One of MLB’s worst umpires won’t be messing things up for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020
Every day it seems there is so much bad news for Major League Baseball as it tries to defy the coronavirus and field a 2020 season. One by one, players either test positive for the disease or else they opt out for the season in the interests of preserving their health over playing a game.
Finally, some good news this week, however, for St. Louis Cardianls fans. It was announced Thursday that 11 MLB umpires have decided to sit the season out the year, including long-time Cardinals nemesis and umpire Sam Holbrook. If only fellow umpire Angel Hernandez would stay home, too, this goofy, poor excuse for a season might suddenly seem worth watching. Even with the disgusting designated hitter in the picture. (If you’re waiting for me to get over the DH in the National League, don’t hold your breath. I doubt that is ever going to happen.)
Holbrook, infamously, is best known to Cardinals fans as the guy who stole a home run from Mark McGwire as he raced Sammy Sosa to best Roger Maris’ single-season round tripper record in 1998. During a game in Milwaukee against the Brewers, Holbrook somehow determined that a ball that landed two or three rows deep in the outfield stands hit the wall and bounced back onto the playing field. Was Holbrook done messing with McGwire and the Cardinals? Of course not. As the season wound down and McGwire stood at 55 home runs when 47,627 fans filed into Busch Stadium to watch him try to break Maris’ record. He came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning in his traditional spot batting third and Holbrook called a ball several inches outside a strike. McGwire stepped out and looked at him, not saying a word, and Holbrook threw him out of the game with no warning whatsoever.
What an arrogant jerk who decided his pride was more important that the people who spent hard-earned money to watch Big Mac hit. He was lucky to get out of Busch Stadium with his life that day and owes a debt of gratitude to longtime Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck who urged fans that game and the next to keep their cool.
Fortunately for McGwire and St. Louis, he was able to fight off Sosa and eventually break the home run mark that had stood since 1961. But in a season that was credited for bringing fans put off by labor strife back to the ballparks, Holbrook narrowly missed ruining the excitement for everyone.
Holbrook caused another bit of controversy in a Cardinals playoff game against the Atlanta Braves. In the game, he called a ball that was well out on the outfield grass that fell between shortstop Pete Kozma and left fielder Matt Holliday and infield fly. Braves fans were steamed — incorrectly because the rules state that it is an infield fly with a runner on base and a pop up that can be caught with usual effort by an infielder. It doesn’t say the ball has to be on the infield dirt. It says an infielder has to be prepared to catch the ball — and Kozma was ready to catch it. He was standing there, set to make the grab when he suddenly vacated the area. Why? It’s my firm belief that Holbrook not only made the correct call on the infield fly but he was the one who caused the controversy in the first place.
It can be seen in the video that Holliday did not call Kozma off the ball. His mouth was closed as Kozma peeled off. At the 1:25 mark, you can see Holbrook raise his right hand to call the out just as Kozma turns away. Anyone who has ever played baseball knows that when the umpire determines the infield fly rule is in effect, he raised his hand to single the out and shouts “infield fly, the batter is out.” That sudden voice in Kozma’s ear caused the controversy. If he would have waited to make the verbal call, Kozma would have caught the ball and Cardinals fans wouldn’t have to listen to Atlanta fans whine about the situation to this day.
Last year when the Cardinals knocked the Braves out of the playoffs, Braves supporters still complained seven years later that the Cardinals “owed them one.” Sorry, chokers, that’s not how it works.
In other opt out news, St. Louis broadcaster Tim McCarver, a Cardinals World Series legend and Hall of Fame broadcaster, announced this week that he will sit out the season. It’s a shame because the aging McCarver probably won’t be around for a lot more seasons. While some St. Louis fans don’t like his homespun broadcasting style, I love hearing his stories about the Cardinals of the 1960s, especially Bob Gibson. I hope that this isn’t the end and that McCarver will be back for another turn behind the microphone in 2021. Maybe this year he can do some analysis from his home to stay safe but still be a part of the team.
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Scott Wuerz is a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. The Cheap Seats blog is written from his perspective as a fan and is designed to spark discussion among fans of the Cardinals and other MLB teams. Sources supporting his views and opinions are linked. If you’re looking for Cardinals news and features, check out the BND’s Cardinals section.
