10 Most Memorable Player-Umpire Confrontations in Baseball History

For the most part, baseball players and umpires are able to get along. While the players may not agree with every call, they generally react in a respectable manner.

However, there are times when players blow up after calls. This has led to a number of memorable confrontations between baseball players and umpires.

There have been times when things have gotten very ugly and injuries have occurred as a result of an altercation. All of these moments have been well noted, and they stand out as some of the worst altercations of all time.

Milton Bradley

Milton Bradley is a player who has been known to have a bad temper. Throughout his career, Bradley has become involved in a number of altercations with umpires.

In 2007, his temper eventually ended up costing him part of the season.

Bradley was arguing a call with umpire Mike Winters when his manager, Bud Black, pulled Bradley away to stop the shouting match. As Black moved Bradley, his knee twisted, and he tore his ACL.

Roberto Alomar

Roberto Alomar had a Hall of Fame career, but there's certainly one moment that he will always regret. During his time with the Baltimore Orioles, Alomar got into a heated debate with umpire John Hirschbeck.

Alomar was face-to-face with Hirschbeck before his manager, Davey Johnson, pulled him away. Then, Alomar turned back around and spit in Hirschbeck's face.

He alleged that he did it after Hirschbeck used racial slurs in the argument.

The two eventually made up after the incident, and they are friends.

Delmon Young

There was no denying that Delmon Young had all of the talent in the world when he was in the minor leagues, but his attitude issues held him back. He was considered one of the top three prospects in the minors by Baseball America for four consecutive years.

Young's maturity issues also manifested themselves when he was in the minors. He lost his temper after a called third strike and then threw his bat at the umpire after he was thrown out of the game.

As a result of the incident, Young was suspended for 50 games.

Brett Lawrie

In a situation with a full count, umpires may often make decisions that players do not like.

The batter could take a few steps towards first base before hearing the third strike call. Most of the time, the player has a few words for the umpire, but that's it.

That was not the case with Bret Lawrie during a game on May 12. Lawrie was angry with the call and spiked his helmet into the ground. It bounced up and hit umpire Bill Miller.

This led to a four-game suspension for Lawrie.

Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter has struck out more than 1300 times in his career, but he was incensed more then usually during one strikeout in 2010. Hunter did not agree with the call and he made sure that he let the umpire know.

He got right in the umpires face and then Hunter got a bit too close. Hunter bumped the umpire in the face with his helmet and he was thrown out of the game. After that he continued to argue for about a minute and would not let it go.

Video of the incident can be seen here.

George Brett

On July 24, 1983, George Brett stepped to the plate in the top of the ninth inning with a runner on and the Kansas City Royals trailing the New York Yankees by a score of 4-3. Brett then hit a two-run home run to give the Royals the lead.

That was until Yankees manager Billy Martin asked the umpires to inspect Brett's bat for pine tar. They looked at it and then called Brett out. After that, Brett went berserk and was thrown out of the game.

The Royals appealed the ruling, and American League President Lee MacPhail sided with them. The home run was to count, and the game was to be replayed from after the Brett at-bat.

A video of the incident can be seen here.

Chinese Professional Baseball League

While many people have not seen this incident before, it will become a memorable moment once they watch the video.

One of the players in the Chinese Professional Baseball League took offense to a call that was made by an umpire and decided to show the umpire how he really felt.

George Moriarty

George Moriarty was a former Major League Baseball player that eventually became an umpire. Moriarty's most famous moment in baseball likely came when he was an umpire.

During a game in 1932, the Chicago White Sox did not agree with some of Moriarty's calls of balls and strikes. Moriarty challenged the whole White Sox team to a fight, and four of them obliged.

The fight ended in a draw.

Babe Ruth

While he was arguably the best baseball player in MLB history, there's also a side of him that many fans do not know about. Ruth had a bit of a short temper.

When Ruth was still a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, he punched the umpire after he called four straight balls to start the game. He was replaced by Ernie Shore who then got 27 consecutive outs without allowing a runner to reach base.

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb was known for having a bit of a mean streak in him so it should come as no surprise that Cobb had at least one altercation with an umpire during his career.

After umpire Billy Evans called Detroit Tigers hitter Rube Oldham out on a 3-2 pitch, Cobb came to argue the call. Cobb was ready to fight Evans, but he did not want to do it because he feared that he would be suspended.

Evans suggested that they could fight after the game. Cobb took up the offer, and what ensued was a bloody fight that was won by Cobb.