Born in Batchtown, Calhoun County, Illinois, "Bill" was the son of Henry F. McGee and Gesina Brinkman. He was the fourth of seven children: Luella Catherine McGee Klaas; Albert Thomas McGee; Dorothy L. McGee Klaas; Carl August McGee; Cecelia Josephine McGee Walters; and Cora Alice McGee Tepen.
Bill began his major league baseball career in 1933 when he borrowed $25 and rode a train to Keokuk, Iowa for a tryout with a minor league team. He did well enough there that his contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals. While playing in the minors, Bill roomed with future Cardinal Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter.
A right-handed pitcher, Bill made his debut with the Cardinals on the last day of the 1935 regular season. He held the pennant-winning Cubs to 3 hits and 1 run that day.
While playing for the Cardinals, Bill was nicknamed "Fiddler" because of his skill on the violin. He became a member of the "Mudcats," a hillbilly jug band that was led by Pepper Martin and included Bob Weiland and "Frenchy" Bordagaray.
The day Bill bought a suit for his wedding, he found out that he had been traded from the Cardinals to the New York Giants. He married Marcella "Sally" Kiel on 21 Jun 1941 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church on North Grand Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. They were wed at 8 a.m. because there was a ballgame that afternoon.
Bill's best seasons in professional baseball were 1939, when he was 12-5, and 1940, when he finished the year 16-10. After being traded to the Giants in June 1941, he retired following the 1942 season because of a chronic back problem.
Bill had a lifetime record of 46-41 and a career ERA of 3.74. He played in 197 games, pitched 31 complete games and had 9 shutouts.
The St. Louis Cardinals honored Bill with a pre-game ceremony before "Calhoun County Night" on 18 Jul 2008, which was attended by his widow, Sally McGee.
Bio researched & written by: Lynn Marie Vint,
Find A Grave Contributor #47138895
Bill began his major league baseball career in 1933 when he borrowed $25 and rode a train to Keokuk, Iowa for a tryout with a minor league team. He did well enough there that his contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals. While playing in the minors, Bill roomed with future Cardinal Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter.
A right-handed pitcher, Bill made his debut with the Cardinals on the last day of the 1935 regular season. He held the pennant-winning Cubs to 3 hits and 1 run that day.
While playing for the Cardinals, Bill was nicknamed "Fiddler" because of his skill on the violin. He became a member of the "Mudcats," a hillbilly jug band that was led by Pepper Martin and included Bob Weiland and "Frenchy" Bordagaray.
The day Bill bought a suit for his wedding, he found out that he had been traded from the Cardinals to the New York Giants. He married Marcella "Sally" Kiel on 21 Jun 1941 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church on North Grand Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. They were wed at 8 a.m. because there was a ballgame that afternoon.
Bill's best seasons in professional baseball were 1939, when he was 12-5, and 1940, when he finished the year 16-10. After being traded to the Giants in June 1941, he retired following the 1942 season because of a chronic back problem.
Bill had a lifetime record of 46-41 and a career ERA of 3.74. He played in 197 games, pitched 31 complete games and had 9 shutouts.
The St. Louis Cardinals honored Bill with a pre-game ceremony before "Calhoun County Night" on 18 Jul 2008, which was attended by his widow, Sally McGee.
Bio researched & written by: Lynn Marie Vint,
Find A Grave Contributor #47138895
Born in Batchtown, Calhoun County, Illinois, "Bill" was the son of Henry F. McGee and Gesina Brinkman. He was the fourth of seven children: Luella Catherine McGee Klaas; Albert Thomas McGee; Dorothy L. McGee Klaas; Carl August McGee; Cecelia Josephine McGee Walters; and Cora Alice McGee Tepen.
Bill began his major league baseball career in 1933 when he borrowed $25 and rode a train to Keokuk, Iowa for a tryout with a minor league team. He did well enough there that his contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals. While playing in the minors, Bill roomed with future Cardinal Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter.
A right-handed pitcher, Bill made his debut with the Cardinals on the last day of the 1935 regular season. He held the pennant-winning Cubs to 3 hits and 1 run that day.
While playing for the Cardinals, Bill was nicknamed "Fiddler" because of his skill on the violin. He became a member of the "Mudcats," a hillbilly jug band that was led by Pepper Martin and included Bob Weiland and "Frenchy" Bordagaray.
The day Bill bought a suit for his wedding, he found out that he had been traded from the Cardinals to the New York Giants. He married Marcella "Sally" Kiel on 21 Jun 1941 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church on North Grand Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. They were wed at 8 a.m. because there was a ballgame that afternoon.
Bill's best seasons in professional baseball were 1939, when he was 12-5, and 1940, when he finished the year 16-10. After being traded to the Giants in June 1941, he retired following the 1942 season because of a chronic back problem.
Bill had a lifetime record of 46-41 and a career ERA of 3.74. He played in 197 games, pitched 31 complete games and had 9 shutouts.
The St. Louis Cardinals honored Bill with a pre-game ceremony before "Calhoun County Night" on 18 Jul 2008, which was attended by his widow, Sally McGee.
Bio researched & written by: Lynn Marie Vint,
Find A Grave Contributor #47138895
Bill began his major league baseball career in 1933 when he borrowed $25 and rode a train to Keokuk, Iowa for a tryout with a minor league team. He did well enough there that his contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals. While playing in the minors, Bill roomed with future Cardinal Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter.
A right-handed pitcher, Bill made his debut with the Cardinals on the last day of the 1935 regular season. He held the pennant-winning Cubs to 3 hits and 1 run that day.
While playing for the Cardinals, Bill was nicknamed "Fiddler" because of his skill on the violin. He became a member of the "Mudcats," a hillbilly jug band that was led by Pepper Martin and included Bob Weiland and "Frenchy" Bordagaray.
The day Bill bought a suit for his wedding, he found out that he had been traded from the Cardinals to the New York Giants. He married Marcella "Sally" Kiel on 21 Jun 1941 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church on North Grand Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. They were wed at 8 a.m. because there was a ballgame that afternoon.
Bill's best seasons in professional baseball were 1939, when he was 12-5, and 1940, when he finished the year 16-10. After being traded to the Giants in June 1941, he retired following the 1942 season because of a chronic back problem.
Bill had a lifetime record of 46-41 and a career ERA of 3.74. He played in 197 games, pitched 31 complete games and had 9 shutouts.
The St. Louis Cardinals honored Bill with a pre-game ceremony before "Calhoun County Night" on 18 Jul 2008, which was attended by his widow, Sally McGee.
Bio researched & written by: Lynn Marie Vint,
Find A Grave Contributor #47138895
