Illegal Use in 1999
On May 31, 1999, the Cardinals were playing the Marlins in Florida. In the bottom of
the fifth inning, the fly ball by Cliff Floyd hit on or above the LF scoreboard and
was first ruled a double by second base umpire Greg Gibson. Floyd and the Marlins
argued the ball hit the facade behind the scoreboard and should be a homer. After
conferring, crew chief Frank Pulli changed the call to a home run. The Cardinals
then argued and Pulli, who later said he was confused by the ground rules, decided
to look at replays shown on a TV camera in the dugout. He
overturned the call back to a double. The Marlins
protested the game, but it was denied. Pulli was admonished by NL President Len Coleman,
and a specific directive was issued barring future replays. The play would have been
eligible for review under the replay rules adopted in 2008.