September 26, 2022

Erik Reyes

mlb, major league baseball

The Greatest Negro League Players Who NEVER Played MLB...

September 26, 2022

Erik Reyes

mlb, major league baseball

Major League Baseball has over 150 years of rich history, full of memorable moments, amazing accomplishments, and a huge number of legends and superstars, many of whom are immortalized in the Hall of Fame. It would be an easy assumption to make that since the beginning of professional baseball, most if not all of the greatest baseball players America produced earned an opportunity to play Major League Baseball. Sadly, that is not the case. Beginning in 1890, as baseball was becoming the country’s National Pastime, league owners struck what would become known as the “Gentleman’s Agreement,” a non-formal consensus between owners that no team would draft or sign a black player. This reprehensible act led to the color barrier in Major League Baseball, which lasted well over 50 years.

During that time, Major League Baseball was not truly a league of the best of the best, as many of the best players in the country played in the Negro Leagues and never got a chance to play in what was supposedly the top level of baseball. It wasn’t until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 that the league truly become a representation of the best baseball players available. This led the way to Negro League players like Hank Aaaron and Willie Mays going on to have phenomenal MLB careers. However, today’s presentation will count down the 10 greatest Negro League players who never got the chance to play Major League Baseball. Before starting the list, it should be noted that in 2020, MLB officially recognized seven professional Negro Leagues that operated between 1920 and 1948 as the Major Leagues, meaning some of these players stats are now official MLB stats. Nevertheless, during their careers, they were denied the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues despite having obvious Major League talent.

#10 Willie Wells, SS

Just as Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were getting their careers started, Willie Wells was wrapping his up. He played for 21 years in the Negro Leagues and according to former big leaguer Monte Irvin, “You should have seen Willie Wells play shortstop; as good as Ozzie Smith and a better hitter.” Despite his incredible hitting ability – a .330 career batting average with a league-leading .411 mark in 1930 – Wells was mainly known for his amazing defense. While playing in Mexico, his athleticism and acrobatic ability at shortstop earned him the nickname “El Diablo” – “The Devil.” He could also hit for power, leading his league in homers 3 times. He had an OPS over 1,000 for 7 straight years and led the league in steals twice, making him a true 5-tool player. He made 8 All Star teams during his Negro League career and also became a player-manager late in his career. Wells passed away in 1989, 8 years before he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

#9 Ben Taylor, 1B

One of the earliest stars of the game, Ben Taylor’s career began in 1908, before the National Negro League was formed. He played wherever he could and became known as “Old Reliable” for his ability to consistently come through in clutch situations and drive in runs while playing nearly perfect defense at first base. Like Ted Williams, he was a naturally talented hitter who took it to the next level by taking a scientific approach to the game. He studied pitchers, worked on his mechanics, and became one of the best, consistently hitting over .300 every season. Taylor was also a true gentleman - soft-spoken and well-respected. Buck Leonard said: “I got most of my learning from Ben Taylor. He helped me when I first broke in with his team. He had been the best first baseman in Negro baseball up until that time, and he was the one who really taught me to play first base.” He died at age 64 in 1953 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

#8 Andrew “Rube” Foster, P/Manager/Executive

Rube Foster makes this list not only because of his playing career, but also for an amazing career as a manager and top executive who is credited as the founder of the Negro Leagues. Although not all of his stats were recorded, Foster was considered one of the top pitchers in baseball in the early 20th Century. After his playing career, he was a great manager, winning over 700 games and setting high standards for his players, ensuring top personal conduct and professionalism. In 1920, Foster organized the National Negro Leagues, which flourished under his leadership. His hard work and tireless effort to make this league a success is what allowed the players on this list and many others to have the opportunities they had to play ball in front of thousands of people, earn a decent salary and for many, become Hall-of-Famers despite never playing in the Major Leagues. Foster had a nervous breakdown in 1926 and died in 1930. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.

