Friday, May 12, 2023

30-Year AL Umpire Don Denkinger Dies at 86

Former American League umpire Don Denkinger, whose 30-year career in the AL spanned from 1969 through 1998, has died.

Born on August 28, 1936 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Denkinger began his professional umpiring career in the 1960 Alabama-Florida League. When all was said and done, Denkiner worked the Northwest, Texas, and International Leagues before his first big league game on April 8, 1969, in Kansas City.

Denkinger officiated 3,823 regular season games in the American League, with two Division Series, six League Championship Series, and 4 World Series.

Although a prominent safe call during Game 6 of the 1985 World Series brought Denkinger's name to fandom prominence, his 30 years of major league service drew routine praise from colleagues, executives, and teams alike. Denkinger concluded his major league career with 47 major league ejections, from his first of Dick Williams in May of 1969 to his last of Davey Johnson on April 16, 1996, with several of Earl Weaver and Billy Martin in between.

After retiring from the field, Denkinger served as a CBS studio analyst for umpire and rules-related matters.

Denkinger was 86.

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