Famous Graves: The Grave of Clarence "Pants" Rowland, White Sox Manager.

Clarence Henry "Pants" Rowland (02/12/1878-05/17/1969) was the manager for the Chicago White Sox from 1915 through 1918. He was born in Platteville, Wisconsin to Thomas and Caroline Rowland. The family would move to Dubuque, Iowa where his father ran a grocery store and a saloon. Clarence had 3 siblings. His mother Caroline passed away when he was five.

Clarence was given the nickname "Pants" by an umpire because he wore his father's trousers during a game when he floundered across the base. He preferred being called Pants over Clarence.

He first started managing in the minors in 1903 with the Dubuque Shamrocks, their inaugural season in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. The team finished 7th with a record of 49-72. Rowland didn't continue with the team and took a job at the Wales Hotel in Dubuque, where remained till 1907 when he took a position and the secretary for the Dubuque Dubs. He became the team's manager in 1908, finishing in 5th with a record of 67-69.

For the next several years, he managed the Aberdeen Grays, Winnipeg Maroons, and Jacksonville Jacks before returning to Dubuque in 1911 to manage the Hustlers. In 1912 and 1913, he had another sting with the Dubuque Dubs. In 1913, they finished in 2nd with a record of 74-62.

Rowland went to Peoria in 1914 to manage the Distillers and finished in 2nd with a record of 81-56. In December, he was announced as the new manager of the Chicago White Sox.

Rowland starting to build his team and had two future Hall of Famers added to the line-up, catcher Ray Schalk and pitcher Urban "Red" Faber. Eddie Collins was sold to the Sox by the Philadelphia Athletics and team tram brought Oscar "Happy" Felsch from the minors.

In August, 1915, the Sox traded 3 players and cash to the Cleveland Naps for "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Chicago would finish in 3rd place with a record on 93-61.

In 1916, Chicago went 89-65, finishing in 2nd place, only 2 games behind the Boston Red Sox.

1917 would be a breakout year for the White Sox. They had a record of 100-54, with their offense leading the league in runs score while the pitching staff dominated the league with a 2.16 ERA. The Sox would go on to face the New York Giants in the World Series, which they won in 6 games. It would be the last time they won the World Series until 2005.

1918 saw many of the Sox stars not playing due to World War 1. They would finish in 2nd with the record of 57-67. Rowland was let go by the team's owner, Charles A. Comiskey after the season was over.

Rowland managed the Columbus Senators in 1921 and 1922, finishing in 6th place in each season.

He became an American League umpire from 1923-1927. Rowland then went on to manage to manage the Nashville Volunteers in 1929. They had a record of 90-63 and finished in 2nd place.

Rowland spent most of the 1930s as a scout for the Chicago Cubs. in 1942, he was sent by team owner Philip K. Wrigley to be the president of the Pacific Coast League Los Angeles Angels. Rowland was named the Minor League Executive of the Year by the Sporting News in 1943.

Rowland would attempt to be granted major status in 1945 but was turned down. It was attempted again in 1947, but several of the other teams in the PCL did not want to move forward when the saw the costs associated with operating a major league team.

In 1951, the majors created a new open classification. The PCL was the only qualifying league. A team in the Open Class League would be granted Major League certification if attendance, stadiums, and the area's population met the necessary qualifications. Rowland was unsuccessful in securing any of the necessary funding to be able to bring any of the teams. It would not be until 1958 when the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers relocated to California that there was Major League Baseball on the west coast.

Rowland returned to the Chicago Cubs in 1954 where he served as the team's executive vice-president for two seasons. After the 1956 season, Rowland resumed his position as the president of the Los Angeles Angels. Rowland was let go after the 1957 seasons when The Angels relocated to Spokane, Washington after the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.

Rowland returned to live in Chicago, He passed away on May 17, 1969, and is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.

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