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                                                    Umpires are sure to be getting a whole lot more scrutiny in the future after Armando Galarraga's now-famous imperfect game. But there have been more blown calls than just the one by Jim Joyce. Here are 6 of the worst blown calls. If you have another please let us know and we will add it to the list. In all fairness, we will be featuring the best calls made in the past and when they happen in the future.

                                                    (1) June 2, 2010: Armando Galarraga's Imperfect Game

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                                                    The Call
                                                    The most famous blown call now it seems is the 27th out of Armando Galarraga's perfect game. Everyone knows the story: Routine ground ball, throw to first that beats the runner by half a step, and Jim Joyce calls him safe.

                                                    Joyce says that he knows he blew the call, and he feels terrible costing Galarraga a perfect game. Yet Selig won't do anything about it.

                                                    What this and these other calls prove is that baseball needs some kind of instant replay system not just for home runs, but for safe and out calls. Eventually maybe even balls and strikes. I wouldn't mind if robots and computers umpired our baseball games.


                                                    (2) Game 6, 1985 World Series: Don Denkinger

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                                                    Don Denkinger was the first base umpire in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series between the Cardinals and the Royals.

                                                    In the bottom of the 9th with the Royals down 1-0, Kansas City's first batter Jorge Orta hit a routine ground ball to short and Denkinger called Orta safe on the throw which from every replay angle beat him to the bag. After a lengthy argument involving both managers and several players, Denkinger refused to reverse his call and did not admit he was wrong until after meeting with Commissioner Peter Ueberroth after the game and watching the replay.

                                                    Kansas City went on to score 2 runs and won Game 6 2-1, pushing the series to 3-3.


                                                    (3) Game 1, 1996 American League Championship Series: Rich Garcia

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                                                    The Yankees were down 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th when the rookie shortstop Derek Jeter hit a long fly ball to right field. As Tony Tarasco went to the fence, a 12-year-old Yankee fan reached over the fence and grabbed the ball which is plainly fan interference. However, the right field umpire Rich Garcia called it a home run which tied the game 2-2.

                                                    The game ended with an 11th inning Yankees victory on a Bernie Williams walk-off home run and they went on to win the series 4-1.


                                                    (4) Game 163, 2007: Tim McClelland

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                                                    Colorado was down 8-6 to the Padres to begin the bottom of the 13th in the 163rd game of the 2007 season, but a timely triple by Matt Holliday tied it 8-8 with Holliday on 3rd and nobody out.

                                                    The Padres intentionally walked Todd Helton to bring Jamey Carroll to the plate. Carroll sent a line drive to right which was caught by Brian Giles. Holliday ran for home trying to beat Giles' throw.

                                                    The throw landed in front of the catcher Michael Barrett, who blocked the plate. Holliday slid and appeared to tag home. The Rockies won 3-2 on the delayed safe call by Tim McClelland.

                                                    Replay at the time showed that Holliday had never actually touched the plate, though. Holliday himself said he wasn't sure if he touched it, either.


                                                    (5) The Pine Tar Incident, 1983: Tim McClelland

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                                                    In a game in late July, 1983, the Royals were down a run 4-3 to the Yankees with a man on first and George Brett up to bat in the top of the 9th with 2 outs. Brett hit a walk-off home run off Goose Gossage which gave the Royals a 5-4 victory, or so he thought.

                                                    Billy Martin, who knew that George Brett used more pine tar on his bat than the rules said, went to home plate umpire Tim McClelland and demanded Brett's bat be inspected for pine tar. After a short delay, McClelland found pine tar extended several inches farther up the bat than the rules allowed.

                                                    Pine tar is used for gripping the bat and has no effect on a bat's hitting characteristics. The rulebook said the punishment for breaking the rule is to have the bat removed from the game. However, at the insistence of Billy Martin, McClelland nullified Brett's home run and called him out which ended the game. Livid, Brett ran out of the dugout at McClelland and had to be restrained.

                                                    The Royals lodged an official protest which was upheld by the commissioner. He stated that the rule against pine tar was that it made balls that came in contact with it unsuitable for pitching again, not that it made balls fly farther, and that McClelland was incorrect in ejecting Brett and nullifying the home run. When the game was resumed a month later, the Royals won 5-4.


                                                    (6) Game 4, 1999 American League Championsip Series: Tim Tschida

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                                                    Game 4 of the 1999 World Series was tarnished by an incident in the bottom of the 9th. Down 9-2, Boston hit a double play ball. Jose Offerman was on his way to second when he was allegedly tagged by Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch who then threw to first to complete the double play.

                                                    From replay, it was plain to see that Knoblauch missed the tag by feet but second base umpire Tim Tschida called him out. The game was delayed as Boston fans threw garbage on the field and players and the manager protested to the umpires. Tschida later admitted he blew this call.


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