Donald Anton Denkinger (born August 28, 1936 in Cedar Falls, Iowa) is a former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1968 to 1998. In his final season, he and fellow umpire Larry Barnett tied Tommy Connolly's record for the longest service in AL history at 31 years; Barnett surpassed the record the following year. Denkinger wore uniform number 11. He is best remembered for a controversial call he made at 1st base in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series August 28 is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Location of Cedar Falls, Iowa Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa and is home to one of Iowas three Public Universities, the University of Northern Iowa. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Home plate umpire Gary Darling signals that the last pitch was a strike In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and meting out discipline. ... American League The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1968 throughout the world. ... This year in baseball 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 5 - Don Sutton, a 324-game winner is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his fifth try. ... Lawrence Robert Barnett (born January 3, 1945 in Nitro, West Virginia) is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1999 before becoming the major leagues supervisor of umpires in 2000-2001. ... Thomas Henry Connolly (December 31, 1870 - April 28, 1961) was an Anglo-American umpire in Major League Baseball. ... The 1985 World Series, popularly known as the Show-Me Series and the I-70 showdown Series, pitted the National League champion St. ...

Career

Denkinger attended Wartburg College, where he was on the wrestling team. He became interested in umpiring while serving in the Army from 1957 to 1959. He began umpiring in the minor leagues in 1960, joined the AL staff in September 1968, and became an AL crew chief in 1977. Denkinger was one of the first American League umpires to switch from the outside chest protector to the inside chest protector, which was used in the National League for decades before finally being adopted in the AL in the late 1970s. All umpires who entered the AL starting in 1977 had to use the inside protector; AL umpires on staff prior to 1977 were grandfathered and could continue to use the outside protector. Wartburg College is a selective four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Waverly, Iowa. ... FILA Greatest Wrestler of 20th Century (Greco-Roman) Alexander Karelin throws Olympian Jeff Blatnick with his Karelin Lift Andrell Durden (top) and Edward Harris grapple for position during the All-Marine Wrestle Offs. ... The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1977 throughout the world. ... In the United States, a grandfather clause is an exception which allows something pre-existing to remain as it is, despite a change to the contrary in the rules applied to newer situations. ...

He umpired in four World Series: 1974, 1980, 1985 and 1991, serving as crew chief the latter two years. Denkinger also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1971, 1976 and 1987, calling balls and strikes for the last game. He officiated in six American League Championship Series (1972, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1988, 1992), serving as crew chief in 1975, 1988 and 1992, and in the 1981 and 1995 AL Division Series. He was the home plate umpire for the one-game playoff that decided the AL's Eastern Division champion in 1978; the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox. For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... The 1974 World Series matched the two-time defending champion Oakland Athletics against the Los Angeles Dodgers. ... haha ... The 1985 World Series, popularly known as the Show-Me Series and the I-70 showdown Series, pitted the National League champion St. ... Dates October 19, 1991–October 27, 1991 MVP Jack Morris (Minnesota) Television network CBS Announcers Jack Buck, Tim McCarver Umpires Don Denkinger (AL), Harry Wendelstedt (NL), Drew Coble (AL), Terry Tata (NL), Rick Reed (AL), Ed Montague (NL) The 1991 World Series was played from October 19 to October 27... The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the Midsummer Classic, is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by fan vote for the starting position players and by the manager (the managers from the previous years... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 31 - The new Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement to the Hall of Fame: former players Dave Bancroft, Jake Beckley, Chick Hafey, Harry Hooper, Joe Kelley, Rube Marquard, and executive George Weiss. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series (ALCS), played in October, is a playoff round that determines the winner of the American League pennant. ... The 1972 American League Championship Series took place between October 7 and October 12 of 1972. ... The 1975 American League Championship Series faced the Boston Red Sox and the 3-time defending world champion Oakland Athletics for the right to advance to the 1975 World Series. ... The 1979 American League Championship Series was a best-of-five series that pitted the Eastern Division Champion Baltimore Orioles against the Western Division Champion California Angels. ... The 1982 American League Championship Series was played between the Milwaukee Brewers and the California Angels from October 5 to October 10, 1982. ... The 1988 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven series that pitted the Eastern Division Champion Boston Red Sox against the Western Division Champion Oakland Athletics. ... The 1992 American League Championship Series was played between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics from October 7 to October 14, 1992. ... The 1981 American League Division Series matched the Oakland Athletics against the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees against the Milwaukee Brewers to determine the winners of the two divisions. ... The 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 1995 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Sunday, October 8, with the champions of the three AL divisions – along with a wild card team – participating in two best-of-five series. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1978 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, 42 Name Boston Red Sox (1908–present) Boston Americans (1901-1907) Ballpark Fenway Park (1912–present) Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds (1901-1911) Major league titles World Series titles (6) 2004...

