William Finneran (January 12, 1878 – July 3, 1961) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball in 1911 and 1912.[1] He also umpired in the Federal League, a "third major league", in 1915 and spent several seasons in various levels of professional umpiring. He is best known for an on-field incident in which he was knocked unconscious by a punch from player Sherry Magee.
Finneran was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he attended public schools before going to work at the age of 14. He was a first baseman in semi-professional baseball before becoming an umpire.[2]
Umpiring careeredit
Finneran's umpiring career began in amateur baseball in his home of Erie in 1904. By 1905, he was umpiring professionally with the Erie Independent club. He spent the 1906 season in the Interstate League and the Eastern League. He was signed to umpire in the Tri-State League for the 1907 and 1908 seasons.[3] By 1909, he had returned to the Eastern League, which was newly promoted to Class AA.[4]
Finneran joined the staff of the National League in 1911,[5] but had moved to the Class AA International League by 1913, where he remained in 1914.[6] He umpired in the Federal League in 1915.[7] He then spent several seasons umpiring minor league baseball in the Northwestern League and the American Association.[8][9][10]
Magee incidentedit
On July 10, 1911, Finneran called a third strike on Philadelphia's Sherry Magee. Magee responded angrily, striking Finneran with one punch that left the umpire momentarily unconscious and bleeding. Magee was initially suspended for the remainder of the season. However, he was allowed to return to the field on August 16 following an appeal.
Media coverage at the time described Magee as a "nervous, irritable player" and refers to an incident in which Magee had jumped from a second story window after being overcome by extreme heat. The same coverage also indicates that Finneran "has never been regarded as a competent umpire" despite early prospects. Finneran was said to have been "somewhat of a 'scrapper'" and may have been warned by his partner against making threats toward players.[11]
Deathedit
Finneran died in Erie, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1961.
^"Who's who? Sketches of the players" (PDF), Baseball Magazine, September 1911, retrieved June 6, 2012
^"Tristate League's capable staff of umpires", The Reading Eagle, March 29, 1908, retrieved June 4, 2012
^"Eastern League umpires", The Montreal Gazette, January 28, 1909, retrieved June 4, 2012
^"National umpire staff selected" (PDF), The New York Times, February 15, 1911, retrieved June 4, 2012
^"Finneran comes back", The Montreal Gazette, January 25, 1913, retrieved June 4, 2012
^"Umpires in training" (PDF), The New York Times, March 28, 1915, retrieved June 4, 2012
^"The Northwestern League News" (PDF), Sporting Life, February 24, 1917, retrieved June 7, 2012
^"Bill Finneran and Moran sign as A.A. umpires", Spokane Daily Chronicle, March 31, 1919, retrieved June 7, 2012
^"Freeman and Finneran to be arbiters", The Milwaukee Journal, April 12, 1921, retrieved June 7, 2012
^"Careers of men in assault case", The Day, July 15, 1911, retrieved June 4, 2012
January 01, 1970
bill, finneran, william, finneran, january, 1878, july, 1961, american, umpire, major, league, baseball, 1911, 1912, also, umpired, federal, league, third, major, league, 1915, spent, several, seasons, various, levels, professional, umpiring, best, known, fiel. William Finneran January 12 1878 July 3 1961 was an American umpire in Major League Baseball in 1911 and 1912 1 He also umpired in the Federal League a third major league in 1915 and spent several seasons in various levels of professional umpiring He is best known for an on field incident in which he was knocked unconscious by a punch from player Sherry Magee Bill FinneranBorn 1878 01 12 January 12 1878Erie Pennsylvania U S DiedJuly 3 1961 1961 07 03 aged 83 Erie Pennsylvania U S OccupationUmpire baseball Contents 1 Early life 2 Umpiring career 3 Magee incident 4 Death 5 ReferencesEarly life editFinneran was born in Erie Pennsylvania where he attended public schools before going to work at the age of 14 He was a first baseman in semi professional baseball before becoming an umpire 2 Umpiring career editFinneran s umpiring career began in amateur baseball in his home of Erie in 1904 By 1905 he was umpiring professionally with the Erie Independent club He spent the 1906 season in the Interstate League and the Eastern League He was signed to umpire in the Tri State League for the 1907 and 1908 seasons 3 By 1909 he had returned to the Eastern League which was newly promoted to Class AA 4 Finneran joined the staff of the National League in 1911 5 but had moved to the Class AA International League by 1913 where he remained in 1914 6 He umpired in the Federal League in 1915 7 He then spent several seasons umpiring minor league baseball in the Northwestern League and the American Association 8 9 10 Magee incident editOn July 10 1911 Finneran called a third strike on Philadelphia s Sherry Magee Magee responded angrily striking Finneran with one punch that left the umpire momentarily unconscious and bleeding Magee was initially suspended for the remainder of the season However he was allowed to return to the field on August 16 following an appeal Media coverage at the time described Magee as a nervous irritable player and refers to an incident in which Magee had jumped from a second story window after being overcome by extreme heat The same coverage also indicates that Finneran has never been regarded as a competent umpire despite early prospects Finneran was said to have been somewhat of a scrapper and may have been warned by his partner against making threats toward players 11 Death editFinneran died in Erie Pennsylvania on July 3 1961 References edit MLB Umpires All Time Roster Who s who Sketches of the players PDF Baseball Magazine September 1911 retrieved June 6 2012 Tristate League s capable staff of umpires The Reading Eagle March 29 1908 retrieved June 4 2012 Eastern League umpires The Montreal Gazette January 28 1909 retrieved June 4 2012 National umpire staff selected PDF The New York Times February 15 1911 retrieved June 4 2012 Finneran comes back The Montreal Gazette January 25 1913 retrieved June 4 2012 Umpires in training PDF The New York Times March 28 1915 retrieved June 4 2012 The Northwestern League News PDF Sporting Life February 24 1917 retrieved June 7 2012 Bill Finneran and Moran sign as A A umpires Spokane Daily Chronicle March 31 1919 retrieved June 7 2012 Freeman and Finneran to be arbiters The Milwaukee Journal April 12 1921 retrieved June 7 2012 Careers of men in assault case The Day July 15 1911 retrieved June 4 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Finneran amp oldid 1188383960, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
