To Call Safe or Out?

[jicecone]

20+ years ago I did a championship 15-16 yr Sr League Regional playoff in LI, NY. HR is hit in 5th and batter-runner misses 3b by at least 1 foot in distance. Other team appeals and I call him out for two outs. Two preceeding runners score. The team loses the game by 1 run and I am the goat. I need a police escourt out of town. First and last time ever. True story.

Two days later at association meeting I have two veterans umpires say that they would never take away a HR like that at that level. I told them they were wrong and stand by my calls. Four years later by chance, I am doing an 18 and over league and somehow get into a discussion with the players after the game about games in the past. They played on that team and told me all about the kid that missed the base and his hot tempered dad. They knew what was the right call and finding that out years latter made me feel good about sticking to my call and working hard to get it right.

Thats what it is about, looking in the mirror and knowing you did your best to get the call right. Tell the veterans to pound salt.

By the way, I have read just about every book and publication Papa C has published and I can't recall him ever advocating making the expected call for the situations you have mentioned.