It starts with the ball on its impossible astroturf infield path, hopping along between first and second base as royals pinchhitter jorge orta steams up the line in home whites. These situations always take me back to the 1985 world series between the cardinals and the royals, and the safe call at first by umpire don denkinger. Don denkingers blown call in baseballs 85 world series adds to. Pop culture lead writer september 25, 2012 comments. Maybe a bad call breaks up a perfect game, but unless the tying run scores when the guy at first should have been the final out of an inning, a bad call at first cant rob you of the.
Don denkinger is 73 years old and lives in a house on the 11th hole of sunnyside country club in waterloo, iowa. Louis cardinals, an umpires mistaken calls influenced the outcome of game 6. Stephen strasburg led the nationals to a 72 victory over the astros to set up a dramatic game 7 in the world series. In the 4th inning of the scoreless game, frank white seemed to. Kansas city royals jorge orta led off the 9th inning, pinch hitting against st louis closer. The ball was tossed to relief pitcher todd worrell of the cardinals, who appeared to step on first base well before orta. The world series heads to a game 7, millions brace for blackouts as california wildfires continue and more things to start your wednesday morning. And the blown call at first base either way usually is not that big a deal. The 20 worst blown calls in sports bleacher report. Donald anton denkinger is a former major league baseball umpire who worked in the american league from 1969 to 1998. Louis cardinals lost the 1985 world series costing each player a winners shareafter umpire don denkinger incorrectly called the. In 1985, the royals reached the pinnacle of their sport when herr and his st. The 82nd edition of the world series, it was a bestofseven playoff played between the american league al champion kansas city royals and the national league nl champion st. Any thorough accounting of that world series, which kansas city went on to.
Louis cardinals and kansas city royals that lives in infamy. A bad call didnt rob the cardinals of the 1985 world series hated. In arguably the most controversial call in world series history, don denkinger calls the royals jorge orta safe at first base in the ninth inning of game 6 of the 1985 series against the cardinals. The 1985 world series had just about everything drama, controversy, an incredible comeback. During the 7th inning stretch, nationals manager dave martinez was visibly upset with the umpires and was ejected during the exchange.
Cardinals manager whitey herzog went ballistic afterward. Since that time, millions of baseball fans around the world have subscribed to mlb. The firstbase umpire who blew that call, jim joyce, worked the same. He is best remembered for an incorrect safe call he made at first base in game 6 of the 1985 world series. This series will be forever remembered for a badly blown call by first base umpire don derrikinger. Since then, you hear about him for from him whenever there is a huge blown call someplace.
In the bottom of the ninth inning of game 6 of the 1985 world series, the st. Don denkinger, ump best known for blown call in 1985 world series, has words of advice for jim joyce. Denkinger wore uniform number 11, when the al adopted uniform numbers in 1980. The 80s cardinals highlights how don denkingers infamous blown call changed the course of the 1985 world series. The players and coaches from one of baseballs best finales ever tell the whole story, 30 years later. Don denkinger, ump best known for blown call in 1985 world. Other victims of bad calls cant claim to be as lucky. Hes the goto reference for that, naturally, given his blown call in game 6 of the 1985 world series. Bbtfs newsblog discussion five worst umpiring calls in. Denkinger cool with reminders of mistaken call in 85 series. Umpire don denkinger feels for jim joyce after blown call. Don denkinger at peace with blown call as reported by doug miller of, don denkinger, forever immortalized for his blown call in the ninth inning of game 6 in the 1985 world series, is at peace with his mistake that gave the kansas city royals new life and a. The 1985 world series was the championship series of major league baseballs mlb 1985 season.
Top 5 reasons you cant blame don denkinger youtube. He was one of the two pool reporters who interviewed denkinger after game 6 of the 1985 world series. In my opinion, the worst blown call of modern day baseball was the safe call made in game 6 of the 1985 world series by first base umpire don denkinger. Following a controversial call in the seventh inning of game 6 of the world series, nationals manager davey martinez was ejected at the conclusion of the halfinning. Don denkinger is a standup guy and a respected umpire crew chief for the 85 world series, even but if he hadnt blown the call late in. Controversial interference call in game 6 of world series. Espn classic the best world series games since fisk. Any talk about the worst calls in sports ultimately includes one at the top of any list. Nats manager dave martinez being ejected, and resurrected memories of firstbase umpire don denkingers blown call in game 6 of the 1985 world series. Back in 1985, denkingers infamous blown call at first base in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 6 helped the royals rally to a 21 victory, forcing a seventh game against the cards. Jorge orta of kansas city hit a slow roller to first base. Lets take a look back at the most the most controversial calls in mlb postseason history. A bad call didnt rob the cardinals of the 1985 world series. As far as the spontaneity, its far better than the umpire getting the call wrong and having a respectable career sullied for it as don denkinger did for his gaffe in the 1985 world series between the cardinals and royals with the cardinals losing their chance to win a title.
It was game 6 of the world series, with the cardinals leading the series, 32. Louis cardinals were leading the kansas city royals 10. Sports center top 10 blown calls all rights go to tsnsportscenter. Louis cardinals of the 1985 world series or jim joyces missed call at first that foiled armando galarragas perfect game in 2010. What was the worst blown call in modern day baseball. Don denkinger, ump best known for blown call in 1985 world series. Game six of the 1985 world series will be remembered for umpire don denkingers blown call that ignited the winning rally for the kc royals. Umpire don denkinger still near and dear to royals 1985. Umpire don denkingers firstbase call in the 1985 world series. Louis pitcher todd worrell argues with umpire don denkinger during ninth inning of game 6 of 1985 world series between cardinals and royals. In the 4th inning of the scoreless game, frank white seemed to have stolen. Perhaps the most famous blown call in world series history. Umpire don denkinger calls jorge orta safe at first in the ninth, and the royals put up two runs en route to a win.
Don denkinger, who made a controversial call in game six, joined members of 1985 world series winning royals at a 30year reunion. The cardinals were clinging to a 10 lead heading into the ninth inning of game 6 of the 1985 word series when the kansas city royals orta hit a slow grounder to the right side of the infield. Signature moments of the cardinals run are highlighted throughout the film, including the 1982 world series victory against the milwaukee brewers in seven games. On the morning of the day his name would enter the annals of baseball infamy, don denkinger woke up in a kansas city hotel next to his wife, gayle. It was game 6 of the world series, with the cardinals leading the series, 32, and the game, 10, as the royals came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. The 80s cardinals highlights how don denkingers infamous blown call changed the course of the 1985 world series news. Don denkinger, who made the infamous call in game six of the 1985 world series, talks about that play during the kansas city baseball historical society is holding a 1985 kansas city royals reunion. Its difficult to forget the images if you were even the most casual baseball observer on oct. Missed umpiring call in 1985 world series still resonates the.