Former MLB & Canadian HOF Umpire Jim McKean Dies

28-year AL and MLB umpire Jim McKean died Thursday morning at the age of 73. The Montreal, Canada native began his career in the Florida State League in 1970, joined the American League staff care of the International League in 1973, retired in 2001, and joined the MLB office as a supervisor in 2002. He officiated three AL Division Series (1981, 95, 99), five AL Championship Series (1977, 83, 87, 91, 98), and three World Series (1979, 85, 95). He concluded his big league career with 62 ejections

As the last full-time full-time Canadian on the Major League staff until Stu Scheurwater's hiring in 2018 (British Columbia-raised MLB umpire Ian Lamplugh [2002] was born in England), McKean received a slew of honours. He was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2004, received the NDG Baseball (Montreal's version of Little League) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and, most recently, entered the Florida State League Hall of Fame in November 2018.
Related Post: Jim McKean Inducted into FSL Hall of Fame (11/13/18).

McKean also officiated junior hockey and played in the Canadian Football League (quarterback/punter) in the mid-1960s, winning the CFL's Grey Cup with the championship Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1966.

McKean (1945-2019) was 73 years old.

We spoke with Dale Scott about Jim McKean, whom he worked with during their time together in the American League. That minisode of the Plate Meeting Podcast is available as follows:

Jim McKean Inducted into FSL Hall of Fame

The Florida State League inducted alumnus and 28-year AL and MLB umpire Jim McKean into its Hall of Fame. McKean umpired in the FSL from 1970 to 1971 and eventually joined the American League staff in 1973.

A member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Quebec native also worked as a junior hockey referee and played in the Canadian Football League as a quarterback and punter (Montreal Alouettes, 1965-65; Saskatchewan Roughriders, 1966 [won the CFL's Grey Cup {championship}]) before his MiLB career, and joined the MLB league office in 2002 as an umpire supervisor. After leaving that post, McKean took a job with ESPN as an umpire consultant.

Jim McKean adds FSL to his awards repertoire.

As a Major Leaguer, McKean officiated three American League Division Series (1981, 95, 99), five American League Championship Series (1977, 83, 87, 91, 98), and three World Series (1979, 85, 95), in addition to three All-Star Games (1980, 82, 93).

NDG Baseball (Little League affiliate in Montreal) previously honoured McKean with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

McKean was the last full-time umpire from Canada until Stu Scheurwater (Saskatchewan) joined the staff prior to the 2018 season.

McKean joins fellow FSL Hall of Famer umpires Phil Cuzzi (inducted 2009), Harry Wendelstedt (2009), Ed Hickox (2010), Jeff Nelson (2011), Brian Gorman (2012), Jerry Layne (2013), Randy Marsh (2014), Richie Garcia (2015), John Hirschbeck (2016), and Jerry Crawford (2017); FSL has selected an umpire every year since the Hall of Fame was founded in 2009.