By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Legendary umpire and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jim McKean (Montreal, Que.) passed away early Thursday morning at the age of 73.

Born in Montreal on May 26, 1945, McKean took a circuitous route to the big leagues before evolving into one of the most respected umpires of his generation. After graduating from Montreal’s Monklands High School, where he claimed top athlete honours, McKean became a quarterback with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was named the league’s outstanding rookie in 1963 and was part of the Riders’ Grey Cup-winning squad in 1966.

A superb all-around athlete, McKean would also serve as a junior hockey referee and as a basketball coach at Concordia University, before focusing on umpiring. He began calling games at the minor-pro level in 1970 and worked his first big league game in 1974. During his 28-year major league umpiring career, he was on the field for seven no-hitters, three all-star games (1980, 1982, 1993) and three World Series (1979, 1985, 1995). He also served as the third base umpire in Len Barker’s perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981.

Esteemed by players, managers and fellow arbiters, McKean was named Major League Baseball Umpire of the Year in 1988. In 2002, he accepted a position as supervisor of umpires with the commissioner’s office. In this role, he acted as a liaison between Major League Baseball and its umpires.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame issued a statement about McKean’s passing on Thursday.

"The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is saddened to learn of the passing of Jim McKean, a 2004 inductee into our museum. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Jim was one of the most respected major-league umpires of his generation, and had an outstanding career as a CFL quarterback prior to donning the blue. During his 28 years as a big-league umpire, Jim oversaw seven no-hitters, worked three World Series and had the plate for the first interleague game in MLB history," reads part of the statement.

"Upon his retirement, Jim spent eight years working as an umpire supervisor. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of our Hall of Fame and regularly returned to St. Marys to attend our induction ceremonies. We will miss him dearly, but we will ensure that the story of his successful career in baseball will continue to be told in our museum. We extend our deepest condolences to his family. Jim will always have a special place in our hearts."

Major League Baseball and the Major League umpires held a moment of silence in McKean’s memory at their annual meetings in Arizona on Thursday. MLB also issued the following statement:

“Major League Baseball sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jim McKean, an accomplished Major League Umpire and later an Umpire Supervisor for the Office of the Commissioner. Jim was a highly respected figure in the sport, and we are particularly grateful that he represented our game so well in his native Canada.”

McKean, who had settled in the Tampa Bay area in retirement, is survived by his sons, Jamie and Brett. He was predeceased by his wife, Ann, who passed away in 2008.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Anderson McQueen Funeral Home n St. Petersburg, Fla.. His funeral will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Monday at the Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Petersburg.