Friday, March 31, 2023

The Worst Red Sox Team of All Time Pt. 19: Gordon McNaughton

Failure is often even more fascinating than success. I am definitely intrigued by the 1932 Boston Red Sox, the worst Red Sox team of all time. The team finished with a record of 43-111, for a winning percentage of .279 and very little went right. 


Gordon McNaughton does not have any cards.  That is how obscure he is.  But, his life is interesting for one reason, which I will get to.

McNaughton's baseball career was not terribly exciting.  He pitched in just one season in the Major Leagues, of course that being the 1932 season with the Red Sox.  McNaughton was just 21 years old when he made his Major League debut.  His stint consisted of just six games, including two games started and two games finished.  The right-hander pitched 21 innings and had a record of 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA.  He walked 22 batters, while striking out six.  McNaughton pitched a few games in a couple of seasons in the minors with the Red Sox and Tigers organization, but 1932 was his only year in the Majors.

Now, for that interesting tidbit.  Apparently, at the age of 32 in 1942, McNaughton was at a hotel with a woman who was not his girlfriend.  His girlfriend walked in on him and shot him in the chest, killing him.  There is some additional information that the gun used belonged to a policeman who was fired for being neglectful of his weapon and later killed himself.  It's a very odd situation.

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