Voting Station

Don Denkinger

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Scapegoat

The Resume

    (August 28, 1936-May 12, 2023)
    Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa
    American League Umpire from 1969 to 1998
    Most well known for a blown call during game six of the 1985 World Series
    Called Jorge Orta of the Kansas City Royals safe when he was clearly out on a play at first base, enabling the Royals to come back and win the game and the series against the Saint Louis Cardinals
    Umpired the 1974, 1980, 1985, and 1991 World Series
    The 1971, 1976, and 1987 All Star Games
    The 1972, 1975, 1979, 1982, and 1992 American League Championship Series

Why he might be annoying:

    He refused to admit his mistake for years despite incontrovertible photographic evidence that Orta was out.
    When Sports Illustrated took a poll of American League batters about different umpires and their strike zones, he was voted the worst in the league with one batter stating he didn't have a 'clue' what Denkinger's strike zone was even after years of experience with him as an umpire.
    After all this, when he retired, he was hired by the National League to supervise their umpires.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Even his biggest detractors never accused him of deliberate (as in gambling) dishonesty. Just incompetence, stupidity, and poor eyesight.
    Some jerks threatened his life and he had to have police officers parked outside of his house after a couple of jerk St. Louis DJ's gave out his home address and phone number over the air.
    He wrestled in college.
    He honorably served in the United States Army.
    He umpired for Len Barker's and Kenny Roger's perfect games and Nolan Ryan's sixth no-hitter.
    He now admits he was wrong and keeps a picture of the blown call to remind himself that no one is perfect.
    It's a seven game series and you can't point to one play and say that won it or lost it even if it's the worst call in the history of baseball. Which it was.

Credit: tom_jeffords


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 127 Votes: 38.58% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 90.91% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 36 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 95 Votes: 64.21% Annoying