Worst blown umpire calls....
In honor of last night's horrific "infield fly" call, I give you...
What is the worst blown call you've witnessed in a baseball game?
I might have started a simular thread before, but frankly I've started so many threads, I don't feal like going back through all of them.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
MLB only or amateur also? If its amateur I could write a book on calls I have missed alone..lol
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
The new one I can think of is Doug Eddings. I've watched baseball my whole life and I've never seen an umpire make such a weird call in such an important game.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
The one I will never forget that was later reversed was a Reds-Cubs game from Wrigley back in 1984. Ron Cey hits a foul ball way foul into the seats in the left field corner. This was not in any way close to being fair. The 3rd base umpire called it a home run. At that point Mario Soto lost it he pushed the ump and later was waving a bat at someone that I believe had thrown something from the stands. Another ump reversed that call because it was so obviously foul but I remember that one because it led to a near riot and Soto was suspended for about a week.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
The first one can can ever recall seeing is the one that hurt maybe the most.
Bottom of the 6th inning, 1st game of the 1970 World Series (1st one ever played on artificial turf), the Reds had two on and one out. Ty Cline bunted, Bernie Carbo came flying down the line, and he, Elrod Hendricks, and the home plate ump, Ken Burkhardt, all tangled together. Burkhart never saw the play, Hendricks tagged Carbo with his glove (and the ball was in his bare hand) and Burkhart called Carbo out.
Replay clearly showed the play to be incorrect, a young Sparky Anderson almost had a stroke on national TV, and the score remained tied at 3-3. The Orioles went on the win that game 4-3, and take the series 4-1.
I'll see if I can find a picture to post...
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Reds Fanatic
The one I will never forget that was later reversed was a Reds-Cubs game from Wrigley back in 1984. Ron Cey hits a foul ball way foul into the seats in the left field corner. This was not in any way close to being fair. The 3rd base umpire called it a home run. At that point Mario Soto lost it he pushed the ump and later was waving a bat at someone that I believe had thrown something from the stands. Another ump reversed that call because it was so obviously foul but I remember that one because it led to a near riot and Soto was suspended for about a week.
Is that the game when Zimmer was the 3rd base coach for the Cubs and he went bonkers? I remember him protesting a HR or a foul ball against the Reds, but I don't remember the circumstances.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cedric
The new one I can think of is Doug Eddings. I've watched baseball my whole life and I've never seen an umpire make such a weird call in such an important game.
The call was Doug Eddings? That is a weird call!
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
It was around 1978, the Reds had I believe Morgan on first base and a batter with a count of three balls and i think no strikes on him. Morgan stole on the next pitch but the umpire did not say if the pitch was a ball or strike. The throw nailed Morgan and he was out but if the pitch was ball four then Morgan would of advanced to second base with the batter walking. I dont remember a whole lot else other than Sparky got ejected over it.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Always Red
The first one can can ever recall seeing is the one that hurt maybe the most.
Bottom of the 6th inning, 1st game of the 1970 World Series (1st one ever played on artificial turf), the Reds had two on and one out. Ty Cline bunted, Bernie Carbo came flying down the line, and he, Elrod Hendricks, and the home plate ump, Ken Burkhardt, all tangled together. Burkhart never saw the play, Hendricks tagged Carbo with his glove (and the ball was in his bare hand) and Burkhart called Carbo out.
Replay clearly showed the play to be incorrect, a young Sparky Anderson almost had a stroke on national TV, and the score remained tied at 3-3. The Orioles went on the win that game 4-3, and take the series 4-1.
I'll see if I can find a picture to post...
This is the one that came to mind for me. I was able to find one picture of it that shows Burkhardt horribly out of position.
http://home.nyc.rr.com/vibaseball/carbo2.gif
There is another photo that I've seen that clearly shows Hendricks tagging Carbo with his glove with the ball in plain site in his bare hand, stretched far away from the tag.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
redsupport
Jorge Orta and Denkinger
Easily the worst call in MLB history, almost called him safe before he touched the bag.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
I was at the game where Pete shoved Pallone. Whether or not the call at first base was "bad" or not wasnt the issue. It was the fact that Pallone took what seemed an eternity to make the safe call. Meanwhile the entire time that he was hesitating the runner from second was coming home. Sure Esasky should have just thrown home anyway but he believed that he hadnt come off of the bag and the inning was over. I still remember the first base coach, I believe it was Bill Robinson, pointing at the corner of the bad insinuating that Esasky's foot had come off the bag. Pallone deserved to be shoved if you asked me. ;)
By the way, what people tend to not remember about that game was the fight that happened earlier in the game. Tim Teufel had homered off of Browning in the first inning I believe and the second time he came to bat, Browning just absolutely drilled him in the back. Right between the numbers. Teufel fell to the ground and Strawberry charged the mound from the dugout. Lloyd McClendon was catching that night and came out from behind the plate and tackled Straw before he got to Browning, but then a pretty formidable fight broke out. Good times.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
redsupport
Jorge Orta and Denkinger
Yep. Worst call with the most impact.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
redsupport
Jorge Orta and Denkinger
By far the worst, especially in a very meaningful game.
IMO, Pallone was the worst MLB umpire I have seen in my 36 years of watching baseball. No one else is even close.
Re: Worst blown umpire calls....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cumberlandreds
IMO, Pallone was the worst MLB umpire I have seen in my 36 years of watching baseball. No one else is even close.
Frank Pulli was bad also. I remember he blew a outfield catch call Dave Collins made in the first game of the 79' Playoffs.