Don Denkinger

Donald Anton Denkinger (born August 28, 1936 in Cedar Falls, Iowa) is a former umpire in Major League Baseball 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.

Related Topics:
August 28 - 1936 - Cedar Falls, Iowa - Umpire - Major League Baseball - American League - 1968 - 1998 - Larry Barnett - Tommy Connolly

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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.

Related Topics:
Wartburg College - Wrestling - Army

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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) and in the 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.

Related Topics:
All-Star Game - American League Championship Series - 1972 - 1975 - 1992 - 1978 - New York Yankees - Boston Red Sox

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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.

Related Topics:
Perfect game - Len Barker - May 15 - 1981 - Kenny Rogers - July 28 - 1994 - Nolan Ryan - June 11 - 1990

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He umpired in four World Series: 1974, 1980, 1985 and 1991, serving as crew chief the latter two years. He is widely remembered – and reviled by St. Louis Cardinals fans – for a call he made at first base in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series. 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. (In an episode of its The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... series, ESPN Classic examined why Denkinger's call was actually not responsible for the Cardinals losing the 1985 World Series.)

Related Topics:
World Series - 1974 - 1980 - 1985 - 1991 - St. Louis Cardinals - Call - Kansas City Royals - Jorge Orta - The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... - ESPN Classic

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