Tom McGovern

Thomas J. McGovern

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut June 15, 1874
• Final Game June 15, 1874
• Born November 1852 in Newark, NJ USA
• Died July 5, 1919 in Newark, NJ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tom McGovern played one game at second base for the Brooklyn Atlantics of the National Association in 1874, going hitless in 4 at-bats but scoring a run.

He was originally listed in Baseball Encyclopedias as Gavern The name "Gavern" came from the New York Clipper, but two competing papers, the New York Herald and the Brooklyn Eagle, called him "McGovern", with no first name given in either case. That latter name was quite common around New York City at the time, whereas Gavern was practically unknown, giving a hint that the Clipper, and records derived from its account, may have been wrong all along. But in spite of McGovern being a common name, there was no record of any player of that name being active at that time and nothing else was known at the time about this ephemeral ballplayer.

Researcher Justin McKinney solved the mystery in 2024, based on a game report that said he was from New Jersey and that he was recommended to the team by John Farrow, who was from the state. A boxscore from 1873 showed a McGovern playing alongside Farrow for the Irvington, NJ club - a sing that this was likely the player. Other reports from amateur games in New Jersey had him with the Essex club, the strongest semi-pro club in Newark, NJ in 1874, and under the full name Tom McGovern he continued to appear in game reports through 1876, playing alongside Farrow and other well-known players of the time such as David Pierson and Hugh Campbell. He then appeared in an old timers game in 1897. An obituary published in a Newark paper in 1919 identified him as a former major league player, confirming his identity.

Further Reading

• "Gavern or McGovern?", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, May/June 2012, p. 1.
• "Was There Really A Player Named Gavern?", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, November/December 2012, p. 2.
• "Tom McGovern Found", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, July/August 2024, p. 1.