#7 Smokey Joe Williams, P

One of the most feared pitchers in the game for over 20 years, Smokey Joe Williams was an absolute legend. The stories about his insane velocity were told for years. In one particular game in 1930, Williams struck out 27 batters over 12 innings while allowing a single hit. Ty Cobb said he was a “sure 30-game winner in the Major Leagues.” Anecdotes about Williams include several no-hitters, catchers having to be replaced mid-game due to a swollen catching hand, and victories in exhibition games against great pitchers such as Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander. He even once threw a no-hitter against the 1917 New York Giants in a barnstorming exhibition. Shortly before he passed away in 1951, after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Williams said “The important thing is that the long fight against the ban has been lifted. I praise the Lord I’ve lived to see the day.” Williams was elected to the Hall of fame in 1999.

#6 Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, OF

One of the most underrated players of all time, Turkey Stearnes played 18 years in the Negro Leagues and retired with a .349 batting average. He led his league in home runs 6 times and won the batting title twice, including a .390 average in 1929. He had an unorthodox stance and running style which led to his nickname, Turkey, but according to Negro Leaguer Jim Canada, “He hit the ball nine miles. He was a show. People would go to see him play.” He was also a premiere defender and the perfect example of a 5-tool talent, with a throwing arm that made runners very hesitant to try to advance an extra base. "That man could hit the ball as far as anybody," Cool Papa Bell said. "And he was one of our best all-around players. He could field, he could hit, he could run. He had plenty of power." Stearnes passed away in 1979. According to his daughter, he was never bitter about not playing in the Major Leagues and appreciated every moment he got to play ball. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000.

#5 James “Cool Papa” Bell, OF

One of, if not the fastest runner to ever play the game, Cool Papa Bell was the definition of electric. The story went that he could turn a light switch off and be in bed before it was dark. Bell was switch-hitting contact hitter who knew the strike zone extremely well and was always looking to find a way to get on base where he could utilize his insane speed. Bell had a career batting average of .325 and led the league in stolen bases 7 times. Once the league instituted an All-Star Game in 1933, he made 8 All Star Teams in 8 years, despite being in his thirties by this point. In his final season, 1946, Bell hit .400 in 120 at bats for the Homestead Grays, one year before Jackie Robinson’s Major League debut. Cool Papa Bell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974 and passed away in 1991 at the age of 87.

#4 Jon Henry “Pop” Lloyd, SS

Considered the best shortstop in Negro League history, Pop Lloyd played for 25 years and regularly hit well above .300 and was a rare combination of power and small-ball. Lloyd could hit for power when the situation dictated it, but he could also bunt and use the entire field to his advantage. He was a fantastic base-runner as well, stealing bases not just with pure speed but through knowing the situation and studying the opposing pitchers. Throughout most of his career, stats were not kept permanently, but from 1921 to 1929 – age 37 to 45 – he hit .349 with a .400 on-base percentage and 59 stolen bases. That was during his twilight years as a player. Lloyd simply had one of the best baseball IQ’s in the history of the game and, with this knowledge, went on to become a fantastic manager. “Pop Lloyd was the greatest player, the greatest manager, the greatest teacher,” said Bill Yancey, a shortstop who played with him. “He had the ability and knowledge and, above all, patience. I did not know what baseball was until I played under him.” In 1977, 13 years after he passed away, Pop Lloyd was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

#3 Walter “Buck” Leonard, 1B

A staple in the Homestead Grays batting lineup throughout the 30’s and 40’s, Buck Leonard had an amazing career that included 13 All Star Selections and an unreal .345 career batting average. He was one of the best pure hitters to ever pick up a bat and led the league in a variety of offensive categories multiple times including home runs, doubles and RBIs along with every offensive percentage statistic that you can think of. In 1938, he hit .420 with a .500 on-base percentage and unreal 1,240 OPS, all of which unsurpisingly led the league. Leonard was also a stellar defensive first baseman. His talent was so insane that when the color barrier was finally broken, despite his age of 45 years, he was still offered an MLB contract. Knowing he couldn’t play at his best anymore, Leonard declined and retired. Leonard passed away in 1997 but not before being elected into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

