Longtime MLB umpire Don Denkinger dies at 86

Longtime MLB umpire Don Denkinger has died. He was 86.

Denise Hanson, one of Denkinger's three daughters, announced on Friday that her father died at Cedar Valley Hospice in Waterloo, Iowa. No cause of death was given.

Denkinger served as an umpire in the American League from 1969 to 1998. He called four World Series, including Game 6 of the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals. In that game, Denkinger incorrectly called the Royals' Jorge Orta safe at first base in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Cardinals up 1-0 in the game and 3-2 in the series. Denkinger's safe verdict became known as "The Call."

“No one wants to be embarrassed like that,” Denkinger told Sports Illustrated afterward. “My job is predicated on being right all the time, and I like to be right all the time. But we’re only human, and now it’s history. I can’t change anything. Even admitting I was wrong doesn’t change anything.”

The Royals went on to win to force Game 7 against the Cardinals. Denkinger served as the home plate umpire in the winner-take-all game and the Royals won their first World Series championship. Denkinger received death threats and hate mail afterward over "The Call," which many view as the tipping point in the series.

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"They’ll probably have a whole lot more to say when I die," he told SI. "That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about.”

Denkinger's final World Series assignment came in 1991. He was behind the plate for Game 7, which saw the Twins walk off the Braves 1-0 in 10 innings in one of the great games in MLB history. His other World Series assignments came in 1974 (a five-game win by the A's over the Dodgers) and 1980 (a six-game win by the Phillies over the Royals).

Denkinger also served as an umpire in three All-Star Games – 1971, 1976 and 1987.

He's one of just seven umpires to have worked two perfect games – he was the second base umpire during Len Barker's perfect game for Cleveland against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981 and was the first base umpire for Kenny Rogers' perfect game for the Texas Rangers against the California Angels on July 28, 1994. (There have been 23 perfect games in MLB history.)

He also worked the plate for the 1978 Yankees-Red Sox tiebreaker game at Fenway Park and for Nolan Ryan’s sixth no-hitter in 1990.

"Rest in Peace, Don," the MLB communications department tweeted on Friday.

Denkinger was born in Cedar Falls on Aug. 28, 1936. He wrestled while at Wartburg College, served in the U.S. Army and started umpiring in the Alabama-Florida League in 1960. He moved up to the Northwest League the following two seasons, the Class AA Texas League from 1963-65 and the Class AAA International League from 1966-68.

He made his American League debut at third base in Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium on April 8, 1969, and was behind the plate for the first time four days later at Sick’s Stadium in Seattle.

He is survived by his wife, the former Gayle Price, and his daughters.

Contributing: Associated Press