About John Boake
Lived 1841 – 1912 (aged 70). John Boake was an American baseball player, known for Umpire (baseball).
John Leonsor "J. L." Boake (September 24, 1841 – July 22, 1912) was an American professional baseball umpire in the National Association who umpired his only game on May 4, 1871, which was the first game in professional baseball league history. Boake was the home plate umpire when the Fort Wayne Kekiongas defeated the Cleveland Forest Citys, 2–0.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in Covington, Kentucky. Boake is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Boake's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Boake's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Boake?
American baseball umpire (1841-1912)
When was John Boake born?
John Boake was born on 24 September 1841 in Philadelphia.
When did John Boake die?
John Boake died on 22 July 1912 in Covington.
What was John Boake's occupation?
John Boake was a baseball player.
What was John Boake known for?
John Boake was known for Umpire (baseball).
What nationality was John Boake?
John Boake was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Boake. https://biography.guide/john-boake/
MLA: "John Boake." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-boake/.
Chicago: "John Boake." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-boake/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:30 UTC