I never met my grandfather, James McGough, as he died 20 years before I was born. But as much as an ancestor I’ve never met could be, he has been an influence on me, and lately, on my writing. He spent the majority of his career as a homicide prosecutor in Kings County, better known as Brooklyn, NY.
The Boss, My First One
July 15, 2010 – 2:09 am
A personal remembrance of George Steinbrenner, to whom I owe a great deal. Originally published the day after he passed away. RIP Boss.
How I Got the Job
March 31, 2010 – 3:37 am
Below is one of the original letters that I sent to the Yankees in October 1991, when I was 16 years old. This was shortly after it occurred to me while watching a game from the bleachers that someone might be able to apply to be a batboy, and before I understood it was naive to expect a response. I mailed copies to everyone in the Yankees front office who I imagined might be involved in bat boy hiring, from George Steinbrenner on down to the field manager Stump Merrill. Looking back, my favorite part is the handwritten dual signature line at the bottom — my best attempt at age 16 to project to the General Manager of the New York Yankees that I meant business!
Interview in Dagbladet newspaper
March 30, 2010 – 7:08 pm
My last trip to Norway, I met a reporter for the Oslo newspaper Dagbladet who was taken aback that an American writer would be so interested in what he imagined to be a local story. I explained that I was there to conduct interviews, not to be interviewed, but he would not be dissuaded. Here’s the resulting article (and a rough English translation):
My First Day with the Yankees
March 30, 2010 – 12:59 am
My story for “The Moth” about my first day of work as a Yankees bat boy, Opening Day 1992.
Recorded in 2003 before a live audience in New York City.
Matthew McGough – My First Day with the Yankees (right-click to download as mp3)
NYT, 1993: “A Yankee Batboy Who Made It On His Own”
March 29, 2010 – 6:28 am
A New York Times profile published in September 1993, just before I left the Yankees to begin college.
My own baseball card (with stats!)
March 28, 2010 – 3:40 am
A fun faux baseball card a friend made to help me promote the book when it was first published.
Madonna and Scream Recovered September 1, 2006
January 30, 2010 – 7:03 pm
