Baseball is a game of precise rules, razor-thin margins, and split-second decisions. While players and coaches often make the headlines, umpires also play a massive role in the drama of the sport. And when those calls go wrong? Oh, they go spectacularly wrong. Controversial calls have fueled debates among fans for decades, turning games upside down and, in some cases, cementing their place in baseball history for all the wrong reasons.

Pull up a seat, grab a bag of peanuts, and relive some of the most jaw-dropping, frustrating, and memorable calls that left players, coaches, and fans fuming.

1. The "Imperfect" Game – Armando Galarraga (2010)

Imagine this: Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga is one out away from achieving baseball immortality—a perfect game. On what should’ve been the game-ending groundout, first base umpire Jim Joyce called Cleveland Indians batter Jason Donald safe. Replay showed it wasn’t even close—Donald was out by a mile.

The moment stunned fans and players alike. Galarraga took the blown call with incredible grace, even handing over the lineup card to Joyce the next day with a smile. Joyce later admitted his mistake, calling it “the biggest call of his career.” The aftermath sparked debates about instant replay in baseball, and it wasn’t long before Major League Baseball expanded its replay review system.

But for Galarraga? He’ll forever be remembered for throwing what fans now call the “Imperfect Game.”

2. The Pine Tar Incident (1983)

This one’s a juicy mix of controversy and comedy. During a game between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees, Royals third baseman George Brett blasted a two-run home run to put the Royals in the lead. Yankees manager Billy Martin wasn’t having it, and he rushed to the umpire to inspect Brett’s bat.

The issue? The pine tar—a sticky substance used by hitters to improve grip—extended too far up the handle, violating MLB rules. The umpires negated the home run and called Brett out, ending the game. That’s when Brett stormed out of the dugout in baseball’s most epic meltdown to date, charging the umpires with pure rage etched across his face.

Ultimately, the Royals protested, and the MLB later reversed the call, allowing the game to resume from where Brett’s homer left off. Moral of the story? Don’t mess with a man’s home run.

3. Don Denkinger’s World Series Blunder (1985)

Game 6 of the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals was a nail-biter. With the Cardinals leading the series 3-2, they were just three outs away from clinching the title. Then came umpire Don Denkinger’s infamous mistake.

Royals batter Jorge Orta hit a slow grounder to first base, and the throw easily beat him to the bag. Orta was clearly out—but Denkinger called him safe. TV replays confirmed the error, and chaos ensued. The Royals took advantage of the blown call, rallied to win Game 6, and then blew the Cardinals out in Game 7 for the championship.

Cardinals fans never forgave Denkinger, and the call remains a sore spot in St. Louis baseball lore. For Royals fans, though? It’s probably their favorite mistake in MLB history.

4. The Jeffrey Maier Play (1996)

Sometimes, controversial calls involve fans as much as the players. Enter Jeffrey Maier, a 12-year-old Yankees fan who unofficially became part of the action during Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS between the Yankees and the Orioles.

With the Yankees trailing in the eighth inning, Derek Jeter hit a deep fly to right field. Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco looked poised to catch it, but Maier reached over the wall and pulled the ball into the stands. Umpires ruled it a home run instead of fan interference, tying the game. You can guess how the Orioles felt about that.

The Yankees went on to win the game and eventually the series, while Maier became an instant celebrity among Yankee fans. For Orioles fans? It’s still a touchy subject and one of the most famous examples of “fan impact” in baseball.

5. The "Strike" That Wasn’t – Eric Gregg and Liván Hernández (1997)

The 1997 NLCS between the Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves was memorable for more than the baseball being played—it highlighted one of the most inexplicable strike zones in MLB history. Umpire Eric Gregg called pitches a mile outside the zone as strikes, helping Marlins pitcher Liván Hernández rack up a staggering 15 strikeouts in Game 5.

Braves hitters could do little but shake their heads in disbelief. One of Gregg’s most outrageous calls saw a pitch several inches outside called a strike, leaving Braves slugger Fred McGriff frozen at the plate. The Marlins won the game, and eventually the series, with Gregg’s strike zone often seen as a key reason.

