John F. Sheridan (1862 - November 2, 1914) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball. In his 30-year career as an official, he worked 18 seasons between 1890 and 1914 in three major leagues.
Sheridan was born in Decatur, Illinois, but during his childhood his family moved to San Jose, California, where he would make his home thereafter. He enjoyed a brief career in the minor leagues as a second baseman in 1884-85, but turned to umpiring soo...
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John F. Sheridan (1862 - November 2, 1914) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball. In his 30-year career as an official, he worked 18 seasons between 1890 and 1914 in three major leagues.
Sheridan was born in Decatur, Illinois, but during his childhood his family moved to San Jose, California, where he would make his home thereafter. He enjoyed a brief career in the minor leagues as a second baseman in 1884-85, but turned to umpiring soon after traveling with a team of California players for an eastern tour.
He began his career by umpiring in the Southern League in 1885, then officiated in the California League from 1886-89, after which he gained his first major league experience in the sole season of the Players League in 1890. Nearly all games in that era used a single umpire, and the most outstanding officials generally moved from league to league, going wherever the league presidents were perceived as being most supportive, both in salary and in affirming the umpires'...
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