Later in his life, McGrew scouted for several MLB teams and was credited with discovering Pee Wee Reese and Alvin Dark.
[1] He was a minor league infielder (playing in his native Midwest) and manager before beginning his umpiring career.
[2][3] By 1929, McGrew was umpiring in the American Association and calling exhibition games for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
[5] McGrew returned to the majors in 1933 and was behind the plate when Dizzy Dean set a National League single-game strikeout record.
The rumors began with manager Joe McCarthy of the Yankees, who traded Dahlgren to Brooklyn in 1940.