George McKinnon
 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 24, 1918 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 2009 (aged 91) Palm Harbor, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Northwestern, Western Reserve |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1940 | Northwestern |
| Position(s) | Shortstop |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1945–1949 | Fenn College basketball |
| 1947–1949 | Fenn College baseball |
| 1960s | Northwestern football (assistant) |
| 1962–1981 | Northwestern baseball |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 322–405–7 (baseball) 20–40 (basketball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
George Yapple McKinnon (November 24, 1918 – December 15, 2009) was an American
Early years
McKinnon played
Military service
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McKinnon served as a communications officer in the United States Navy aboard the ill-fated USS Lexington. Ensign McKinnon was soon seeing plenty of action aboard the aircraft carrier. "We were attacked by two waves of bombers, got 16 of 18, and it is doubtful if the other two got home," he told the Harry Grayson on April 22, 1942. "I saw the entire action and there was more cheering on our ship than at a Northwestern–Notre Dame football game." On May 8, 1942, things took a dramatic turn for the crew of the USS Lexington. The aircraft carrier was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese destroyers during the Battle of the Coral Sea. McKinnon, however, survived the sinking and served out the duration of the war for the Navy, but an eventual return to civilian life did not mean a return to the diamond, at least not as a player. After he was sent back to the US to recuperate, and Navy officials, noticing his outstanding baseball play and Northwestern University, assigned him to coaching duties with Navy football and Navy baseball teams.[3]
Coaching career
After the war, McKinnon earned his master's degree from Western Reserve University in 1947 and joined the coaching staff at Cleveland Heights High School the following year. He remained there for 12 years before returning to Northwestern as an assistant football coach to Ara Parseghian.[4]
McKinnon began his coaching career in 1961 as an assistant to
In 1978, McKinnon received an award for 25 years of leadership and devotion to collegiate baseball from the
Death
McKinnon died on December 14, 2009, at the age of 91.[7]
References
- ^ "Tales from the Archive: George McKinnon". wnursports.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ a b "George McKinnon". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Bedingfield, Gary. "Baseball in Wartime". Baseballinwartime.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "Hall-of-Famer George McKinnon Passes Away". Northwestern Athletics. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "George McKinnon". Northwestern Wildcats. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "Baseball's greatest Sacrifice". baseballinwartime.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "GEORGE Y. MCKINNON Obituary Condolences". Chicago Tribune. December 24, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)