The Ump

The difference between victory and defeat in the game of Baseball can be inches. Off the glove, off the plate, off the wall, just fair, called third…These are just a few examples of how the game can be decided.

While baseball fans usually forgive a player for striking out, they seldom excuse an ump that appears to blow a call. A missed third strike, a foul ball that looked like it might have been fair or a close play at the plate are just a few of the ways the men in blue can elicit jeers, boos, or the familiar comment, "Are you blind?" While instant replay usually reveals the wisdom of a call, it can add fuel to the fire. The only consolation that today’s umps have is that for every close call they make, only half the fans will be irate. The rest will be elated.

On July 24, 1983, the Royals' George Brett hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to give Kansas City a 5-4 lead over the Yankees. New York protested, claiming that the pine tar on Brett's bat extended up the handle more than the legal 18 inches. The men in blue agreed; home plate umpire Tim McClelland after conferring with Joe Brinkman, found that the pine tar on Brett's bat exceeded the allowed limit of 18 inches, and Brett was called out, giving the Yankees a 4-3 victory. It was the correct call, but American League President Lee MacPhail, thinking the pine tar rule silly, overturned Brinkman's decision four days later. The two teams assembled in New York on August 18 to finish the ninth inning and the yanks failed to score. So 3 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours and 14 minutes after it began, the Royals won the game for good - proving sometimes, even when you’re right, you’re wrong.