Doug Eddings - 2005 ALCS

2005 ALCS

The call which brought Eddings national attention came on October 12, 2005 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The Angels were up one game to none in the ALCS, having won the previous game despite reported exhaustion from playing the previous two nights in Yankee Stadium and Angel Stadium. Game two was tied 1–1 with the White Sox batting in the bottom of the ninth inning; Chicago had recorded two outs in the inning.

White Sox batter A. J. Pierzynski faced Angels relief pitcher Kelvim Escobar, who quickly got two strikes. Pierzynski swung at Escobar's third pitch, a splitter which came in very low. Angels catcher Josh Paul said after the game, "I caught the ball so I thought the inning was over." Eddings later said the ball had not been legally caught, but made no audible call that the ball hit the ground.

Not hearing himself called out, Pierzynski took a couple of steps toward the dugout, then turned and ran to first base while most of the Angels were walking off the field. A pinch-runner, Pablo Ozuna, replaced Pierzynski and stole second base. Ozuna scored on a base hit by Third baseman Joe Crede for the winning run.

The controversy surrounding the play concerns both whether Eddings' ruling that the ball hit the ground was correct, and the unclear mechanic for signaling the ruling. Eddings did not indicate no-catch signals during the game. In fact, in the second inning of the same game, Eddings had ruled no catch on a third strike to Garret Anderson of the Angels, but the White Sox were not aware of the ruling until Eddings called Anderson out as he entered the dugout. At the time, professional umpiring mechanics did not dictate a specific no-catch signal or a "no catch" verbalization after an uncaught third strike. A mechanic has subsequently been added.

According to umpire supervisor Rich Reiker the replays showed "there was definitely a change in direction there" indicating the ball touched the ground. He felt, at best, the replay was inconclusive.

After the game, Eddings explained his actions: "My interpretation is that was my 'strike three' mechanic, when it's a swinging strike. If you watch, that's what I do the whole entire game. ... I did not say 'No catch.' If you watch the play, you do watch me — as I'm making the mechanic, I'm watching Josh Paul, and so I'm seeing what he's going to do. I'm looking directly at him while I'm watching Josh Paul. That's when Pierzynski ran to first base."

The White Sox went on to win the next three games of the series and advance to their first World Series since 1959. The White Sox then won the World Series in a four game sweep over the Houston Astros.