#2 Oscar Charleston OF/1B

Oscar Charleston OF/1BAccording to the great Buck O’Neil, Oscar Charleston was like “Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker rolled into one.” During the 1920’s, no one was better. Charleston regularly hit over .400, including insane batting averages of .433 in 1921 and .427 in 1925. He also hit for massive power during a time when home runs were not the norm. He led the league in home runs 5 times, including 20 bombs in 1925, which was unheard of at the time due to the much shorter Negro League schedule. Charleston could also fly and regularly stole at least 20 bases per season during his prime. He was an excellent defender and used to play center-field very shallow due to his confidence that he was fast enough to catch anything hit over his head. There is no doubt he would have been an absolute superstar in the Major Leagues. Charleston was elite in everything he did on a baseball field and even went on to become a great manager. He passed away in 1954 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976.

#1 Josh Gibson C

The man, the myth, the legend himself – Josh Gibson was a spectacular talent who could hit the ball like no other. “Josh was a better power hitter than Babe Ruth, Ted Williams or anybody else I’ve ever seen,” said former Cleveland Buckeye pitcher and manager Alonzo Boone. “Anything he touched was hit hard. He could power outside pitches to right field. Shortstops would move to left field when Josh came to the plate.” Gibson was quickly hailed “The Black Babe Ruth,” and some fans who watched both play, decided it was more accurate to call Ruth “The White Josh Gibson.” From 1933 to 1938 he led the league in home runs and RBIs every season. In 1943, Gibson drove in 109 runs in just 69 games. His home run totals may not look amazing, but one has to take into account the much shorter Negroe League seasons. In 1937, for instance, Gibson hit 20 home runs in 39 games. That is the equivalent of hitting about 85 home runs throughout the course of a normal MLB season. His batting average was also ridiculous, easily topping .400 on multiple occasions. In 1943, he hit .433. Gibson has been said to have hit nearly 800 home runs throughout his career, although most of them were hit in barnstorming exhibitions and various other leagues. In his official career, he still had a home-run to at bat ratio that rivals the greatest power hitters of all time, and if he had ever been given the chance, there is no doubt Josh Gibson would have been one of the greatest MLB power-hitters to ever live. Oh, and by the way, he was also a phenomenal catcher with an arm that was both powerful and accurate. Tragically, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1942 and eventually died of a stroke in 1947. Gibson became the 2nd Negro League player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

And there you have it for 10 of the greatest Negro League players who never got a chance to play Major League Baseball. There are many others as well, and some who did get a brief chance to play in MLB such as the great Satchel Paige, which is why he wasn’t on the list. Thank you so much for checking out this video and feel free to mention some players I may have missed in the comments section below. Have a wonderful day and we’ll talk to you in the next one.

September 5, 2022

Erik Reyes

mlb hall of fame, mlb hall of fame snubs, mlb

Top 10 MLB Hall of Fame Snubs of ALL TIME (Not Counting STEROID USERS or BANNED Players)

September 5, 2022

Erik Reyes

mlb hall of fame, mlb hall of fame snubs, mlb

There’s no individual honor quite as high for a professional baseball player as making it to the Hall of Fame. 268 former players – out of over 15,000 who have played in the Majors - have been enshrined into Cooperstown. There are also many players who had what appeared to be Hall of Fame careers, but for some reason or another, never were inducted. Sometimes the reason why is clear. Connections to Performance Enhancing Drugs has kept out many of the greats. However, in today’s presentation, we will count down the Top 10 Non-Steroid Related Hall of Fame Snubs. These are players who had careers with sustained excellence, plenty of awards and accolades, and no PED controversies to speak of, although some may have had some animosity with the media for other reasons. This is not to say I don’t believe some of the PED-connected players should be in the Hall, because I do – but at least the reason why they haven’t been enshrined is obvious. This list will also avoid players banned from the Hall like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

