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that pine tar gave the batter an unfair advantage, but rather that the rule was left over from concerns in earlier days about baseballs getting ruined from getting too much pine tar on it. A number of umpires were upset by MacPhail's decision. 27 years later, in 2012, MLB officially changed the rules wherein any protest regarding equipment must be made prior to a play.
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later overturned McClelland's decision regarding overturning Brett's home run into an out, saying that the spirit of the rule mattered more than the one in the rulebook, and had the
Yankees and Royals replay the game from after the now-counted home run. MacPhail noted that no claim had ever been made
428:
24 inches up the handle. Because of the rule stating that pine tar cannot extend more than 18 inches up a bat handle, combined with the rule that a batter using illegal equipment should be automatically called out, McClelland called Brett out, which nullified the home run. In the melee that
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game on March 19, 2013, McClelland used the rare umpiring technique of calling balls and strikes from the infield while waiting for another umpire to put on the home plate gear after home plate umpire Seth
Buckminster sustained a broken left hand and was forced to leave the game.
522:
After spending the 2014 season on umpiring's disabled list, McClelland formally retired from the MLB staff prior to the 2015 season. Accordingly, his last game umpired occurred in
September 2013, but he did not officially retire until after the 2014 season.
505:
out for leaving the base too early when
Swisher was tagging up on a fly ball. Some analysts contend that video replays showed this call to be erroneous. With one out in the top of the fifth inning, an apparent double play was negated when McClelland called
485:
stuck out his leg, but he didn't have it planted in the ground. What I saw was
Holliday kind of slide through that leg and touch the plate." McClelland defended his deliberate safe call saying that he wanted to see if Barrett held on to the ball.
672:
162:
is 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m). McClelland was originally known for working in a kneeling position behind the plate, but switched in 2006 to a "box position," a form of
357:. Sosa broke his bat hitting a routine ground out, and upon inspection of the fragments of the bat, cork was found, leading to Sosa's ejection and subsequent suspension.
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from 1983 to 1999 and throughout both leagues from 2000 through the 2013 season. He called many important games, from post-season games to the
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Nine years later, McClelland was a member of the crew that worked Brett's 3,000th-hit game and was one of the first to congratulate him.
471:, safe at the plate. There were questions afterward as to whether Holliday had actually touched home plate on his slide. Padres manager
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followed, McClelland registered the first four ejections of his career, beginning with Brett and continuing with Kansas City's manager
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143:. He wore uniform number 36 after his promotion to the AL, and kept the number when Major League Baseball merged the American and
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said of McClelland's tight strike zone, "For some reason, he's the one umpire that scares me. I have nightmares about him."
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wild card team, in which there was question as to whether Matt
Holliday ever touched home plate, resulting in the
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stated after the game that he believed
Holliday did touch the plate. Following the game, McClelland told
463:. In the bottom of the 13th inning, with the score even at 8–8, the Rockies scored the winning run on a
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306:'s sixth career no-hitter on June 11, 1990. McClelland was behind the plate at Yankee Stadium when
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In his first season in the AL, McClelland was behind the plate in the infamous "Pine Tar Game" at
1031:
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159:
158:), and was the second tallest major league umpire at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m)—
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166:. He was also noted for his deliberate umpiring mechanics, which earned him the nickname "
8:
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In 2007, McClelland worked home plate for the NL's Wild Card tiebreaker game between the
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McClelland was the home plate umpire for the single-game playoff to decide the NL's
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246:), serving as crew chief in 1997, 2004, and 2006. McClelland has officiated eight
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on May 17, 1998. McClelland was umpiring at second base on April 21, 2012, when
536:
501:, McClelland made two highly publicized controversial calls. McClelland called
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due to an obscure equipment rule. McClelland inspected Brett's bat, which had
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1027:"Iowa ump admits doubt on key home-plate call, but says he'd make call again"
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McClelland has umpired in numerous noteworthy baseball games. He has been a
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222:), calling balls and strikes on the last occasion. He has also called five
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https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=guIhAAAAIBAJ&pg=5139%2C6229003
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https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NJEzAAAAIBAJ&pg=3674%2C5007997
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9–8 in 13 innings. He also worked the 2008 one-game playoff between the
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821:"Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners – Box Score – April 21, 2012"
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286:), serving as crew chief in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
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987:"Retrosheet Boxscore: Kansas City Royals 5, New York Yankees 4"
547:. He is married to Sandy McClelland; they have three children.
761:"Baseball Almanac - Box Score of Nolan Ryan No-Hitter (Sixth)"
731:"Detroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: April 7, 1984"
154:
McClelland retired as MLB's second-most senior umpire (after
907:"Twins vs. White Sox - MLB Game Recap - September 30, 2008"
349:
at
Wrigley Field during the interleague game between the
791:"David Wells Perfect Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac"
937:"Buckminster Breaks Hand; McClelland Umps from Infield"
302:
on April 7, 1984 and was the umpire at third base for
945:. CloseCallSports.com. March 19, 2013. Archived from
883:. Associated Press via Yahoo! Sports. Archived from
554:
1172:
1059:Close Call Sports/Umpire Ejection Fantasy League
467:when McClelland called the tagging baserunner,
101:(born December 12, 1951) is an American former
170:McClelland," and for his small but consistent
1020:
1018:
640:"Which umpire has the largest strike zone?"
