On August 28, 2008, Major League Baseball instituted an instant replay system in games to help decide some home runs calls. There are only three situations in which the replay can be used: (1) Was the potential homer fair or foul? (2) Did a fan interfere with a potential homer? (3) Did a potential homer go over the fence?
It is up to the crew chief to decide whether or not to use the replay system. A team cannot request or demand that it be used. Once the replay has been viewed and the umpires make their decision, no appeals are allowed and teams are not allowed to argue the call.
This system was put in place because of a series of calls in a 10-day period earlier that season which drew a lot of attention.
There was a use of a homer replay in 1999 before they were authorized. Details
Prior Year Instances:
2012 (21 times, 9 changed, 12 upheld)
4/7 BOS @ DET
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Miguel Cabrera’s fly ball landed behind the new LF fence that was added in 2003 to shorten the distance for a home run. It hit the Tigers bullpen seating area and rebounded to the chain link fence. When it happened, it looked as if the ball got stuck in the LF fence and the Red Sox outfielders signaled as such; 2B umpire CB Bucknor ran out, looked and signaled that it was a double. Tigers manager Jim Leyland talked with Bucknor and crew chief Dale Scott. Scott watched the replay The LF camera angle showed that the ball went over the fence before coming back and getting tangled in the fencing. The call was overturned to a home run. It was Cabrera’s second homer in the contest.
04/07 NYA @ TBA
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Evan Longoria hit a fly ball to RF. A fan wearing a Rays cap and a Yankees jersey reached over the fence with his glove and caught the ball. 1B umpire Andy Fletcher ruled it a home run. The view from the infield was not conclusive but could have been a homer. Yankees RF Nick Swisher pointed at the fan immediately. Manager Joe Girardi came onto the field to talk with the umpires about the call. Crew chief Joe West watched the replay and overturned the call to a double. The camera in the RF corner clearly showed that the fan reached over the fence but that Swisher would not have been able to catch the ball, thus Longoria was not ruled out on the interference.
04/11 ARI @ SDN
In the top of the second, Willie Bloomquist's fly ball hit the top of the wall in left center and was ruled in play. Bloomquist reached third on the hit. D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson asked the umpires about the call so crew chief Jeff Kellogg watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/13 MIL @ ATL
In the top of the sixth, Cory Hart's fly hit the yellow stripe at the top of the wall in left center; it was ruled in play. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke asked about the call, so crew chief Tim Tschida watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/15 TBA @ BOS
In the top of the fifth inning, Carlos Pena hit the first pitch down the RF line. It was ruled a foul ball as it passed the so-called 'Pesky Pole.' The Rays asked about the call, so crew chief Brian Gorman watched the replay and upheld the call. Pena hit a two-run double later in the at bat.
04/18 CLE @ SEA
In the top of the third, Aaron Cunningham's fly ball hit the top of the wall and rebounded onto the field. It was ruled in play. Indians manager Manny Acta asked about the call so crew chief Dale Scott watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/20 NYA @ BOS
In the bottom of the second on the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, the fly ball by David Ortiz hit on the ledge at the top of the wall in left center and rebounded back onto the field. Tt was ruled in play but when the Red Sox asked about the call, crew chief Tim Tschida watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
04/23 PHI @ ARI
In the bottom of the first, Aaron Hill's fly hit the yellow stripe on the '330' indicator, well below the top of the wall. It made a clanking sound as if it hit the screen above the wall. The ball was ruled a home run by 3B umpire Angel Hernandez. The Phillies started to ask about the call but the umpires huddled and crew chief Ed Rapuano watched the replay and overturned the call to in play. Each runner was advanced two bases.
05/02 PIT @ SLN
In the bottom of the third inning, the fly ball by Carlos Beltran to left center was just over the top of the wall. It hit a fan's hands and rebounded onto the field and was ruled in play. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny talked with the umpires. Crew chief Dale Scott watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run. It was the second three-run homer for Beltran in the contest.
05/04 CIN @ PIT
In the top of the fourth, the fly ball by Chris Heisey hit the top of the wall and rebounded back onto the field. Crew chief Derryl Cousins watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/04 TEX @ CLE
In the bottom of the third, Jack Hannahan's fly ball hit just above the high wall a few feet inside the RF pole. It was ruled in play and Hannahan raced for a triple when the ball rebounded past RF Nelson Cruz. Indians manager Manny Acta asked about the call so crew chief Dale Scott watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
05/05 ATL @ COL
In the top of the seventh, Jason Heyward hit a fly down the line that was ruled foul. When the Braves asked about the call, crew chief Tim McClelland watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/05 SLN @ HOU
In the bottom of the eighth, Jed Lowrie's fly to LF hit the railing above the yellow stripe at the top of the wall and caromed back almost to the infield. Lowrie stopped at 2B. When the Astros asked about the call, acting crew chief Jerry Meals watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
05/06 CIN @ PIT
In the top of the third, Drew Stubbs fly to right center just cleared the wall. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle talked to the umpires about the call. Crew chief Derryl Cousins watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/09 COL @ SDN
In the top of the fourth inning, Jason Giambi's fly hit the top of the wall and rebounded onto the field. It was ruled in play. Crew chief Tom Hallion watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/09 COL @ SDN
In the top of the sixth inning, Wilin Rosario’s fly hit the top of the wall and rebounded onto the field. It was ruled in play. Crew chief Tom Hallion watched the replay and upheld the call. This was the second use of replay in the game.