He is one of seven umpires who have worked in two perfect games; he was the second-base umpire for Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981, and the first-base umpire for Kenny Rogers' perfect game on July 28, 1994. He was also the home plate umpire for Nolan Ryan's sixth no-hitter on June 11, 1990. Pitcher David Cone (left) of the New York Yankees reacting to the completion of his perfect game with catcher Joe Girardi on July 18, 1999. ... Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955 in Fort Knox, Kentucky), better known as Len Barker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (136th in leap years). ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1981 throughout the world. ... Kenneth Scott Rogers (born November 10, 1964 in Savannah, Georgia) is a left-handed American Major League Baseball pitcher who has played for six Major League Baseball teams since his rookie year in 1989. ... July 28 is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the events of the year 1994 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // This year in baseball Events January 9 - Jim Palmer, a three-time American League Cy Young Award winner, and Joe Morgan, a two-time National League MVP, are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America in their first years of eligibility. ...

Despite his long career, Denkinger is probably best remembered for a controversial call he made at first base in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series (see "The Call" below). Denkinger called Kansas City Royals player Jorge Orta safe at first; television replays showed that the throw had beaten Orta to the bag. The Royals went on to defeat the Cardinals and then win Game 7, becoming World Champions. The 1985 World Series, popularly known as the Show-Me Series and the I-70 showdown Series, pitted the National League champion St. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... Jorge Orta (b. ...

The Call

Jorge Orta of the Kansas City Royals is called safe by Don Denkinger in the 9th inning in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series.

The widely discussed play in the 1985 World Series remains one of the most memorable moments in Series history. It was Game 6 (October 26), with the St. Louis Cardinals leading the Kansas City Royals 3 games to 2. The Cardinals had taken a 1-0 lead on an 8th-inning single by little-used backup catcher Brian Harper after Danny Cox (of the Cardinals) and Charlie Leibrandt (of the Royals) had battled tit-for-tat all game long. Ironically, it was a blown call in the 4th inning that cost the Royals a potential run and put them in the hole when Frank White was mistakenly called out after stealing second, and the next batter, Pat Sheridan, got a hit. Todd Worrell was now in the game for the Cardinals in the 9th inning, facing Jorge Orta for the Royals. Orta hit a slow roller to first baseman Jack Clark, who tossed to Worrell covering first base. First-base umpire Denkinger called Orta safe, but later replays and photographs showed he was clearly out by a step. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The 1985 World Series, popularly known as the Show-Me Series and the I-70 showdown Series, pitted the National League champion St. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... Brian David Harper (born October 16, 1959 in Los Angeles, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for teams in both the American and National Leagues during his 16-year career (1979 - 1995). ... Danny Bradford Cox, born September 21, 1959 in Northampton, England, was a former Major League Baseball pitcher. ... Charlie Leibrandt (born October 4, 1956 in Chicago) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 14 years from 1979 to 1993 for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. ... Frank White, Jr. ... Patrick Arthur Sheridan (born December 4, 1957 in Ann Arbor, Michigan), is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1981, 1983-1989, and 1991. ... Todd Roland Worrell (born September 28, 1959 in Arcadia, California) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the St. ... Jorge Orta (b. ... Jack Anthony Clark (born November 10, 1955 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania), also known as “Jack the Ripper”, is a former Major League Baseball player. ...

According to Denkinger, he got too close to the play, first looked at Worrell's glove, and a second later looked at Orta's foot. Many Cardinals fans blamed the loss on Denkinger's call, but the Cardinals made a number of mistakes that enabled the Royals to stay in the game and win. In the next at-bat, Clark misplayed an easy foul pop-up by batter Steve Balboni. Instead of popping out, Balboni singled on the next pitch, and Onix Concepcion came in to pinch-run. With runners on first and second, Jim Sundberg then bunted into a force play at third. Catcher Darrell Porter then allowed a passed ball, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Pinch-hitter Hal McRae was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Dane Iorg knocked a bloop single to right that scored Concepcion and Sundberg, who avoided Porter's tag at the plate to score the winning run. Steve Balboni was a professional baseball player with tremendous home run power and a tendency to strike out frequently. ... Onix Cardona Concepcion Cardona (Born October 5, 1957) in Dorado, Puerto Rico, is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop. ... James Howard Sundberg (born May 18, 1951 in Galesburg, Illinois) is a former professional baseball catcher for a number of teams, most significantly the Texas Rangers. ... Darrell Ray Porter (January 17, 1952 – August 5, 2002) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball, and one of the first American professional athletes to publicly admit he had a problem with substance abuse. ... In baseball, a catcher shall be charged with a passed ball when he fails to hold or to control a legally pitched ball which should have been held or controlled with ordinary effort, thereby permitting a runner or runners to advance. ... Harold Abraham McRae (born July 10, 1945 in Avon Park, Florida) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1968, 1970-72) and Kansas City Royals (1973-87). ... Dane Iorg (Born May 11, 1950 in Eureka, California) is a retired Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder. ...

Shortly after the game, Denkinger found Commissioner Peter Ueberroth waiting for him in front of the umpires' room. Denkinger asked Ueberroth if he had gotten the call right. Ueberroth shook his head from side to side, and said, "No, you didn't." In 1920, the owners of Major League Baseball, in order to reestablish confidence of fans in the sport following the Black Sox Scandal, established the office of Commissioner of Baseball. ... Ueberroth (front right) watches President Ronald Reagan throw the first pitch prior to a game. ...

