Owens and fellow umpire Will Brennan were hurt during the first game of the August 20, 1912 double-header between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. Owens, who had started the game umpiring first base, had taken over home plate duties after Brennan's season-ending injury (a broken right kneecap and torn ligaments suffered during a fall while running to cover second base) in the first inning. Then, in the second inning, Owens was struck in the chest by a foul ball, tearing several rib ligaments and leaving him with a broken breast bone. His exit marked the first — and so far only — known time that two umpires left the same major league game due to injury. Brennan and Owens were both hospitalized overnight at St. John's hospital.