#10 Dick Allen

Dick Allen was simply one of the best hitters of his generation. He won a Rookie of the Year in 1964 and followed it with several seasons of offensive domination. Allen won an MVP Award in 1972 after hitting .307 with 37 home runs and 113 driven in. Allen was a 7-time All Star with 9 seasons of at least 85 RBIs and 10 of at least 20 home runs. Unfortunately, he only played 15 years and dealt with several injuries. He retired with 351 home runs, 1,848 hits and a .292 batting average. Falling short of 2,000 hits likely hurt Allen along with the fact that he was not popular with the media. However, for about a decade he was among the best in the game. From 1964 to 1974, he had the best OPS in baseball –

better than both Mays and Aaron. All things said, Dick Allen may not be a first ballot shoe-in, but certainly should have been inducted at some point before he passed away in December of 2020.

#9 Billy Wagner

In determining what makes a Hall of Famer, since there aren’t many guidelines that the Hall provides, one of the best ways to gauge that is by simple precedence. Based on previous inductions, it’s clear that relief pitchers – if they were good enough – can get in the Hall. Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Goose Goosage, Mariano Rivera, Lee Smith and Bruce Sutter have all been elected. Wagner stacks up extremely well against them and, statistically, is better than most of them. Only Rivera has a better Earned Run Average than Wagner’s career 2.31 ERA. Along with Smith & Hoffman, Wagner is a 7-time All Star. And he is better than both of them in nearly ever stat.

His WHIP and K/9 Ratio are better than every Hall of Fame reliever including Rivera. The only possible knock on Wagner is his poor Post Season performance – an ERA over 10 in 1l.2 innings, a fairly small sample size. Still, Lee Smith had an ERA over 8 in the postseason and it didn’t keep him out. Besides, the regular season is the bulk of a player’s career and if a player can get in without even playing in the playoffs, which they have, then a poor performance in a small sample size shouldn’t keep some one out. Billy Wagner was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball history and he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

#8 Lou Whitaker

A 5-Tool Player who did almost everything well for 19 years, second baseman Lou Whitaker was insultingly thrown off the ballot after receiving less than 5% of the vote in 2001. With 2,369 hits and 244 bombs, he didn’t hit the major milestones, but he did help his team win games for 19 years, all for the Detroit Tigers. He won a Rookie of the Year award, was a 5-time All Star, 3-time Gold Glover and even won 4 Silver Sluggers. His career WAR on Baseball Reference is better than Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and Tony Gwynn among many other Hall of Famers. He also had over 1100 career walks and an impressive .363 career on base percentage, the same as Hall of Fame second baseman Craig Biggio. The top 3 players who compare to Whitaker in the Similiary Scores metric at Baseball Reference – Ryne Sandberg, Alan Trammel and Roberto Alomar – are all Hall of Famers. Unfortunately, the outlook isn’t too bright as Whitaker not only fell of the main ballot, but hasn’t even been considered yet by the Veteran’s Committee.

#7 Sherry Magee

A forgotten player from the early 20th Century, Left-Fielder Sherry Magee, who mostly played for the Phillies, had an extraordinary career in which he lead the league in Runs Batted In four times, maxing out at 123 in 1910. He also led the league in batting average in 1910, hitting .334. Magee could also fly, stealing over 20 bases ten times, including 55 in 1906. He could run down fly balls like no on else and was known for his stellar defense as well. Sherry Magee was a superstar of the deadball era, always giving 100% with an intense passion for the game. Unfortunately, that passion sometimes turned to anger, and he once decked an umpire during an argument over a third strike call. It’s likely he wasn’t too popular with the press, which may explain his lack of a plaque in Cooperstown. In 1920, after an amazing 16 year career, he chose to play in the Minor Leagues instead, to avoid playing for the greedy owners he wanted nothing to do with. On the All-Time list of left-fielders, Sherry Magee is 15th in WAR, higher than Willie Stargell. The only players above him that are not in the Hall of Fame are Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds and Pete Rose.

