McKean, a native of Montreal, played Canadian League football with the Montreal Alouettes (three seasons) and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (two), appearing in the 1967 Grey Cup final with the latter. He also did some junior hockey officiating, working one Memorial Cup series. His most ticklish call as a major-league umpire came on Opening Day in 1976. With the Brewers trailing the Yankees 9-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Don Money apparently hit a grand slam home run to win the game. But the homer was negated because a moment before the pitch, New York’s Chris Chambliss had asked for and been granted time by first base umpire McKean. The Yankees won the game.