05/09 WAS @ PIT
In the top of the fourth, Ian Desmond's fly was just over the short wall in LF. Yamaico Navarro reached over the top and caught the ball, thus bringing a homer back. A fan reached and pulled at Navarro and his glove. The play was ruled an out but 2B umpire Greg Gibson went in to talk with crew chief Gerry Davis. Davis watched the replay and upheld the ruling, confirming no fan interference.
05/12 SEA @ NYA
In the top of the ninth inning, Mike Carp's fly to RF hit the top of the wall and rebounded back onto the field past Nick Swisher. It was ruled a home run by 1B umpire Scott Barry. The umpires huddled and crew chief Gary Darling watched the replay and overturned the call to in play. Carp was awarded a double and baserunner Kyle Seager allowed to score from 1B. Carp had homered in the seventh inning. Yankees manager Joe Girardi argued the ruling to allow Seager to score.
05/12 TOR @ MIN
In the top of the sixth, Jose Bautista's line drive just cleared the LF fence and hit the concrete wall behind the flowers. The ball rebounded back onto the field and was ruled in play. Bautista stopped at 2B but the Blue Jays were all yelling that the ball cleared the fence. Crew chief Tim Tschida watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
05/14 SDN @ WAS
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ian Desmond's fly ball hit the green strip at the top of the RF out-of-town scoreboard and caromed onto the field. It was ruled in play. Nationals manager Davey Johnson asked about the call, so the umpires huddled and then crew chief Brian Gorman watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/15 SEA @ BOS
In the top of the second, Justin Smoak hit a high fly ball down the RF line on the first pitch. It was ruled foul but Mariners manager Eric Wedge talked to 1B umpire Eric Cooper. Crew chief Jeff Kellogg watched the replay and upheld the call.
Reason Summary
Reason for Review Total Reversed Upheld
Fair/Foul 45 18 27
Fan Interference 36 7 29 (including one in wrong situation)
Over the Fence 142 48 94
Umpire Summary
Crew Chief Total Reversed Upheld
Ted Barrett 1 0 1
Wally Bell 7 2 5
Mark Carlson 1 0 1
Gary Cederstrom 12 6 6 (including one in wrong situation)
Derryl Cousins 9 1 8
Jerry Crawford 2 0 2
Gary Darling 10 2 8
Bob Davidson 3 0 3
Gerry Davis 14 5 9
Dana DeMuth 8 3 5
Mike Everitt 2 1 1
Brian Gorman 14 7 7
Tom Hallion 10 4 6
John Hirschbeck 9 1 8
Jim Joyce 1 0 1
Jeff Kellogg 10 2 8
Jerry Layne 10 2 8
Randy Marsh 2 2 0
Tim McClelland 8 3 5
Jerry Meals 1 1 0
Jeff Nelson 2 1 1
Brian O'Nora 3 1 2
Ed Rapuano 2 2 0
Rick Reed 2 1 1
Mike Reilly 3 2 1
Charlie Reliford 1 0 1
Jim Reynolds 2 0 2
Dale Scott 18 8 10
Tim Tschida 16 5 11
Larry Vanover 2 1 1
Tim Welke 15 3 12
Joe West 15 6 9
Mike Winters 9 1 8
Ballpark Summary
Park Total Reversed Upheld
Anaheim: Angel Stadium 9 1 8
Arlington: Rangers Ballpark 8 3 5
Atlanta: Turner Field 5 2 3
Baltimore: Camden Yards 7 1 6
Boston: Fenway Park 17 8 9
Chicago: U.S. Cellular Field 2 1 1
Chicago: Wrigley Field 3 2 1
Cincinnati: Great American Ballpark 8 1 7
Cleveland: Progressive Field 9 2 7
Denver: Coors Field 3 0 3
Detroit: Comerica Park 11 6 5
Houston: Minute Maid Park 11 2 9
Kansas City: Kauffman Stadium 8 1 7
Los Angeles: Dodger Stadium 1 0 1
Miami: Sun Life Stadium 6 3 3
Milwaukee: Miller Park 6 3 3
Minneapolis: Metrodome 1 0 1
Minneapolis: Target Field 11 5 6
New York: Citi Field 11 5 6
New York: Yankee Stadium II 11 3 8
Oakland: Oakland-Alameda Co Stadium 2 0 2
Philadelphia: Citizens Bank Park 8 3 5
Phoenix: Chase Field 10 3 7
Pittsburgh: PNC Park 11 4 7
St. Louis: Busch Stadium III 6 1 5
St. Petersburg: Tropicana Field 8 3 5 (including one in wrong situation)
San Diego: PETCO Park 6 2 4
San Francisco: AT&T Park 6 3 3
Seattle: Safeco Field 8 2 6
Toronto: Rogers Centre 4 2 2
Washington: Nationals Park 6 1 5