#6 Scott Rolen

Scott Rolen & Albert Pujols After The 2006 World Series

For many, Scott Rolen is a borderline candidate but if you dig deeper into the numbers, he seems like a shoe-in for me. Rolen is a Rookie of the Year who was elite for over a decade offensively and defensively. He won an incredible 8 Gold Glove Awards, more than any third baseman in history besides Nolan Arenado, Mike Schmidt and Brooks Robinson. Rolen also made 7 All Star Teams and won a Silver Slugger. Statistically, he is in the top 10 WAR All Time list for Third Basemen. Every eligible player above him is in the Hall of Fame. He was also fantastic during the 2006 World Series, hitting .421 with 3 doubles and a home run, helping the Cardinals bring a ring to St. Louis. The bottom line with Rolen is, he was one of the best defensive third baseman in the game for well over a decade while being a premiere hitter, retiring with a .281 batting average and over 300 home runs. If Ozzie Smith can get in on his defense alone, how is Scott Rolen being held out?

#5 Todd Helton

Statistically, Todd Helton is a Hall of Famer. He hit .316 for his entire career with an On-Base-Percentage of .414 and over 2,500 hits to go along with 3 Gold Gloves, 4 Silver Sluggers and 5 All Star Selections. In 2000, he had an unbelievable season, hitting .372 with 147 RBIs, 216 hits and 42 home runs. Looking at Career OPS, he is incredibly 23rd on the All Time List, not just for first basemen, but for every MLB Player ever. His OPS is higher than Willie Mays. Enough said. How is he not in the Hall of Fame? The only explanation is he is being kept out because he played his entire career at Coors Field, which is absolutely insane. Major League Baseball has a team in Denver. This is where they play their home games. Besides, Helton hit .287 and 187 home runs on the road and was a dangerous hitter no matter where the game was being played. Furthermore, his teammate Larry Walker was recently inducted. Yes, Helton was much better at home, but to me, the bottom line is he had a Hall of Fame career and was among the best in the game during his career on both sides of the ball and he should have a plaque in Cooperstown.

#4 Keith Hernandez

Perhaps the best defensive first baseman in the history of the game played for 17 years, collected over 2,100 hits and retired with a batting average of .296 and on base percentage of .384. Keith Hernandez also won an insane 11 Gold Gloves. Just on those facts alone, he should be in the Hall of Fame. However, let’s add a few more facts. Hernandez made 5 All Star Teams, won 2 Silver Sluggers, 2 World Series rings and even a National League MVP Award in 1979 when he hit .344 while leading the league in doubles. It is truly unbelievable that Hernandez never received more than 10.4% of the vote on the Hall of Fame Ballot. He has a better career WAR than fellow first basemen David Ortiz, Harmon Killebrew and Orlando Cepeda. This is one of the most baffling cases I’ve ever seen as far Hall of Fame snubs go. He may not have been the most likable player ever, but the stats speak for themselves. Keith Hernandez should be in the Hall of Fame.

#3 Andruw Jones

Similar to Todd Helton and Keith Hernandez, Andruw Jones was elite on both sides of the ball. The difference is, he smashed over 430 home runs along the way. How does a player who won 10 Gold Gloves and hit 430 home runs not get enshrined into Cooperstown? In the mid 2000’s, broadcasters were already referring to Jones as “the future Hall of Famer.” He had by 2007 won his 10th Gold Glove and averaged 33 bombs a year over the previous 11 years. There is no doubt if he had retired after 2007 or 2008, he would have already been inducted. Unfortunately, his career went on and Jones struggled with injuries, stringing together 5 mediocre years to finish off his career. Those 5 years are apparently all the voters remembered. The fact is Andruw Jones had more Defensive Wins Above Replacement than any outfielder in the history of the game – including Willie Mays. When you add that to the fact that he retired with 434 home runs, the decision is easy. Jones also finished 2nd for MVP in 2005 and would have easily won it if not for an All-Time season by Albert Pujols.

