was a baseball commentator for a Moline, IL TV station.
Further reading[edit]
- "Dodger Fan Angered by Defeat Pummels Umpire", Life, September 30, 1940, p. 22. [1]
- Associated Press: "Magerkurth to the Minors?", The Calgary Herald, October 10, 1941, p. 8. [2]
- Associated Press: "Someone Called Him 'Thief' so Umpire Slugs Wrong Man", The Toronto Daily Star, July 21, 1945, p. 1. [3]
- Associated Press: "Colorful umpire succumbs", The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 8, 1966, p. 23. [4]
- Les Biederman: "Magerkurth Picks Hubbell and Dean as Best Pitchers; Veteran Umpire Has Had His Share of Trouble But He's Still Able to Take Care of Himself", The Pittsburgh Press, June 28, 1946, p. 29. [5]
- Central Press: "George Magerkurth, Newest Ump In Big Leagues, Rises Quickly", The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 2, 1927, p. 21. [6]
- John Lardner: "Yanks May Buy Seeing Eye Dog For Magerkurth", The Hartford Courant, October 5, 1942, p. 13. [7]
- Havey Ward: "Mirrors of Sport: Double Knockout Collision", The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 30, 1937, p. 18. [8]
- United press International: "Magerkurth Ends Turbulent Career: Leg Injury Forces Umpire to Quit", The Toronto Daily Star, January 10, 1948, p. 6. [9]
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