[3] Gowdy made his major league debut with John McGraw's New York Giants in 1910, before being traded to Boston the next year.

[3] Gowdy saw more playing time in subsequent seasons, but when World War I broke out, he became the first major league player to enlist.

[1] He saw considerable action in France with the 166th Infantry Regiment of the Ohio National Guard, including some of the worst trench fighting in the war.

[1] When he returned in 1919, he got his old job as catcher back, but not before going on a speaking tour of the United States, detailing his war experiences.

[2] His 52.58% career caught stealing percentage ranks him sixth in major league history.

In the Deadball Era, catchers played a huge defensive role, given the large number of bunts and stolen base attempts, as well as the difficulty of handling the spitball pitchers who dominated pitching staffs.

[1] When the United States entered World War II, Gowdy enlisted as a Captain at the age of 53 and was later promoted to major.