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MLB's Playoff Controversies

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 26, 2006

MLB's Playoff Controversies

Stain on the Game

Kenny Rogers was caught with a dark smudge on his pitching hand by a FOX cameraman and later explained it away as a "clump of dirt." Rogers threw eight shutout innings to beat the Cardinals in Game 2 of the World Series.

Jackie Stole Home

Jackie Robinson stole home in the eighth inning of the 1955 World Series opener ... or did he? Film later showed he should have been called out. The Dodgers got a break, but they ended up losing the game to the Yankees anyway, 6-5.

Safe at Second

Indians ace Bob Feller picked off the Braves' Phil Masi from second base during the eighth inning of the World Series opener, but umpire Bill Stewart blew the call. Masi then scored the only run in the Braves' victory.

The Orioles led Game 5 of the World Series 3-0 when Mets manager Gil Hodges proved that a pitch thrown by Baltimore's Dave McNally had hit Cleon Jones in the foot. Hodges showed the umpire that there was shoe polish on the ball. Donn Clendenon, pictured left, followed with a crucial two-run home run in the Mets' 5-3 victory that clinched the Series.

The No Call

In the 10th inning of Game 3 of the epic Reds-Red Sox World Series, Cincy's Ed Armbrister laid down a bunt and interfered with catcher Carlton Fisk, whose errant throw went into center field. The play led to the winning run for Cincinnati.

Hefty Tag

The Braves had a rally going in Game 2 of the World Series when Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek pushed Ron Gant, who had just singled, off the first-base bag and tagged him out to end the inning.

Slap Happy

The Yankees trailed the Red Sox 4-2 in Game 6 when Alex Rodriguez hit a ground ball back to pitcher Bronson Arroyo in the eighth inning. Rodriguez was called safe after swiping the ball out of Arroyo's glove but was then ruled out after the umpires conferred. Boston held on for a 4-2 win and then ousted the Yankees in Game 7.

Not So Fast

Tied 1-1 in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the ALCS, the Angels and White Sox appeared headed to extra innings. But A.J. Pierzynski hustled to first base safely after swinging at strike three. He got a favorable ruling from home plate umpire Doug Eddings, who said that the ball had bounced off the dirt. One batter later, Joe Crede won the game for Chicago with a double.

Kid Gloves

In Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, 12-year-old Jeffrey Maier created a game-tying homer by Derek Jeter in the eighth inning when he reached out of the stands and grabbed a ball that was about to be caught by Baltimore's Tony Tarasco. Bernie Williams homered in the 11th to give New York a 5-4 victory.

From the Hip

In the sixth inning of Game 4 of the World Series, baserunner Reggie Jackson stuck out his hip and interfered with Bill Russell's throw to first base. A run scored as the ball caromed into right field and the Yankees ended up beating the Dodgers 4-3 and winning the Series in six games.

Blind Spot

The Cardinals were three outs away from clinching the World Series when umpire Don Denkinger incorrectly ruled K.C.'s Jorge Orta safe at first base to lead off the ninth inning. The Royals would win the game 2-1 and blow out St. Louis in Game 7.

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