Most Controversial Umpire Decisions in MLB Playoff History

In the game of baseball, the Umpire makes the ultimate decision for every call and needs to be as accurate as possible due to the statistical nature of baseball. Throughout history, we’ve seen certain officials in the MLB handle some games very poorly, leading to very controversial calls and results.

Over the last 50 years, there’s been no shortage of controversial calls made by umpires during MLB playoff games. Therefore, we identified the five biggest umpire decisions in MLB playoff history, including when the game was played, what teams were playing and why it was deemed controversial.

5. Twins vs. Braves Game 2 – 1991 World Series

Starting this wild list is Game 2 of the 1991 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins. To put it simply, the Twins held a 2-1 lead in the third inning, while the Braves’ Ron Gant hit a single to left field, causing his teammate Lonnie Smith to head to third. In the process, Pitcher Kevin Tapani retrieved the ball and threw it to Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek while the play was ongoing. In the replay, you can see as Gant hits first base that Hrbek starts to lift Gant’s leg off the base with the ball in his glove, leading the umpire to call Gant out. This was an insane call in MLB history, considering Hrbek deliberately lifted Gant’s leg off the base.

4. Mets vs. Astros Game 3 – 1986 National League Championship Series

The Mets were trailing the Astros by one run in the bottom of the ninth inning during Game 3 of the 1986 NLCS. New York’s Wally Backman was up at bat before bunting it short and sprinting to first. Backman did make it to first base and was deemed safe by the officials, but the Astros side was furious, claiming the Backman did not stay running along the baseline and swerved out of the way to avoid being tagged by first baseman Glenn Davis. Either way, the call stood and the Mets ended up winning the NLCS as a result.

3. Royals vs. Cardinals Game 6 – 1985 World Series

For the Royals vs. Cardinals Game 6 of the 1985 World Series, the Cardinals held an extremely narrow 1-0 lead by the bottom of the ninth. Royals batter Jorge Orta hit a ground ball that Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark chased while pitcher Todd Worrell covered first base during Clark’s pursuit of the ball. After whipping the ball to Todd Worrell at first with his foot directly on the base, Orta touched the base half a second later while the ball was already secure in Worrell’s glove, yet was ruled “safe” by the umpires. The Royals would go on to win the World Series as a result.

2. Yankees vs. Dodgers Game 4 – 1978 World Series

The events that unfolded in Game 4 of the 1978 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers were as controversial as they come. While both teams faced off in their second consecutive World Series, the Dodgers would lead the game 3-1 in the sixth inning before Yankees batter Lou Piniella hit a ball to Dodgers shortstop Bill Russell, who stepped on second for a forced out before whipping the ball to first for a potential double play. The ball, however, hit Reggie Jackson, who stuck out his hip as he ran between first to second base, causing the ball to deflect past first base. The Yankees’ Thurman Munson then came around home plate to score, helping the Yankees in a controversial 4-3 comeback.

1. Mets vs. Orioles Game 5 – 1969 World Series

The fifth game of the 1969 World Series between the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles suffered from one of the wackiest calls in baseball history. During the top of the sixth inning, Orioles players claimed that pitcher Jerry Koosman hit batter Frank Robinson with his pitch, which was not the original call made on the field. Robinson struck out at bat, preventing Baltimore from extending their 3-0 lead. Next up, Dave McNally stood at the mound for the Orioles before barely striking Mets batter Cleon Jones with a low-angled pitch. 

The call once again wasn’t made, until Mets manager Gil Hodges showed the umpire a black-smudged ball from the dugout, verifying that it had scraped the shoe of Cleon Jones. Hodges’ emergence from his dugout with the scuffed ball effectively led to the umpire changing his mind, putting Jones on first base and helping the Mets win 5-3.