Bad Calls That Fans Will Never, Ever Let Go

Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin

Before instant replay could settle most arguments with frame-by-frame precision, baseball was a sport where human judgment calls could alter history. From World Series-altering decisions to head-scratching moments that still spark debates at family reunions, these controversial calls remind us why baseball remains America’s most argued-about pastime. Let’s revisit the plays that still make fans light up social media and write lengthy blogs about how “The ump got it wrong!”

The Pine Tar Game: When George Brett’s Homer Nearly Started a Riot (1983)

When Yankees manager Billy Martin asked the umpires to measure the pine tar on George Brett’s bat (pictured) after a go-ahead ninth-inning homer in 1983, nobody expected what followed. Brett’s volcanic eruption after being called out for excessive pine tar became an instant classic. American League President Lee MacPhail later overturned the call, ruling that the spirit of the rules took precedence over their letter. He felt that the pine tar hadn’t added any distance to Brett’s homer.

Denkinger’s Nightmare: The Call That Changed the ’85 World Series

It was the call that haunted Don Denkinger for the rest of his career. With the Cardinals one win away from a World Series title, Jorge Orta was called safe at first base despite clearly being beaten by Todd Worrell’s foot on the bag by more than a step. The Royals rallied to win Game 6 and eventually the Series, while St. Louis fans still believe they were robbed of a championship. How bad was it? A St. Louis radio station gave Denkinger’s hotel room number.

Jeffrey Maier: The 12-Year-Old Fan Who Became Baseball’s Most Famous Interference (at the Time) (1996)

In Game 1 of the ALCS, 12-year-old Jeffrey Maier reached over the right-field wall and turned Derek Jeter’s fly ball into a game-tying home run. Right field umpire Rich Garcia missed the obvious fan interference, changing the course of the series. The Yankees went on to win their first World Series since 1978, while Orioles fans still wonder what might have been. He was the most notorious one … until a fellow that’s coming up in a few slides.

The Perfect Game That Wasn’t: Galarraga’s Heartbreak at First Base (2010)

With two outs in the ninth inning, Armando Galarraga was one out away from baseball immortality. First base umpire Jim Joyce called Cleveland’s Jason Donald safe at first, despite replays showing he was clearly out. The blown call cost Galarraga a perfect game, but the pitcher’s gracious response and Joyce’s heartfelt apology became a powerful lesson in sportsmanship and forgiveness.

The Infield Fly Rule That Wasn’t: Cardinals vs. Braves Wild Card Chaos (2012)

In the 2012 NL Wild Card game, left field umpire Sam Holbrook called an infield fly rule on a ball that landed 225 feet from home plate. The controversial call turned a potential Braves rally into an out, leading to a 19-minute delay as irate fans showered the field with debris. The Cardinals won the game, while the call remains a textbook example of questionable umpire judgment.

The Immaculate Reception’s Baseball Twin: A.J. Pierzynski’s Controversial Third Strike (2005)

Game 2 of the 2005 ALCS turned on a disputed dropped third strike that Angels catcher Josh Paul and his teammates swear never touched the ground. A.J. Pierzynski’s heads-up dash to first base was allowed to stand, leading to Chicago’s winning run. The White Sox rode that momentum all the way to their first World Series title in 88 years.

Reggie’s Hip Check: The World Series ‘Interference’ That Oakland Never Forgave (1978)

In Game 4 of the ’78 World Series, Reggie Jackson’s hip mysteriously found its way into Bill Russell’s throw, turning a potential double play into chaos. The umpires ruled no interference despite Tommy Lasorda’s furious protests, which were equally entertaining. The Yankees benefited from the call and went on to win their second straight World Series, while the Dodgers claimed Reggie knew exactly what he was doing. Steve Garvey even claimed that Jackson acknowledged it when they were at a casino together a few years later.

Kent Hrbek’s Wrestling Move: The Forced Pop-Up That Still Infuriates Braves Fans (1991)

Game 2 of the 1991 World Series featured what Braves fans still call “The Great Tag Team Match.” Kent Hrbek appeared to lift Ron Gant off first base while applying a tag, but umpire Drew Coble called Gant out. The play helped the Twins win a crucial home game in what became one of baseball’s greatest World Series.

Jackie Robinson’s Steal of Home: The Call Yogi Berra Argued Until His Final Days (1955)

Game 1 of the 1955 World Series gave us one of baseball’s most enduring arguments. Jackie Robinson’s dramatic steal of home was called safe by umpire Bill Summers, sending Yogi Berra into a legendary tirade. For the next 60 years, until his passing in 2015, Berra maintained Robinson was out, while Jackie always insisted he made it. The Yankee legend would even sign photos of the moment with “He was out!” The play symbolized Robinson’s daring style and remains one of baseball’s most debated calls.

Steve Bartman: When Fan Interference Changed Cubs History (2003)

Five outs from their first World Series since 1945, the Cubs watched their dreams unravel after Steve Bartman reached for a foul ball that left fielder Moises Alou might have caught. The umpires ruled no interference, despite Alou’s passionate protests. The incident became a symbol of the Cubs’ curse, though the team’s subsequent collapse had little to do with Bartman’s instinctive reach.

Chuck Knoblauch’s Phantom Tag: The Play That Helped Create Instant Replay Demands (1999)

In Game 4 of the 1999 ALCS, Chuck Knoblauch missed tagging Jose Offerman by at least a foot but got the out call anyway. The phantom tag became a rallying cry for instant replay advocates, with even Yankees fans admitting the call was clearly wrong. The play added fuel to the growing debate about using technology to assist umpires in crucial moments, though it would be another nine years before the game would implement it.

Three Feet Off the Bag: The Todd Helton ‘Out’ Call That Made Everyone Question Their Eyes (2012)

In a 2012 game against the Dodgers, first baseman Todd Helton caught a throw while standing several feet away from first base, yet somehow got the out call. The moment became an instant viral sensation, with replays showing Helton was well off the bag when he caught the ball. How far off? He could have been in a different area code. Umpire Tim Welke might have been caught daydreaming here.