McGunnigle, Will

William McGunnigle called "Will" and "Gunner", was the manager of the original Brooklyn Dodgers when they were called "The Nationals" and when they won the pennant in 1891.

McGunnigle has been featured in the April 1984 issue of "Yankee Magazine". In addition to his success in 1891 with the pennant he also was known, rather locally at the time, as the originator of the catchers' mitt. What had happened was that "Gunner" McGunnigle was sorely concerned about baseball palayers catching balls with barehands, I believe this event of what he did next happened before the Pennant win, he took a pair of work gloves and opened up the fingers and stuffed cotton into them and then hand sewed them up again. He had a friend, whose name I do not know, who helped him with this plan to cushin mitts. Eventually, Spaulding and Company found out about this and made the catchers' mitts as we know them today.

Some people would say that young Will "Gunner"McGunnigle had had his innovative idea stolen by Spaulding, but he knew that much refinement and money had to be put into this project. It would have been nice if he and his buddy could have received at least a little money.

As fate would have it, "Gunner" McGunnigle, a bachelor, died in New York City flop house after all of these high points in his life.

This baseball thing must be something wherein the McGunnigle Family is concerned because in the 30's and 40's a great nephew of "Gunner", Lawrence MCGunnigle (also a brother of Raymond McGunnigle, Jr.) was deemed an excellent baseball player by a lot of Bethpage fellows.

Submitted by Rosalie Niemczyk - 1/23/10