337:McClelland also was the umpire during the
31:
1055:"Retirement of MLB Umpire Tim McClelland"
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969:"Retirement of MLB Umpire Tim McClelland"
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637:
294:McClelland was the first base umpire for
874:
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847:"McClelland no stranger to corked bats"
604:
1173:
1024:
827:from the original on November 12, 2020
673:"Royals apply manager's advice in win"
670:
664:
1052:
881:"Colorado 9, San Diego 8, 13 innings"
869:
587:List of Major League Baseball umpires
510:safe at third after he was tagged by
416:, which was immediately protested by
879:Stapleton, Arnie (October 2, 2007).
638:Weinstock, Josh (January 11, 2012).
514:while not in contact with the base.
380:, which the White Sox won 1-0, on a
16:American baseball umpire (born 1951)
1201:Sportspeople from Jackson, Michigan
839:
491:American League Championship Series
333:McClelland behind the plate in 2008
13:
531:McClelland, who received both his
181:
124:. He was the plate umpire for the
14:
1222:
1211:People from West Des Moines, Iowa
1154:
1025:Miller, Bryce (October 2, 2007).
92:6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
1196:Michigan State University alumni
1053:Imber, Gil (February 17, 2015).
707:. Retrosheet.org. Archived from
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131:game on June 3, 2003, when the
853:. June 4, 2003. Archived from
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1206:Major League Baseball umpires
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671:Kaegel, Dick (May 8, 2008).
384:home run in the 7th inning.
7:
550:
489:On October 20, 2009, in an
404:on July 24, 1983, in which
10:
1227:
1133:"Tim McClelland Biography"
341:game where famous slugger
248:League Championship Series
541:Michigan State University
88:
80:
67:
42:
30:
23:
795:www.baseball-almanac.com
765:www.baseball-almanac.com
607:"Polls: Strike Mechanic"
605:Lindsay (May 19, 2011).
412:hit an apparent two-run
1191:American League umpires
1032:The Des Moines Register
478:The Des Moines Register
206:), and worked in three
99:Timothy Reid McClelland
735:Baseball-Reference.com
334:
711:on September 22, 2015
545:West Des Moines, Iowa
332:
107:Major League Baseball
1161:Major league profile
1087:on February 17, 2007
1065:on October 23, 2021.
975:on October 23, 2021.
437:, and their pitcher
351:Tampa Bay Devil Rays
137:Tampa Bay Devil Rays
1139:on November 2, 2019
1111:Des Moines Register
887:on November 7, 2012
190:umpire four times (
147:umpiring staffs in
109:who worked in the
917:on August 25, 2018
801:on October 7, 2022
741:on October 1, 2022
652:on August 10, 2020
499:Los Angeles Angels
410:Kansas City Royals
345:was caught with a
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37:McClelland in 2012
942:Close Call Sports
612:Close Call Sports
493:game between the
378:Chicago White Sox
96:
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81:Years active
60:Jackson, Michigan
53:December 12, 1951
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1083:. Archived from
1077:"Ask the Umpire"
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705:"Tim McClelland"
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565:Biography portal
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495:New York Yankees
461:Colorado Rockies
457:San Diego Padres
418:New York Yankees
370:San Diego Padres
366:Colorado Rockies
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483:Michael Barrett
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389:spring training
374:Minnesota Twins
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118:"Pine Tar" game
111:American League
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508:Robinson Canó
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469:Matt Holliday
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465:sacrifice fly
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444:AL president
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439:Gaylord Perry
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1141:. Retrieved
1137:the original
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617:the original
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503:Nick Swisher
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446:Lee MacPhail
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422:Billy Martin
406:George Brett
399:
386:
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355:Chicago Cubs
336:
324:perfect game
314:against the
312:perfect game
293:
188:World Series
185:
176:Zack Greinke
160:Jordan Baker
153:
133:Chicago Cubs
115:George Brett
98:
97:
18:
1181:1951 births
512:Mike Napoli
431:Dick Howser
308:David Wells
296:Jack Morris
172:strike zone
135:hosted the
1175:Categories
1166:Retrosheet
1143:October 3,
1038:October 7,
891:October 2,
861:October 7,
689:August 31,
593:References
518:Retirement
347:corked bat
343:Sammy Sosa
310:pitched a
304:Nolan Ryan
174:. Pitcher
168:Rain Delay
129:corked bat
126:Sammy Sosa
68:Occupation
49:1951-12-12
953:March 20,
831:April 30,
715:April 10,
645:Fangraphs
473:Bud Black
387:During a
382:Jim Thome
300:no-hitter
84:1981–2013
1117:July 18,
1091:July 18,
921:June 14,
825:Archived
823:. ESPN.
805:June 14,
775:June 14,
745:June 14,
656:June 22,
623:April 1,
551:See also
497:and the
459:and the
426:pine tar
420:manager
414:home run
376:and the
353:and the
322:threw a
208:All-Star
156:Joe West
1081:MLB.com
678:MLB.com
408:of the
210:games (
481:that "
103:umpire
89:Height
75:umpire
62:, U.S.
539:from
164:squat
1145:2012
1119:2012
1093:2012
1040:2007
955:2013
923:2012
911:ESPN
893:2007
863:2007
833:2012
807:2012
777:2012
747:2012
717:2014
691:2008
658:2012
625:2023
535:and
362:2007
339:2003
284:2009
282:and
280:2008
276:2007
272:2005
268:2003
264:2001
260:1999
256:1995
252:1988
244:2006
240:2004
236:2002
232:2000
228:1997
220:2003
218:and
216:1998
212:1986
204:2006
202:and
200:2002
196:2000
192:1993
149:2000
122:1983
43:Born
139:at
120:in
105:in
72:MLB
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1017:^
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537:MA
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