Throughout Major League Baseball (MLB) history, there have been numerous controversial calls by umpires that have sparked debates among players, fans, and analysts alike. One of the most infamous mistakes occurred on June 2, 2010, when umpire Jim Joyce made a critical error during a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Joyce incorrectly ruled that Indians’ runner Jason Donald was safe at first base, denying Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. This glaring error not only marred a historic achievement but also highlighted the fallibility of human judgment in high-stakes situations.

Another notable blunder took place in the 1985 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals. In Game 6, umpire Don Denkinger made a controversial call at first base, where he incorrectly declared Royals’ batter Jorge Orta safe despite clear evidence that he was out. This misjudgment proved pivotal as the Royals went on to win the game and eventually the World Series, leaving Cardinals fans to wonder what might have been had the call been made correctly.

Additionally, the 1990 National League Championship Series featured a contentious call involving the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs. In a critical moment, umpire Bob Davidson missed a crucial call on a ground ball that should have been ruled as a hit, affecting the outcome of the game. Such decisions not only impact the immediate game but also the broader implications of a team’s playoff prospects.

These instances demonstrate how crucial accurate officiating is in maintaining the integrity of the game. While MLB has since implemented replay review systems to correct obvious errors, these historical blunders remain a stark reminder of the human element in sports and the ongoing quest for fairness and precision in baseball.