Roscoe McGowen

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Roscoe Emmett McGowen (July 16, 1886 – November 5, 1966) was an American journalist and sportswriter. He spent the majority of his career as a writing for The New York Times, covering the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team.

Early life[edit]

McGowen was born on July 16, 1886, in Alta, Iowa. His first job was at age 13, as a reporter and printer's devil for The Walnut Grove Banner in Illinois. When his request for a raise was denied, he became a railroad telegrapher and dispatcher.[1]

Career[edit]

McGowen resumed his journalism career with the Rock Island Argus, also in Illinois. During that time he also made contributions to The Chicago Tribune and gained the notice of Joseph M. Patterson, who had founded the New York Daily News in 1919. Patterson hired McGowen at The News in 1922 to write editorials and movie reviews. McGowen moved to The Brooklyn Standard Union as a sports columnist and editor in 1928, and the following year, he joined The New York Times, where he remained for the next 30 years as a sports columnist, covering the Brooklyn Dodgers.[1]

During spring training prior to the 1934 season, McGowen asked Bill Terry, manager of the New York Giants, about the National League pennant chances of the Dodgers, their crosstown rivals, prompting the reply, "Is Brooklyn still in the league?"[1][2] Terry and the Giants came to rue that response.[3] Although the Dodgers finished the season in sixth place, they beat the Giants in the last two games of the season, costing the Giants the National League pennant by one game.[4][5]

Because McGowen's primary assignment was the Dodgers, he wrote columns for many of the team's most notable moments, including Mickey Owen's dropped third strike in Game 4 of the 1941 World Series,[6] Jackie Robinson's major league debut,[7] Cookie Lavagetto's hit that broke up Bill Bevens' near no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series,[8] no-hitters by Tex Carleton,[9] Carl Erskine,[10] and Sal Maglie,[11] and the team's only World Series championship.[12]

McGowen served as official scorer for several major league All-Star and World Series games. He was considered one of the most authoritative baseball writers in the nation, and served as national president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America in 1949. He was known for his dignified manner, appearance, speech, and basso-profundo singing, and could recite passages of Shakespeare at length. He retired from The Times in 1959.[1]

Personal life[edit]

McGowen married Maxine McVey, who predeceased him.[13] Their son Deane also was a sportswriter for The Times.[1]

Death[edit]

McGowen died of lung cancer on November 5, 1966, in North Woodstock, Connecticut. He was survived by his son Deane, his daughter Dorothy Farrows, his sister, and three grandchildren.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Roscoe M'Gowen, Newsman, Is Dead – Times Sportswriter for 30 Years Until '59, Was 80". The New York Times. November 6, 1966. p. 88. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "Obituary". New York Daily News. November 6, 1966. p. 116. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bill Terry, a .400 Hitter for the Giants, Dies at 90". The New York Times. January 10, 1989. p. B6. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  4. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (September 30, 1934). "Brooklyn Rooters Have a Great Day – Giant Fans Are Outnumbered and Outyelled as Dodgers Get Their Revenge – Landis Is an Onlooker – Is Among Early Arrivals at the Park — Derisive Shouts Greet Terry and His Men". The New York Times. p. S2. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Drebinger, John (October 1, 1934). "Cards Rout Reds and Win Pennant As Giants Are Beaten by Dodgers – National League Race Comes to Dramatic Close With St. Louis Two Games in Front — Brooklyn Triumphs by 8-5 in Tenth — World Series to Start Wednesday in Detroit". The New York Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  6. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (October 6, 1941). "Dodgers Stress Luck of Rivals – Yanks Could 'Catch Lightning in a Bottle,' Durocher Remarks After Game – M'Phail in Tearful Mood – Breathes Defiance Through the Mist – Wyatt Will Pitch Against Bonham Today". The New York Times. p. 21. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  7. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (April 16, 1947). "Double by Reiser Beats Boston, 5-3 – Dodger Star Bats In 2 Runs, Scores One in 7th Inning of Ebbets Field Opener – Gregg Victor in Relief – But He Needs Casey's Help in 9th When Braves Threaten – 18 Brooks in Action". The New York Times. p. 32. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  8. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (April 30, 1940). "Wild Celebration in Dressing Room – Flock Mobs Lavagetto, Hero of Merriwell Finish, but Had Expected Him to Hit – Casey and Gregg Lauded – Their Superb Pitching Kept Team in Fight — Lombardi or Hatten Due Today". The New York Times. p. 11. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  9. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (June 20, 1952). "Carleton Pitches No-Hit Shut-Out as Dodgers Tie Big League Record – Dodgers Top Red for 9th in Row, 3-0 – Streak Equals Modern Major Mark for Start of Season — Coscarart's Homer Wins – Carleton Retires Last 17 – Second Big Leaguer to Pitch No-Hitter in 1940 – Walks 2 — 2 Safe on Errors". The New York Times. p. 28. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  10. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (June 20, 1952). "Erskine Hurls No-Hitter and Misses Perfect Game by One Walk – Dodgers' Pitcher Blanks Cubs, 5-0 – Erskine Enables Brooklyn to Sweep 3-Game Series With His First No-Hit Job – Fine Plays Nip Threats – Ramsdell Only Rival to Reach Base – Winners Get 4 Runs in First 2 Innings". The New York Times. p. 28. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  11. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (September 26, 1956). "Maglie's No-Hitter Wins for Dodgers, but Braves Rout Redlegs to Keep Lead – Brooklyn Downs Phillies, 5 to 0 – Maglie Walks Two, Hits One for Rivals' Base Runners — Campanella Connects". The New York Times. p. 21. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  12. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (October 5, 1955). "Team-Mates' Vigorous Congratulations Tire Podres More Than Mound Work – Pitcher Is Hailed in His Finest Hour – Podres Center of Dodgers' Celebration — Amoros Is Happy in 3 Languages". The New York Times. p. 43. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "Mrs. Roscoe E. M'Gowen". The New York Times. November 13, 1963. p. 41. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
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