Gordon McNaughton

Gordon Joseph McNaughton

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School Loyola University of Chicago, Xavier University
• High School Loyola Academy
• Debut August 13, 1932
• Final Game September 18, 1932
• Born July 31, 1910 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died August 6, 1942 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Gordon McNaughton was a native of Chicago, Illinois who attended two schools of higher education, Loyola University of Chicago and Xavier University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox and made his debut against the Philadelphia Athletics on August 13, 1932. He was the second of four pitchers used by the Red Sox that game, allowing no hits but walking three batters and striking out none in his two innings on the mound. The Athletics went on to win the game, 13-2, and Gordon did not get the loss.

McNaughton appeared in a total of six games in his only season in the major leagues, starting his last two appearances, getting hammered in both, and wound up with a 0-1 record and a 6.43 ERA, giving up 21 hits and 22 bases on balls while pitching 21 innings. The Boston club had seen enough and McNaughton made his last big league appearance on September 18th.

The Red Sox sent Gordon to the Reading Red Sox of the class A New York-Pennsylvania League for the 1933 season where he didn't get much work, appearing in four games, pitching 11 innings and giving up 23 hits and 13 runs with 11 walks that added up to an 0-1 record for the year.

1934 found him with the Greenville Buckshots of the class C East Dixie League. The 24-year-old began to act a little bit like a pitcher when he appeared in 41 games, went 11-10 with a 4.06 ERA while pitching 195 innings. 1935 rolled around and Gordon stayed with Greenville, but went back to his old stuff, and wound up with a 1-4 record and a 15.84 ERA, appearing in just six games.

The Red Sox released him in 1936 and he ended up with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American Association who were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers. He didn't get much work, appearing in only 20 innings and went 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA. McNaughton's baseball career was over. Gordon finished up his four-year minor league career with a 12-16 record and 5.49 ERA while pitching 251 innings.

After baseball, McNaughton was working as a postal clerk in Chicago. His life was ended by an estranged girlfriend, Eleanor Williams, when she entered his hotel room and shot and killed him on the evening of August 6, 1942.

Related Sites

• BR Minors page