What Was Your Worst Call...?

[Al]

I have one that I think will be hard to beat. But if anyone thinks they can top it I'd love to hear it.

It was the game for all the marbles. The game for the championship trophy, between the Mustangs and the Marlins. All the big shots were watching the game. The local newspaper reporter with her camera and pen was there as well. It was the bottom of the last inning with two Marlins on base. One on 2nd and one on 3rd. The Marlins were down by 4 runs and already had two outs so things didn't look to good for them. The batter hits a fairly hard bouncing ball toward third base. The 3rd basemen throws the ball home and the catcher stomps hardly on home plate. The girl running in from third retreats back to third. Because of the way the catcher stomped on home plate I thought for a second the bases must have been loaded. I quickly looked at the bases and saw girls on all three bases. I then called Out Game Over! At that moment my partner on the bases comes running in to tell me no one was being forced to home. I quickly realized the bases were loaded because the girls on 2nd and 3rd stayed there and the batter/runner has just got a single. I immediately yelled out 2 outs! The next play a slow roller ended the game. I felt like hiding when the administrator called me into the center of the field to thank me for doing a fine job as coach pitch umpire. I was surprised I got a nice response from the crowd, but sure learned to be more careful to know the base situation. ...Al

[SC Ump]

Game in the state AA championship series, with two excellent teams. One was Crescent High School, where the coach is already in the NFHS hall of fame, with 18 state titles in the last 26 years and a lifetime winning percentage of 91%.

His teams know the fundamentals. They can turn double plays like the pros. I'm in "B" on a routine 6-4-3. F6 flips to F4 who swipes at the base with her foot and misses by perhaps eight inches. I started to put my fist up, already turning toward first.

I then realize I saw a missed swipe at the bag and turn back towards second and sold it. "Safe, safe" with a pulled-the-foot, motion.

Turning back toward first - - ut, oh - - the play there was already over, by a step. I called safe but really didn't know.

The coach was upset and yelled about the call at second for quite a bit. He then said, "and what about that call at first, you had SAFE? There no way." I just confirmed that I did have safe. He just shook his head and walked away.

While changing after the game, my partner and I discussed and he thought the girl at first was definitely out. When we came out of the room we where changing in, the coach was talking with the state director, who later told me the coach did not even mention the call (even though she, the director, thought I blew it, too.)

In front of the state director, all the coach said to us was, "Good game. I really appreciate you guys coming down. It's always great to have you here. Can I get y'all a hot dog or something to drink?"

That was about five years ago. Last week-end, I drove 2 hours just to umpire at a tournament at their complex. (With no travel pay, if you can imagine. ) There is always great ball and wonderful hospitality.

Same thing happened my second or third year of umpiring in an High School
Tournament. Ground ball to SS she is heading toward 2B so she taking the out herself but misses the base. I can't make a call until the runner reaches 2b so I wait, runner slides, sell safe. When I turn to first the play is over there and I didn't get a good look at it. Can't guess an out so I call safe. I had a long disscussion with the coach about the call at 2b. When he realises I am not backing down on the missed base he asks about the call at 1b.” The call is safe coach”. He leaves the field very unhappy. In hindsight I should have asked my partner for help with the call at 1b, but the coach never asked me to ask for help.

[mcrowder]

Working alone, 8U game, long long ago. The dirt around home is very slick, and as the batter hits a dribbler down the first base line, I slip, fall, get up and hustle down the line. It is rolling right on the line. No one is moving - neither the BR nor the fielders. When it finally stops right on the line, I simply point fair and wait for things to happen. At 8U, this happens at least once a game, right?

Well, in falling and recovering, I'd lost my bearings a bit. When the 1B coach pointed out that the line the ball was on was the outside of the running lane (the actual foul line had been obliterated), I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

[whiskers_ump]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Working alone, 8U game, long long ago. The dirt around home is very slick, and as the batter hits a dribbler down the first base line, I slip, fall, get up and hustle down the line. It is rolling right on the line. No one is moving - neither the BR nor the fielders. When it finally stops right on the line, I simply point fair and wait for things to happen. At 8U, this happens at least once a game, right?

Well, in falling and recovering, I'd lost my bearings a bit. When the 1B coach pointed out that the line the ball was on was the outside of the running lane (the actual foul line had been obliterated), I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

Now That Thar is funny. No 1 so far....

