Former umpire, pitcher Burkhart dies at 89

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Ken Burkhart, a former big-league pitcher and umpire who made one of the most disputed calls in World Series history, has died. He was 89.

Burkhart had emphysema and died Wednesday after an extended stay at Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee, the funeral home said.

Burkhart went 18-8 with a 2.90 ERA for the Cardinals as a rookie in 1945. His career was cut short by an elbow injury, and he finished 27-20 in five seasons with St. Louis and Cincinnati.

But it was as an umpire where many baseball fans knew him -- especially during the 1970 World Series.

During Game 1 at Cincinnati, Baltimore catcher Elrod Hendricks grabbed Ty Cline's chopper in front of the plate as Burkhart moved out to rule it a fair ball. But the umpire was then caught in the middle as Bernie Carbo slid home and Hendricks tried to tag him.

Burkhart was spun to the ground and, with his back to the play, signaled that Carbo was out. Replays showed that Hendricks made the tag with an empty glove -- the ball was in his bare hand -- while Carbo missed the plate.

The play left the score tied at 3 in the sixth inning, and the Orioles went on to win 4-3. Baltimore won the Series in five games.

As an umpire, Burkhart worked six All-Star games and three World Series before retiring in 1973.

"I loved my experiences with all of the ballplayers back then and I wish they were still playing today," Burkhart told the Knoxville News Sentinel in July. "I do not keep up with things much anymore, but I still follow the Cardinals, though. The games just take too long."

Burkhart was a member of both the Knoxville and the Tennessee Sports Halls of Fame. He is survived by two daughters and a son.