Umpire Pat Hoberg, aged 38, was terminated by Major League Baseball for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who placed bets on baseball games and for deleting relevant electronic messages during the league's investigation. Although the investigation did not reveal evidence of Hoberg personally betting on baseball or manipulating games, MLB's senior vice president of on-field operations recommended his dismissal, which was upheld by Commissioner Rob Manfred. Hoberg, known for his expertise in judging the strike zone, can apply for reinstatement no earlier than the 2026 spring training season.
MLB disclosed that Hoberg's friend made 141 baseball bets between April 2, 2021, and Nov. 1, 2023, amounting to nearly $214,000 with a profit of almost $35,000. This included eight bets on games officiated by Hoberg.
The history of betting scandals in professional sports dates back to various incidents. Notable cases include the 1920 indictment of eight Chicago White Sox players for fixing the World Series, the 1989 lifetime ban of Pete Rose for betting on games, and the 2008 conviction of NBA referee Tim Donaghy for providing inside information for gambling purposes.
Recent incidents involve individuals from different sports, such as golfer Phil Mickelson's alleged billion-dollar wagers over three decades and NBA player Jontay Porter's lifetime ban for disclosing confidential information to bettors and wagering on games. In June 2024, MLB banned San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for life for betting on baseball, making him the first active player in a century to receive such a penalty. Additionally, Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and three minor leaguers were suspended for betting on baseball games.
These cases highlight the ongoing challenges of maintaining integrity in sports and the severe consequences for those involved in gambling scandals. The sports industry continues to address such issues to uphold fair play and preserve the trust of fans and stakeholders.