#2 Curt Schilling

Although I can’t pretend Curt Schilling is without controversy, he was never banned from the game and was never suspected, as far as I know, of PED usage. His career is almost without question Hall-of-Fame worthy. Schilling struck out over 3,100 batters during his 20 year career that included 6 All Star Selections and 2 seasons where he led the league in wins. However, his best moments came during the postseason. Schilling is both an NLCS and World Series MVP and had historic moments with both the Red Sox and Diamondacks. He had a career 11-2 Postseason record with a remarkable 2.23 ERA. If Schilling’s regular season performance doesn’t get him in, his postseason performance should easily take him over the top. However, his controversial comments and opinions since his retirement have appeared to keep him out. I know many out there believe he should be kept out because of some of his statements, but he earned his plaque in the Hall of Fame, which celebrates his baseball career. It is not the Hall of Wonderful People or the Hall of People Who Never Say Controversial Stuff On Twitter. Political and religious opinions should not change the fact that Curt Schilling is a Hall of Famer

#1 Fred McGriff

My #1 Hall of Fame Snub of all time is the Crimedog, Fred McGriff. McGriff played right smack dab in the middle of the steroid era and stayed clean. Does he get rewarded for hitting 493 home runs with a .284 career average while resisting the temptation to roid up? Negative. If he had hit a mere 7 more home runs, would have gotten in because voters are not smart enough to understand that a number ending in zeroes is objectively no more important than any other number? Probably so. In fact, if there was no strike in 1994, he would have easily surpassed 500. Fred McGriff consistently hit 30+ home runs and 100 RBIs year after year after year. He finished his career with huge numbers including 2,490 hits and 1,550 RBI. Not one player who isn’t connected to steroids hit more home runs and drove in more runs during the 90’s. McGriff also hit .303 with 10 bombs and 37 RBI in the postseason, helping the Braves win it all in 1995. McGriff was also a class act, great with the fans, polite with the media and never seemed to have an enemy. If the voters insist on not voting for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens because of steroids, then don’t they have to give more credit to those who stayed clean and still put up Hall of Fame numbers albeit not bloated and video game numbers.. because he didn’t do steroids! Fred McGriff is my easy #1 Hall of Fame of all time and it makes me feel literally sick that he fell off the ballot. Veteran’s Committee, do the right thing and put Fred McGriff in the Hall of Fame.

There you have it for my Top 10 Hall of Snubs of all time, not counting Steroid and Banned players. Feel free to yell at me in the comment section down below about who I left off or who I put on who is obviously not a Hall of Famer. And of course, how I know nothing about baseball and lost all credibility. Thank you all so much for your amazing support; hit that thumbs up button and have a fantastic day.

August 22, 2022

Erik Reyes

mlb

The 10 WORST Umpire Blown Calls in MLB HISTORY...

August 22, 2022

Erik Reyes

mlb

Although many MLB fans including myself constantly complain about umpires and their inconsistency, the truth is most games are not won or lost by poor officiating. However, there have been a handful of horrible calls that occurred in huge moments that almost certainly changed the outcome of historic moments. Today, we are going to count down the 10 worst umpire blunders in MLB history – calls that happened on a huge state in gigantic moments – calls that the umpire absolutely had to get right – but that somehow were completely blown

Reggie Jackson allows the ball to hit his hip to impede the double play.

#10. Mr. October Finds a Way

It was game 4 of the 1978 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees. The Dodgers were looking good, up in the series 2-1 and leading the game itself 3-1 in the bottom of the 6th. However, the Yankees had a bit of a rally going with Thurman Munson on 2nd and Reggie Jackson at 1st. Lou Pinella hit a hot shot to shortstop where Bill Russell knocked it down then threw to second to start what looked like would be an inning ending double play.

Reggie Jackson, who was running from 1st to 2nd, stuck out his hip, interfering with the ball, knocking it off its trajectory to prevent the double play. Shockingly, umpire Frank Pulli did not call interference and Thurman Munson was allowed to score. From there, the Dodgers never recovered from the blown call and went on to lose the game and series.

