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MLB umpire Pat Hoberg has been fired following an investigation into suspicious betting activity. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers broke the news on Monday surrounding the league’s decision.
Hoberg was considered to be one of the sport’s top ball-strike umpires. He is maybe best remembered for calling a perfect game in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series.
He was 129-of-129 in that showing between the Phillies and Astros. Now, he’s out of a job.
MLB umpire Pat Hoberg called a PERFECT game last night. He called 129 out of 129 taken pitches correctly 🤯
(via: @UmpScorecards) pic.twitter.com/A9WXQ6DP3V
— Baseball King (@BasebaIlKing) October 30, 2022
The investigation into Hoberg’s gambling activity began in February of last year. He was removed from spring training and ruled inactive for the regular season. One year later, the MLB upheld its decision to fire the umpire.
According to ESPN, Pat Hoberg’s wrongdoing relates to his sharing a betting account with a poker player friend. There is no evidence, however, that the ump bet on baseball games directly.
While the league evaluated the case, the umpire reportedly deleted text messages “central to the MLB’s investigation.”
Breaking, per MLB: Umpire Pat Hoberg has been fired for sharing betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball though there is no evidence Hoberg himself bet on games or manipulated any that he worked. He also deleted messages central to MLB’s investigation.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 3, 2025
Hoberg apologized for his actions after the fact, saying that he takes “full responsibility for the errors in judgement.” Still, he claims that at no point did he manipulate games or provide inside information.
“Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me… That said, to be clear, I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form. I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me.”
-Pat Hoberg
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement on the firing Monday. Despite having no evidence of throwing games, Hoberg’s judgement and subsequent actions gave reason to uphold the decision.
“An extensive investigation revealed no evidence that Mr. Hoberg placed bets on baseball directly or that he or anyone else manipulated games in any way. However, his extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages, creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline.”
-Rob Manfred
Pat Hoberg has been a Major League Baseball umpire since 2014 and has worked in a full-time capacity for nearly a decade. He excelled in his role at a time when many have been criticized for their effectiveness behind the plate. Unfortunately, his time on the diamond, for now, is over.