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.
After attending Wartburg College, where he was on the wrestling team, Denkinger first became interested in umpiring while serving in the Army from 1957 to 1959. He began his umpiring career in the minor leagues in 1960, and joined the AL staff in September 1968, becoming an AL crew chief in 1977.
He umpired in 4 World Series (1974, 1980, 1985 and 1991), serving as crew chief the last 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, calling Kansas City Royals player Jorge Orta safe although television replays showed the throw beating him to the bag. The Royals went on to defeat the Cardinals and then win Game 7, becoming World Champions.
Denkinger also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1971, 1976 and 1987, calling balls and strikes for the last game. He officiated in 6 American League Championship Series (1972, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1988, 1992) and in the 1995 AL Division Series, and was the home plate umpire for the 1-game playoff to decide the AL's Eastern Division champion in 1978, in which the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox.
He is one of seven umpires in history who have worked in two perfect games, having been 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.
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Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46
