Hank Gowdy
From BR Bullpen
Henry Morgan Gowdy
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 182 lb.
- Debut September 13, 1910
- Final Game August 29, 1930
- Born August 24, 1889 in Columbus, OH USA
- Died August 1, 1966 in Columbus, OH USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Catcher Hank Gowdy played seventeen years in the majors with the New York Giants and Boston Braves but was primarily a backup for most of his career. He was the first MLB player to enlist in World War I. He saw considerable action in the second brigade of the Ohio National Guard, and was a member of the 166th infantry of the legendary 42nd or Rainbow Division. He was in action at Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Champagne, Argonne and Lorraine in France. After the war, he returned to baseball for another decade, appearing in his final big league game when he was 41 years old.
Gowdy was a Braves coach from 1929 to 1937 and served on the Cincinnati Reds staff from 1938 to 1942. During World War II, he entered the U.S. Army with the rank of Captain on January 20, 1943, and then was promoted to the rank of Major in August of that year. He was placed on the inactive list in December 1944, and returned to the Reds as a coach in 1945 and 1946, also managing four games in the latter season. He was a member of the Giants coaching staff in 1947 and 1948 and a scout for the Cleveland Indians in 1950-1951 and the Giants in 1958.
[edit] Miscellany
In Game 3 of the 1914 World Series, Gowdy became the first player ever to hit a home run in extra innings in a World Series. It came in the tenth inning, off Joe Bush: Gowdy's Braves won in twelve. It would be 1933 before Mel Ott became the second player to do this.
[edit] Notable Achievement
- Won a World Series with the Boston Braves in 1914
| Preceded by Bill McKechnie | Cincinnati Reds Manager 1946 | Succeeded by Johnny Neun |