[Al]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Working alone, 8U game, long long ago. The dirt around home is very slick, and as the batter hits a dribbler down the first base line, I slip, fall, get up and hustle down the line. It is rolling right on the line. No one is moving - neither the BR nor the fielders. When it finally stops right on the line, I simply point fair and wait for things to happen. At 8U, this happens at least once a game, right?

Well, in falling and recovering, I'd lost my bearings a bit. When the 1B coach pointed out that the line the ball was on was the outside of the running lane (the actual foul line had been obliterated), I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

LOL...Mcrowder, that is one for the books! It makes me feel a lot better!
I think I'm gonna have a hard time looking down the first base line without thinking of that call. Thanks guys for telling us the things that one would rather not remember, much less talk about. The things we share like this will serve as a tool to help keep ourselves from making the same mistakes. Learning from others instead of the hard way. I know it will help me to keep my attention on the next call coming up when I have to sell a call somewhere else on the field. And remind me I have a partner that may be able to help, if I mess up and don't see a play. I just wonder if I'll ever get that call of yours out of my mind!...lol, Good stuff! I wish I could have been there... It's good to know even the best can have bad moments! Nothin like fun at the ole' ball park! Later, ...Al

[MNBlue]

My first 3-man game, with me at 1st. 18U National Qualifier with a team from California and a team from Illinois. Many moons ago. I was in way over my head. Runners at second and third, I'm in the B position. Hot grounder to short. She fields it cleanly and throws to first. I turn to first to make the call. But wait! Where's the ball? She didn't throw the ball to first, but faked me into looking for a call at first. Meanwhile, she also caught the runner at second doing pretty much the same thing as me and threw back to second, catching her off base. I, however, didn't have the privilege of seeing this great play. Fortunately for me, the BU at third realized I was in the twilight zone and came up really strong with an out call. Didn't hear a word from anyone until after the game, when it was my turn to buy the beer.

Lessons learned:

You learn lessons much better when you screw something up. Hopefully, no one gets unduly penalized.
Watch the ball!!!!
Work with good partners. When you can't, be aware of what your partners may be missing.
Watch the ball some more!!!!
Good players do what they should do, better players will do things the opponent isn't expecting.
Watch the ball!!!!

[MichaelVA2000]

I'm BU and the home team coach has been chirping about a couple of close call made by my partner and myself that didn't go his way. I'd already heard "that's one Blue!" After the second close call I hear "C'mon Blue, that two that's been missed!" I tell the coach to knock it off and I don't want to hear the word three come out of his mouth. A couple innings later with a runner on first, batter gets a base hit and there is a close play on R1 at third where my partner calls her safe. As the next batter is stepping into the batter's box I hear the coach yelling from the home team dugout, three.....three....three!! I called time, went to the dugout and tossed the coach. Coach had much to say, but I'd moved out to the C position as my partner rodeo clowned him off the field. When I eject someone, they're dead...and I don't talk to dead people.

During our postgame chat my partner shares with me that the coach was actually calling out a set play they have for situations with runners on first and third. F6 (#3) comes into the diamond for a short throw from F2.

All I could say was, I warned him that I didn't want to hear the word three!

[Al]

Originally Posted by MichaelVA2000

I'm BU and the home team coach has been chirping about a couple of close call made by my partner and myself that didn't go his way. I'd already heard "that's one Blue!" After the second close call I hear "C'mon Blue, that two that's been missed!" I tell the coach to knock it off and I don't want to hear the word three come out of his mouth. A couple innings later with a runner on first, batter gets a base hit and there is a close play on R1 at third where my partner calls her safe. As the next batter is stepping into the batter's box I hear the coach yelling from the home team dugout, three.....three....three!! I called time, went to the dugout and tossed the coach. Coach had much to say, but I'd moved out to the C position as my partner rodeo clowned him off the field. When I eject someone, they're dead...and I don't talk to dead people.

During our postgame chat my partner shares with me that the coach was actually calling out a set play they have for situations with runners on first and third. F6 (#3) comes into the diamond for a short throw from F2.

All I could say was, I warned him that I didn't want to hear the word three!

LOL...That's is one for America's funniest home videos! That one and Mcrowder's! Ya know the one where the dirt around home was very slick, and the batter hit a dribbler down the first base line! I can still see him getting up from his fall and hustling down the line, wondering why no one is moving on the play. Then the ball stops right on the line so he points fair ball and waits for things to happen. After recovering from losing his bearings the 1B coach pointed out why no one was running on the play. The line the ball was on was the outside of the running lane. Funny stuff!....Yours and Mcrowders would no doubt be in the top three on Americas funniest home videos. Good one, thanks for sharing it! ...Al