John Boake


John Leonsor "J. L." Boake was a professional baseball umpire in the National Association who umpired his only game on May 4, 1871, which was the first game in professional baseball 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.