Don Denkinger, longtime MLB umpire, dies at 86
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Longtime MLB umpire Don Denkinger has died, MLB introduced on Friday. He was 86.
Denkinger served as an umpire within the American League from 1969 to 1998. He referred to as 4 World Collection, together with Sport 6 of the 1985 World Collection between the Kansas Metropolis Royals and St. Louis Cardinals. In that sport, Denkinger incorrectly referred to as the Royals’ Jorge Orta secure at first base within the backside of the ninth inning with the Cardinals up 1-0 within the sport and 3-2 within the collection. Denkinger’s secure verdict grew to become generally known as “The Name.”
“Nobody needs to be embarrassed like that,” Denkinger advised Sports Illustrated afterwards. “My job relies on being proper on a regular basis, and I wish to be proper on a regular basis. However we’re solely human, and now it’s historical past. I can’t change something. Even admitting I used to be improper doesn’t change something.”
The Royals went on to win to power Sport 7 towards the Cardinals. Denkinger served as the house plate umpire within the winner-take-all sport and the Royals gained their first World Collection championship. Denkinger acquired demise threats and hate mail afterwards over “The Name,” which many view because the tipping level within the collection.
“They’ll most likely have an entire lot extra to say once I die,” he advised SI. “That’s one factor I don’t have to fret about.”
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Denkinger’s ultimate World Collection project got here in 1991. He was behind the plate for Sport 7, which noticed the Twins stroll off the Braves 1-0 in 10 innings in one of many nice video games in MLB historical past. His different World Collection assignments got here in 1974 (a five-game win by the A’s over the Dodgers) and 1980 (a six-game win by the Phillies over the Royals).
Denkinger additionally served as an umpire in three All-Star Video games – 1971, 1976 and 1987.
He is one in every of simply seven umpires to have labored two good video games – he was the second base umpire throughout Len Barker’s good sport for Cleveland towards the Toronto Blue Jays on Might 15, 1981 and was the primary base umpire for Kenny Rogers’ good sport for the Texas Rangers towards the California Angels on July 28, 1994. (There have been 23 good video games in MLB historical past.)
“Relaxation in Peace, Don,” the MLB communications division tweeted on Friday. No reason behind demise was given.
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