Meet baseball lifer “Scranton Bill” Coughlin, aka "Rowdy Bill" Coughlin. His grandparents were from County Kilkenny and when it came to the hidden ball trick, Rowdy Bill was the GOAT. He was also a pioneer of baseball in Europe, and one of the best college coaches the first half of the twentieth century! ☘⚾ William Paul Coughlin was born in Scranton, PA in 1878. Coughlin spent his entire adult life in the game — first as a clever, dependable third baseman for the Detroit Tigers, then later as a minor league coach and manager, before making his mark as a college coach. Known for his steady glove, Coughlin was the team captain of the Tigers when they won the American League pennant in 1907-1908. He was best known as being a master of the hidden ball trick — he pulled off the trick at least seven times, including the only time it's ever been done successfully in the World Series! Coughlin left major league baseball after the 1908 season, but he stayed in the game by becoming a player-manager in the minor leagues. In 1919, he started a school for umpires in post-WWI Coblenz, Germany. Coughlin made his way back to the states to take over the baseball program at Lafayette College. During 23 seasons, Coughlin's teams posted a .675 winning percentage and only had one losing season! He is a member of the Helms Foundation College Baseball Hall of Fame and the Lafayette College Hall of Fame! #IrishBaseball #Irish #Tigers #baseballhistory (fb)

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