Being an umpire is a tough gig. Whether you’re at a Little League game or behind home plate of an MLB game, there’s no way you’re going to please everyone. But if you’ve made it all the way to the BIGGEST GAMES OF THE SEASON, there’s a lot of pressure to get it right. Unfortunately, the 1985 World Series featuring the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals proved that mistakes can be made — even on the biggest stage in the world.
It should have been an easy call. St. Louis Cardinal’s Jack Clark fielded a ball hit by Kansas City’s Jorge Orta. Clark tossed it to pitcher Todd Worrell, who stepped on first base — obviously before Orta reached the base. But that’s not how Umpire Don Denkinger saw it. He called Orta safe, and the Royals went on to win the game and the entire series.
Did it change the course of the series? I guess we’ll never know. But there’s no denying the momentum shift of this bad call. Check it out for yourself here:
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