See also: 1985_World_Series#Game_6

The 1985 World Series, popularly known as the Show-Me Series and the I-70 showdown Series, pitted the National League champion St. ...

Game 7

As crew chief of the 1985 World Series umpiring unit, Denkinger was scheduled to work behind home plate umpire in Game 7, a fact that further upset the Cardinals and manager Whitey Herzog. Some observers suggested that the presence of Denkinger behind the plate affected the Cardinals' gameplay, as ace pitcher John Tudor got out to a terrible start, giving up five earned runs and four walks in only 2 1/3 innings. Todd Worrell would later compare the idea of Don Denkinger working behind home plate to putting a stick of dynamite back there and lighting it. Whitey Herzog (born November 9, 1931) is a former major league baseball player and manager. ... John Tudor (born February 2, 1954 in Schenectady, NY) is a baseball player. ... Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth (kieselguhr) as an adsorbent. ...

The Cardinals made their frustrations clear throughout the game. ABC television cameras caught Herzog screaming and belittling Denkinger from the Cardinals' dugout throughout the contest. Pitcher Joaquín Andújar -- who gave up four runs in 3 2/3 innings -- exploded twice over Denkinger's calls at the plate, finally being ejected with Herzog after a heated argument over Denkinger's strike zone. Herzog even went so far as to directly tell Denkinger that had he gotten "the call" right in Game 6, the Cardinals wouldn't have been subjected to a seventh game in the first place. In the immediate aftermath of his meltdown, Andújar smashed a toilet in the Cardinals' clubhouse. This came after Tudor (out of frustration from his disastrous performance) punched an electric fan with his pitching hand, cutting it. The Cardinals completely self-destructed as Kansas City would go on to win Game 7 in an 11-0 blowout, taking home their first and only World Series Trophy. The Royals' Bret Saberhagen won the World Series MVP as Kansas City took home the rings. The American Broadcasting Company ( oftenly known as ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... Pitcher Joaquín Andújar, with the Astros Joaquín Andújar [an-DOO-har] (born December 21, 1952 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Houston Astros (1976-81, 1988), St. ... The 2004 World Series Trophy The World Series Trophy is awarded each year by Major League Baseball to the team winning the World Series. ...

Life after The Call

In the immediate aftermath of the 1985 World Series debacle, Denkinger received many hateful letters (and even death threats) from Cardinals fans. Two St. Louis disc jockeys went so far as to reveal Denkinger's telephone number and home address. At one point, Denkinger pulled up to his house to find a police car in the driveway of his Waterloo, Iowa home. Denkinger claimed that the letters continued on through 1987 (before Denkinger got into contact with Major League Baseball Security, who in turn contacted the FBI), when the Cardinals were ramping up for another World Series appearance. The breaking point for Denkinger was when he received a particularly menacing letter (with no return address) in which the writer tells that if he sees Denkinger in person, he would "blow him away" with a .357 Magnum. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... For other meanings of DJ, see DJ (disambiguation). ... Waterloo is the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), serving as both a federal criminal investigative body and a domestic intelligence agency. ... 1987 World Series Logo The 1987 World Series was played from October 17 to October 25, 1987 between the Minnesota Twins and the St. ... Marlin Model 1894C — a carbine in . ...

Ironically, the strongest part of his career likely followed the 1985 events; two years later, he was behind the plate for the All-Star Game, and he was again named crew chief for the 1988 ALCS, 1991 World Series, and 1992 ALCS. He is one of only four umpires to have been selected as crew chief for the ALCS three times. The 1988 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven series that pitted the Eastern Division Champion Boston Red Sox against the Western Division Champion Oakland Athletics. ... Dates October 19, 1991–October 27, 1991 MVP Jack Morris (Minnesota) Television network CBS Announcers Jack Buck, Tim McCarver Umpires Don Denkinger (AL), Harry Wendelstedt (NL), Drew Coble (AL), Terry Tata (NL), Rick Reed (AL), Ed Montague (NL) The 1991 World Series was played from October 19 to October 27... The 1992 American League Championship Series was played between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics from October 7 to October 14, 1992. ...

More than 20 years after the fateful events in Kansas City in October 1985, Denkinger has regularly appeared at sports memorabilia shows (including ones in St. Louis) willing to autograph photos depicting "The Call." Denkinger even owns a painting featuring himself, Todd Worrell and Jorge Orta involved in the play. In September 2005, he was a guest speaker at a 20th anniversary dinner celebrating the Cardinals' 1985 team, benefitting the Whitey Herzog Youth Foundation. Kauffman Stadium (formerly Royals Stadium) is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. ...

External links

• BaseballLibrary.com - profile and list of articles
• St. Louis Sports Online: "Hey! Somebody's Gotta Like the Guy..." - 1998 article on Denkinger's retirement, defending his career