Notable Games
Burkhart was involved in a controversial play in Game 1 of the 1970 World Series when he collided with Baltimore Orioles catcher Elrod Hendricks in a close play at home plate. With one out in the sixth inning and two Cincinnati Reds runners on base – Tommy Helms at first and Bernie Carbo at third – pinch-hitter Ty Cline batted a pitch off Jim Palmer in front of the plate. Burkhart thought Cline hit a popup instead and stepped forward to verify that Hendricks caught it. Hendricks – who initially intended to throw out Cline at first base as soon as he caught the ball – instead snatched up the ball and spun around in an attempt to tag out Carbo, who was speeding home. Hendricks tagged Carbo with his mitt while holding the ball in his other hand. However, Burkhart called Cline out as soon as Hendricks caught the alleged popup and the inning was over. He did not care that Carbo was sliding home and did not call that play. All replays erroneously focused on the play at home and repeatedly showed that Hendricks tagged Carbo with an empty glove. Carbo missed the plate but returned to tag it and would have been called safe had the play been called correctly.. Reds manager Sparky Anderson ran out of the dugout and argued with Burkhart about the play. The score remained tied at 3–3, with the Orioles eventually winning 4–3.
Read more about this topic: Ken Burkhart
Famous quotes containing the words notable and/or games:
“Every notable advance in technique or organization has to be paid for, and in most cases the debit is more or less equivalent to the credit. Except of course when it’s more than equivalent, as it has been with universal education, for example, or wireless, or these damned aeroplanes. In which case, of course, your progress is a step backwards and downwards.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)
“In the past, it seemed to make sense for a sportswriter on sabbatical from the playpen to attend the quadrennial hawgkilling when Presidential candidates are chosen, to observe and report upon politicians at play. After all, national conventions are games of a sort, and sports offers few spectacles richer in low comedy.”
—Walter Wellesley (Red)