Stephen J. Kane (1869 – October 30, 1915), nicknamed "Stevedore",[1] was an American professional baseball umpire. He umpired for two seasons in the National League (NL) and spent part of a season umpiring in the Federal League (FL).
Steve Kane | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stephen J. Kane 1869 |
| Died | October 30, 1915 Kentucky |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | professional baseball umpire |
Biography
editKane umpired in the American Association between 1905 and 1908.[2] During the 1906 season, manager Mike Kelley accused Kane and umpire Brick Owens of giving away his team's signals during a June series. Kane, Owens and Kelley were briefly suspended until Kelley was pressed for evidence and he retracted his accusations.[3]
Once described as a "little red-faced Irishman",[4] Kane was an NL umpire in 1909 and 1910.[2] He was dismissed from the NL before the 1911 season.[5] He spent part of the 1911 season umpiring in the Northwestern League;[6] he sustained an injury during the season and returned home, but he umpired in the Blue Grass League late that year.[7][2] He signed with the American Association again in 1912.[4] While umpiring in the Interstate League in 1913, Kane left in the middle of a May game after an argument over a balk call that he made.[8]
Kane started 1914 with the Federal League, but he was released from the league in June.[9][10] He umpired in the Ohio State League in 1915. He died that year in a Louisville hotel room of an apparent heart attack.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Polite Steve Kane". Toledo News-Bee. August 10, 1907. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ a b c "TSN Umpire Card: Stephen Kane". Retrosheet. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ Thornley, Stew (2006). Baseball in Minnesota: A Definitive History. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 45. ISBN 087351551X.
- ^ a b "Steve Kane Holds Indicator Again". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 10, 1912. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ "National Umpire Staff Selected" (PDF). The New York Times. February 15, 1911. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ "Steve Kane Turns Down Umpire's Job". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 1, 1912. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ "Steve Kane Idle". Toledo News-Bee. July 24, 1911. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ "Umpire Quits After Argument". The Gazette Times. May 20, 1913. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ "Federal League Will Raid Minors". The Spokesman-Review. February 5, 1914. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ "Fed Umpire Released". The Pittsburgh Press. June 11, 1914. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ Wiggins, Robert (2009). The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs: The History of an Outlaw Major League, 1914-1915. McFarland. p. 106. ISBN 978-0786438358.
