After decades calling games and irking everyone from baseball players to announcers to fans, umpire Angel Hernandez is calling it quits.
That led to seamheads everywhere sharing their favorite bad calls from the ump who everyone loved to hate, and now that he’s retiring, the spotlight will swing to other umpires and their calls that we’ll share because they’re so bad.
Before that happens, it’s a good time to look back at some of the absolutely terrible calls we’ve seen from Hernandez over the years that we’ve featured here on For The Win. Here’s a sampling of 10 rough moments:
1
This ball that was clearly not a strike in 2020
Phil Nevin gets ejected… Leave it to Angel Hernandez to ruin all the fun with a bad call pic.twitter.com/o2rNd8YNDD
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 5, 2020
2
This other pitch that was clearly outside in 2020
Umpires should never trend on twitter. Pass it on.
Angel Hernandez called this pitch to José Abreu a strike. It missed outside by 3.35 inches.@Twins v @whitesox pic.twitter.com/pKEifWHFrO
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) September 15, 2020
3
This call that had Kyle Schwarber losing it in 2022
Kyle Schwarber had enough of Angel Hernandez’ calls at the plate tonight pic.twitter.com/kAaIWM1Hvi
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 25, 2022
He wasn’t the first player to lose his cool with Hernandez.
4
This foul ball that was clearly fair in 2022
Angel Hernandez calls a ball foul that clearly bounced on the chalk on replay pic.twitter.com/5nJW1XE87A
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 9, 2022
5
This bad call on a stolen base
Welcome back, Ángel Hernández! 😂 pic.twitter.com/iIhEiq7Sj2
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 1, 2023
He wasn’t just bad behind the plate!
6
This check swing that was called a full swing that had Bryce Harper furious
Angel Hernandez rung up Bryce Harper on this check swing call
Harper lost it, got ejected and then tossed his helmet into the crowd pic.twitter.com/JcUB2V5VhU
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 28, 2023
7
That time he ejected Lance Lynn twice (!) in a 2024 spring training game
Here's video of #STLCards starter Lance Lynn getting ejected by Angel Hernandez in tonight's spring training start.
Lynn even got kicked out of the bullpen after trying to get some work in after the ejection.
📽️ by our freelancer, Hot Shots Video Productions pic.twitter.com/wkONEE5nbe
— Corey Miller (@corey_miller5) March 9, 2024
8
This strike call that had the Rangers broadcast going ballistic in 2024
The Rangers broadcast’s reaction to this Angel Hernandez punchout is understandable. pic.twitter.com/YYm3RVzjWM
— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) April 13, 2024
9
What might be the last bad call of his career
This is from earlier in the week.
