Jack Stafford (umpire)

Jack Stafford
Born
John E. Stafford

1879
DiedMay 19, 1946 (aged 66–67)
Resting placeArlington, Massachusetts
NationalityCanadian
OccupationMajor League Baseball umpire
Years active1906–1907

John E. Stafford (1879 – May 19, 1946) was a professional baseball umpire.

Stafford, who was born in Portland, New Brunswick (now Saint John), Canada, in 1879, umpired a single game in the National League in 1906, and then umpired 131 games in the American League in 1907. He issued five ejections during his career, including future Hall of Fame inductee Sam Crawford in May 1907.[1]

Stafford reportedly lost his major league umpiring job following a disagreement with Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack.[2] Stafford was directed to stop umpiring in September 1907 by American League president Ban Johnson, days after umpiring a four-game series between Philadelphia and Boston.[3] Stafford's position was taken by former umpire (and former player) Tom Brown for the remainder of the season.[4]

Stafford later umpired at other levels, including in the Eastern League and International League.[2] Stafford died in Massachusetts in 1946.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fourteen-inning Tie at Detroit". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. May 2, 1907. p. 12. Retrieved August 29, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Flynn, John M. (May 22, 1946). "The Referee's Sporting Chat". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. p. 18. Retrieved August 29, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Umpire Stafford Talks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 18, 1907. p. 10. Retrieved August 29, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
    - "The 1907 AL Regular Season Umpiring Log for Jack Stafford". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  4. ^ "Tom Brown as an Umpire". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 4, 1907. p. 16. Retrieved August 29, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
    - "The 1907 AL Regular Season Umpiring Log for Tom Brown". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 29, 2017.

Further reading

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