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2mo ago

MLB Fires Umpire Pat Hoberg for Gambling Policy Violations

Hoberg shared a betting account with a friend who wagered on baseball games, violating league rules on maintaining the integrity of the sport.

Pat Hoberg, right, was an umpire during the 2021 National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and SanFrancisco Giants.
Umpire Pat Hoberg #31 calls Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels for a pitch clock violation during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 05, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.
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Overview

  • Pat Hoberg, a highly regarded umpire known for his accuracy, was fired by MLB after an investigation revealed he shared a legal sports betting account with a professional poker player who bet on baseball games.
  • The investigation found no evidence that Hoberg personally bet on baseball or manipulated game outcomes, but his actions were deemed a violation of MLB's integrity standards.
  • Hoberg's friend placed 141 bets on baseball games, including eight bets on five games that Hoberg officiated or reviewed, though no wrongdoing was found in those games.
  • MLB cited Hoberg's poor judgment, including deleting messages relevant to the investigation, as creating the appearance of impropriety and warranting his termination.
  • Hoberg, who umpired a 'perfect game' in the 2022 World Series, can apply for reinstatement no earlier than spring training in 2026.