A Play So Close You Need Two Umpires To Make The Call
Reese Safe at Second on Long Double
New York: Pee Wee Reese of the Brooklyn Dodgers slides safely into second in third inning of game with the St. Louis Cardinals at Ebbets Field July 23. Al Schoendienst dives in vain for the putout, but is too late. The two umpires calling the play are Art Gore (left) and Scotty Robb. Cardinals won 5-4. Credit: Acme 7/23/49
The fact that there are two umpires about to call this play is not so unusual. What makes it strange is that it appears umpire Gore on the left is about to call Reese out while umpire Robb has already signaled Reese safe!
No instant replay in 1949, so if there was a discrepancy in the call, the umpires would discuss it and come to a decision right then and there.
By the way – Cardinals favorite and Hall of Famer, Al “Red” Schoendienst is 93-years-old.