The Ten Worst Umpire Calls In Baseball History
Umpires… they are very good at their job, but there are times when you just want to give them a nice kick in the ass. There have been many umpire mistakes, some of them massive, some small, and some that we simply cannot forget.
10
In 2007 the San Diego Padres were playing against the Colorado Rockies for a wild-card spot and both teams were engaged in a sudden-death game 163. This was a game that determined which team would go into the playoffs. After several extra innings, the Padres led the game, and in the 13th inning the Rockies tied the result. After Jamey Carroll hit a line drive, Matt Holliday tagged up and slid headfirst. But, since the umpire’s view of the plate was blocked, he called him safe and the Padres didn’t advance to the playoffs.
9
In 2009 the Yankees and the Twins were in their Game 2, 11th inning. After Joe Mauer of the Twins made a deep hit into the left field, the ball bounced of a glove into fair territory and then bounced out of play. This should have resulted with a ground rule double but, the umpire called a foul ball. Thanks to the umpires call the Yankees won the game and swept the series.
8
Sometimes umpires have big strike zones, like in 1997, Game 5 between the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins. The Braves were down one in the top of 9th when Fred McGriff came to the plate. He took a pitch that was wide of the plate after working it to a 3-2 count, and the umpire ended the game instead of sending him to first base for a run that could potentially tie the game.
7
It was 1978 and the Yankees were led by the Dodgers 3-1 in the 6th inning. The Yankees had runners on 1st and 2nd when Piniella hit a line drive at Russell, who dropped the ball, picked it up and stepped on second for the force out. The ball wound up in right field after he attempted to turn the double play with a throw to first. At that moment Jackson appeared to stick his hip out to deflect the throw, and run was scored on the play. This helped the Yankees tie it with a run in the 8th after which they won in the 10th. All of that helped them even the series.
6
Another story of a bad umpire call with the Yankees involved. During game 1 in the postseason in 1996 against the Orioles, a year when the Yankees won the World Series, Derek Jeter hit a deep fly ball to the right field. Tony Tarasco, the outfielder, was ready to make the catch settling under it right in front of the wall. Instead of him making the catch, 12-old fan made the catch by reaching over the wall. And guess what, the umpire called it a home run!
5
The phantom tag, one of the worst calls in baseball playoffs. In the 1999 ALCS between the Red Sox and the Yankees, Game 4, Offerman from the Red Sox was running between bases. Knoblauch reached to tag him, but missed the tag. Nevertheless, the umpire called Offerman out. Later on the Yankees won the pennant and their second consecutive World Series.
4
Many umpires didn’t make most of the opportunity becoming honored at the World Series, and one of them is Don Denkinger, the umpire from Game 6 of the 1985 series. In the bottom of the 9th inning the Royals were down one to the Cardinals, who needed a win to take the series. However, when Orta came to the plate and hit a grounder to first, the throw beat him to the base and Denkinger called him safe. Afterwards the Royals scored two runs and tied up the series. They won Game 7 and won the series.
3
When the Red Sox made a comeback and tied up Game 3 of the 1975 World Series when the Reds led 5-1, the game went into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th Ed Armbrister laid down a bunt, and the Red Sox catcher went to the field. They both collided and forced a wild throw to second. Thanks to not charging Armbrister with interference, the Reds scored and went on to win the series.
2
In the 1991 World Series, Game 2, the Twins were up 2-1. In the top of the third inning Ron Gant came to the plate with two outs. He ripped a single into left field, took a long turn around first and returned to the base. After a relaying play Gant stepped back on first, where first baseman Kent Hrbek pulled Gant’s leg of the base, which caused for the umpire to call Gant out.
1
The worst call in the history of baseball was probably from 2012, when the umpire made a call that surprised everyone. In the game against Colorado Rockies, Jerry Hairston made a simple ground ball to the shortstop. Hairston was safe while Todd Helton was more than 2 feet off the base when he caught it. He missed the play and called that Hairston out.