Writers' Association of America in 1946. He was also selected to serve on the Association's board of directors in October 1947. Macdonell also served as official scorer at the 1946 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox. Macdonell insisted to his fellow reporters that "the toughest decision for a sports writer to make was the one that would take him off his beat." Explaining his love for sports writing, Macdonell once asked and answered this question while interviewing Hank Greenberg: "When millionaires retire what do they do? They go to big golf tournaments, visit Florida baseball camps, attend big prize fights and watch Davis Cup matches at Forest Hills. It is their idea of paradise, the ideal existence. A sports writer is even closer to the fun than an ordinary spectator. Why should he give up all that if his health is OK?" Later years and death Macdonell was married to Mary (Schibret) Macdonell. They had two sons Robert (1921-1994) and Donald (1924-1956) and a daughter, Mrs. Daniel Sheahan. Macdonell suffered from Parkinson's disease during the last several years of his life. He retired in the summer of 1957 and moved to Northridge, Los Angeles, California. He died there in October 1957 at age 69. After Macdonell died, the Baseball Writers' Association of America established the Leon Macdonell Trophy for the "most co-operative American League player to the press." Tigers' shortstop Harvey Kuenn was the first recipient of the trophy. Selected articles by Macdonell "Grimm Fears Slugging Trio" (1935 World Series), Detroit Times, September 29, 1935 "Must Beat a Very Good Ball Club" (1935 World Series), Detroit Times, October 1, 1935 "Cochrane Needs Another Pitcher To Put Tigers in Pennant Race" (Mickey Cochrane), International News Service story, March 25, 1937 "A German Tiger" (Les Mueller), International News Service story, February 2, 1938 "Baker Sharpens Tigers' Claws (Del Baker), International News Service story, April 2, 1942 "Sunday Homer Greatest Thrill for Greenberg" (Hank Greenberg), Stars and Stripes, July 4, 1945 "Greenberg Homers in New Uniform" (Hank Greenberg), Stars and Stripes, July 5, 1945 Series a Dream To Hack Miller (1945 World Series), The Sporting News, October 18, 1945, page 5 He Plays First and Sousaphone (George Vico), Baseball Digest, July 1948 References 1880s births 1957 deaths Baseball writers Sportswriters from Michigan Sportswriters from Wisconsin The Washington Post journalists Death in California Writers from Detroit People from Superior,