#9. A Sticky Situation

No umpire blunder list would be complete without the classic pine tar incident. It was July 24th, 1983 and George Brett came to the plate with the Royals down by 1 in the top of the 9th inning with 2 outs and a runner on base. He smashed a home run, giving the Royals the lead – until he didn’t. Yankees manager Billy Martin complained to the umpires about the pine tar on Brett’s bat and, incredibly, Brett was called out because the pine tar was too high.

To make this call after the home run had been hit and take away a home run of that magnitude because of pine tar is insane and the American League did eventually overturn the call, saying that the intent of the rule has nothing to do with affecting a home run and that the call has to be made before the at bat anyway, not after. The rule is so that pine tar wouldn’t get on the baseball. The ending of the game was replayed, and the Royals won, meaning the call didn’t affect wins and losses but it is a historic blown call that did prevent managers from ever again trying to get a home run reversed on account of pine tar.

Phil Cuzzi had the best possible angle on this ball that he called foul.

#8. It’s Foul Cuzzi Said So.

It was October 9th, 2009, Game 2 of the American League Division Series. The Twins were holding their own against the Yankees, tied up in the 11th inning. A Twins victory would tie the series up, with Game 3 in Minnesota. Joe Mauer led off the bottom of the 11th and drove a line drive down the left field line. It ticked off Melky Cabrera’s glove and landed in fair territory. Melky was in fair territory when he tried to catch it. Joe Cuzzi was right there to make the call since this was the playoffs and umpires were also stationed on each outfield line. Incredibly, he blew the call.

The Twins were denied the winning run in scoring position to start the inning. Instead, Mauer singled but was stranded at third and then Mark Teixeira hit a game winning home run for the Yankees in the bottom of the 11th. The Yankees went on the win the ALDS and eventually the World Series.

#7 Yes! No! This Game is Tied

It was game 3 of the 1977 NLCS featuring the Dodgers and Phillies. The Phillies were up 5-4 in 9th, looking to take a 2-nothing lead in the series. However, the Dodgers had the tying run at third base with 2 outs. Davey Lopes hit a grounder to third, which bounced off Mike Schmidt towards shortstop Larry Bowa. Bowa made a phenomenal barehanded play to get the runner and 1st.. Or did he?

Bill Froemming took the game from the Phillies by calling the runner safe, and the Dodgers were able to win it on a base hit by Bill Russell. The Dodgers went on to win the series. Replay shows the runner was clearly out and the Phillies should have gone up 2-0 in the series.

#6 MLB Meets WWE

It was game 2 of what would turn out to be one of the greatest world series of all time – the 1991 Fall Classic between the Braves and Twins. In a one run game the Braves Ron Gant ripped a base hit and took a nice turn around first. Twins Pitcher Kevin Tapani made a quick throw over, but Gant made it back safely.

Then, it appeared that Hrbek illegally pulled Gant off the bag. Umpire Drew Coble, however, saw that Gant’s momentum took him past the bag. Did a professional 26-year-old athlete over run the bag and fall over or did Herbk help him off the bag while applying the tag. You make the decision. For me, this was a blown call that may have helped the Twins win this game by one run and go on to win the series in 7 games.

#5. Eric Gregg’s Wide Zone

On October 12th, 1997, the Marlins and Braves played Game 5 on the National League Championship Series and in this example, home plate umpire Eric Gregg didn’t blow one call, rather several as his strike zone was insanely wide throughout the night, especially in favor of Marlins pitcher Livan Hernandez. It wasn’t simply a matter of hitters needing to expand their zones – these pitches were at least a foot or more off the plate, not a few inches.

“I’m so damn mad I can’t even see right now,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. “I know I swung at a couple of pitches that were a foot outside. I asked Eric if they were strikes, and he said yes. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Fred McGriff, who took a curveball a foot and a half off the plate to end the game, said. “You couldn’t even hit some of those pitches.”