The game remains a notorious example of bad umpiring, and it’s still brought up whenever fans discuss inconsistent officiating.

6. The Phantom Tag Play (1974)

Eliminating opponents with a tag is one of baseball’s fundamental plays—or at least, it’s supposed to be. During the 1974 ALCS, a crucial play at second base involved Yankees shortstop Mark Belanger attempting a tag on A’s runner Claudell Washington. Replays clearly showed Belanger missed the tag, but umpire Larry Barnett called Washington out anyway.

The Yankees protested, but the call stood, and the A’s went on to win the series. The “phantom tag” triggered debates about officiating fairness in postseason baseball, with many Yankees fans feeling the call changed the momentum of the game.

It wasn't just about one play; it became a symbol of how split-second judgment can shape an entire series.

7. Jim Wolf, That’s a Foul Ball (2019)

A more recent addition to the controversial call Hall of Fame came during Game 6 of the 2019 World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros. Home plate umpire Jim Wolf ruled Nationals batter Trea Turner out for “runner’s interference” after running inside Houston catcher Josh Reddick as he legged out a grounder.

The decision stunned Nationals players and fans, as it appeared Turner did nothing wrong. The play led to a heated argument between Nationals manager Dave Martinez and the umpires, with Martinez eventually getting ejected.

The odd ruling didn’t derail the Nationals entirely, though—they rallied to win the game and went on to claim the championship in Game 7, making this call less consequential than others, but no less controversial.

8. The Galarraga Replay Debate – AL Wild Card Game (2021)

Replay technology had already become an essential part of baseball by 2021, but even it wasn’t immune to controversy. During the AL Wild Card Game between the Yankees and Red Sox, DJ LeMahieu hit a slow dribbler toward first base. Red Sox first baseman Kyle Schwarber bobbled the ball but recovered just in time to toss it to the pitcher covering the bag. The call on the field ruled LeMahieu out, but it was razor-close—so close that the Yankees challenged it.

Replay reviews showed LeMahieu’s foot might have touched the base just before the ball reached the pitcher’s glove. However, the call was upheld due to "insufficient evidence" to overturn it, leaving Yankees fans outraged and Red Sox fans breathing a sigh of relief. The decision reignited debates about the limits of replay in baseball and whether calls this close should rely solely on an umpire’s initial judgment.

While the play didn’t fully dictate the outcome—Boston went on to win comfortably—it served as another example of how even advanced technology couldn’t eliminate controversial moments in the game.

9. The "Slide Rule" Controversy – Chase Utley Incident (2015)

Nothing ignites controversy quite like a hard slide into second base, and the Chase Utley play during Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS between the Dodgers and Mets is a prime example. Utley attempted to break up a double play by barreling into Mets shortstop Rubén Tejada. The issue? He was nowhere near the base and essentially tackled Tejada mid-slide, breaking his leg in the process.

The umpires ruled Utley safe, saying Tejada didn’t officially touch the bag during the turn. Mets fans erupted in outrage, while Dodgers fans defended Utley’s aggressive play as “just part of the game.” MLB later implemented the "Chase Utley Rule," clarifying what constitutes a legal slide.

The play remains divisive—some view it as gritty playoff baseball, while others call it a dirty move that changed the rules forever.

10. The Galarraga Replay Debate – AL Wild Card Game (2021)

Replay technology was supposed to solve baseball’s most glaring officiating errors, but even it hasn’t been foolproof. During the 2021 AL Wild Card game between the Yankees and Red Sox, Yankees batter DJ LeMahieu hit a chopper toward first base. Red Sox first baseman Kyle Schwarber bobbled the ball but recovered in time to flip it to the pitcher covering the bag.

LeMahieu appeared to narrowly beat the throw—at least to Yankees fans—but after a replay review, the umpires upheld the “out” call. It was a severely close play, with replays unable to irrefutably overturn the call. Yankees fans cried foul, arguing the system had failed, while Red Sox supporters applauded the decision.

While it didn’t shift the outcome of the game, the incident reignited the debate about replay's effectiveness. Should there be a margin of error? Or do these controversies make baseball what it is?