Umpire who called perfect game in 2022 World Series fired for violating league’s betting policy
Umpire Pat Hoberg has been fired for violating the league’s betting policy, MLB announced on Monday.
Hoberg, who is best known for calling a perfect Game 2 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros, was found to have been sharing a legal sports betting account with a professional poker player and friend who bet on baseball. There was no evidence to suggest that Hoberg himself had bet on baseball, though he did delete text messages critical to the league’s investigation, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
Hoberg was fired in May 2024, but appealed the decision. An independent investigation upheld his firing and the decision was announced on Monday. Per MLB rules, Hoberg can apply for reinstatement as soon as the start of spring training in 2026.
“An extensive investigation revealed no evidence that Mr. Hoberg placed bets on baseball directly or that he or anyone else manipulated games in any way,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a press release. “However, his extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages, creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline.”
Hoberg released a statement via the Major League Baseball Umpires Association.
“I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement. Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me. Major League Baseball umpires are held to a high standard of personal conduct, and my own conduct fell short of that standard. That said, to be clear, I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form. I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me.”
Hardcore baseball fans recognize Hoberg as one of the best umpires in the league. His games behind the plate regularly scored high on Umpire Scorecards. While behind the plate for Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, Hoberg received a 100% accuracy score, calling all 129 taken pitches correctly. The Phillies, with Zack Wheeler on the mound and a 1-0 series lead, lost Game 2 to the Astros 5-2 at Minute Maid Park.
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