Don Denkinger, umpire haunted by blown call in 1985 World Series, dies at 86

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Don Denkinger, umpire haunted by blown call in 1985 World Series, dies at 86

washingtonpost.com
Don Denkinger, umpire haunted by blown call in 1985 World Series, dies at 86
The ninth-inning call at first base by Mr. Denkinger helped the Kansas City Royals rally to win Game 6 and then take the Series.

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Don Denkinger, umpire haunted by blown call in 1985 World Series, dies at 86

By Associated Press
May 13, 2023 at 8:26 a.m. EDT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=916

Home plate umpire Don Denkinger, center, ejects St. Louis Cardinals Manager Whitey Herzog, left, during Game 7 of the 1985 World Series against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City on Oct. 27, 1985. At right is Royals' Jim Sundberg. (Joe Ledford/AP)

Don Denkinger, a major league umpire for three decades whose blown call in the 1985 World Series overshadowed a career of excellence, died May 12 at a hospice facility in Waterloo, Iowa. He was 86. ... A daughter, Denise Hanson, confirmed the death but gave no cause.

Mr. Denkinger joined the American League staff in 1969. He worked four World Series over three decades in the big leagues but was remembered most for a call he didn’t get right.

St. Louis had a 3-2 Series lead over Kansas City and was ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6, three outs from the title, when pinch-hitter Jorge Orta led off with a slow bouncer to the right side. First baseman Jack Clark ranged to field the ball and flipped a sidearm toss to reliever Todd Worrell covering the bag.

Mr. Denkinger signaled safe but replays showed Worrell caught the throw on the base ahead of the runner. After Steve Balboni’s single, a bunt, a passed ball and an intentional walk, pinch-hitter Dane Iorg looped a two-run single into right field for a 2-1 walk-off win that forced Game 7. The Royals won 11-0 the following night for the championship.

“Nobody wants to have the call that I did in the World Series,” Mr. Denkinger told the Associated Press in 2014. “But I did. And now it’s part of history.”

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