MLB disciplines umpire Pat Hoberg for gambling

You can’t have your cake and eat it too, MLB. Over a century of distancing the game from gambling has been brought into disrepute in recent years as massive money from sports book companies muddies the water.

Two all-time greats, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose have been exiled from baseball’s Hall of Fame over the issue. Just ten days ago, the San Diego Padres Venezuelan infielder Tucupita Marcano was handed a lifetime ban for betting on baseball, while four other players received a one-year suspension.

Earlier this season, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara found himself not only out of a job but facing federal charges over the issue. Now the league has censured one of the best umpires in the game, Pat Hoberg for violating the league’s sports betting policies.

While the exact nature of the discipline is unknown, the league released a statement, saying, “During this year’s Spring Training, Major League Baseball commenced an investigation regarding a potential violation of MLB’s sports betting policies by Umpire Pat Hoberg. Mr. Hoberg was removed from the field during the pendency of that investigation. While MLB’s investigation did not find any evidence that games worked by Mr. Hoberg were compromised or manipulated in any way, MLB determined that discipline was warranted. Mr. Hoberg has chosen to appeal that determination. Therefore, we cannot comment further until the appeal process is concluded.”

One of the best umpires in the game, Hoberg is generally acknowledged to be almost pitch perfect behind the plate, becoming the first and only umpire to have a 100% rating on balls and strikes in the 2022 World Series.

If found to have bet on a game in which he participated, under Rule 21, Hoberg would be subject to a lifetime ban. Hoberg denies all allegations saying that he has never bet on baseball.