Livan Hernandez struck out 15 batters that day and he wasn’t even a strikeout pitcher. His next highest total in a game in his 17 career is 11 and he averaged 5.6 per 9 in his career. The Marlins won this game 2-1 and went on to win the series.

#4 Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures

For this blown call, we go all the way back to 1975 with the Reds taking on the Red Sox in the World Series. It was the 10th inning and the Reds Cesar Gerenimo led off the inning with a single. Ed Armbrister pinch hit with the objective of laying down a sac bunt. However, his bunt was weak and only bounced a few inches in front of the plate, giving catcher Carlton Fisk a chance to gun down the lead runner at 2nd. Armbrister decided not to run to 1st, instead hanging out near the plate, impeding Fisk’s throw to 2nd. Fisk had to maneuver around Armbrister and ended up making an errant throw,– and instead of making the obvious call of interference, the umpire allowed the runners to advance to 2nd and 3rd. Joe Morgan singled in the winning run and the Reds won the game and eventually the series.

#3 The Assist of the Game – Jeffrey Maier

In Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, the Baltimore Orioles were looking to take down the Yankees in New York. They were hanging on to 1 run lead in the bottom of the 8th inning with nobody on base. That’s when Derek Jeter hit a deep fly ball to right field. Tony Tarasco was camped underneath it ready to make the catch when a fan reached out and took the ball right from him.

What is most unbelievable about this blown call is that it was the playoffs and there was a right field umpire who had a clear view of 12-year old Jeffrey Maier’s glove reaching down onto the field and literally taking the ball directly from Tarasco’s glove. The extra umpires are there because these games are so vital that in a case such as this, the umpires are there to make the correct call. Instead, the call was blown, the Yankees tied the game and went on to win it along with the series.

#2. Almost Perfect

Even though this next call didn’t change who won the World Series and didn’t even happen in the playoffs, it did take a once-in a lifetime moment away from a pitcher who would never get another chance like this again. Armando Galarraga was pitching for the Detroit Tigers on June 2nd, 2010. He had spent much of the season in Triple A and was trying to prove he belonged in the majors. On this day, his stuff was working. Galarraga threw 8 2/3rds perfect innings and needed one more out to become immortal – he had a chance to do something that had only happened 20 times before through nearly 150 years of baseball history – he was about to throw a perfect game. Then, it actually happened and he got to make the final out himself when he tagged first base ahead of the runner… but Jim Joyce called him safe.

How Jim Joyce blew this call, with a perfect angle and view and an understanding how big the situation was, I’ll never undersand. He was regretful afterwards and both Galaragga and Joyce handled the situation with immense class. I can’t say i would’ve been as professional as Galarraga was. This call clearly and without a doubt took away a perfect game – a one brilliant moment – away from an otherwise average career.

#1. Don Denkinger Blows It

If there was one call in baseball history that almost certainly cost a team a world series trophy, this was it. It was Game 6 of 1985 world series in Kansas City between the Royals and Cardinals. The Cards were up by a run and 3 outs away from the ring with nobody on and nobody out in the 9ht inning. Jorge Orta hit a routine groundball to first baseman Jack Clark for what appeared to be the first out of the inning.. until umpire Don Denkinger shockingly called the runner safe.

The Cardinals had made the out by a full step and somehow, in the 9th inning of the world series, the umpire blew this call. The Cardinals were affected and without a doubt, couldn’t get their minds passed the blown call. They were visibly frustrated, started to make mistakes and ended up losing the game. The next day, they still didn’t seem over it as the Royals beat up on St. Louis 11-0, taking home the world series championship. Although the Cardinals can be blamed for not keeping their cool after this blown call, it still has to be #1 as it happened on the biggest stage in 9th inning and was not even a close play.

There you have ti for the 10 worst umpire blunders in history. There have been many many more that didn’t make this list; feel free to add more in that comments section down below. Fellow Giants fans, I didn’t forget the Wilmer Flores check swing to end the 2021 season Nor the Rob Drake fiasco to end the 2020 season, but trying to be non-biased, I didn’t quite think they belonged in a 10 worst of all-time list.