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:
2013 (34 times, 11 changed, 23 upheld)
03/31 TEX @ HOU
In the bottom of the fourth, Justin Maxwell hit a high fly to left field. The ball struck near the top of the wall above the scoreboard in front of the Crawford boxes. David Murphy lost track of the ball and it was retrieved by Leonys Martin but Maxwell had a two-run triple. Acting crew chief Sam Holbrook watched the replay and upheld the call of in play.
04/04 ANA @ CIN
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Todd Frazier's fly ball to LF struck the yellow stripe at the top of the padding and rebounded onto the field. Frazier reached 3B on a fielding error after the ball rebounded but thought he had a home run. Reds manager Dusty Baker talked to the umpires. Crew chief Dale Scott watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/05 WAS @ CIN
In the bottom of the sixth inning. Shin-Soo Choo’s fly ball barely cleared the CF wall into the seats. It was ruled a home run but the Nationals asked about the call so crew chief Tim McClelland watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/07 KCA @ PHI
In the top of the fifth inning of this interleague game, Billy Butler hit a ball that struck behind the barrier fence and caromed off the concrete back onto the field. It was ruled in play and Butler reached 2B. Royals manager Ned Yost talked with crew chief Jeff Kellogg about the play. Kellogg watched the replay and overturned the call to a grand slam home run.
04/10 HOU @ SEA
In the bottom of the fifth, Kelly Shoppach's fly ball struck the yellow stripe at the top of the padding and caromed back onto the field. It was ruled in play but Mariners manager Eric Wedge asked about the call so acting crew chief Wally Bell watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/12 ATL @ WAS
In the top of the sixth, Justin Upton's fly ball landed on top of the out-of-town scoreboard in RF and caromed back onto the field. It was ruled in play by 2B umpire Bill Welke who immediately called the umpires into a huddle. Crew chief Fieldin Culbreth watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/13 LAN @ ARI
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Paul Goldschmidt's fly hit the CF batter's eye wall just below the yellow stripe and was ruled in play. D-backs manager Kirk Gibson asked about the call so crew chief John Hirschbeck watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/15 CIN @ PIT
In the bottom of the seventh, Travis Snider’s fly ball hit near the top of the RF wall and was ruled in play. The ball might have been touched by a fan, so crew chief Jerry Layne watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/17 TBA @ BAL
In the bottom of the third, Adam Jones fly ball hit the rail behind the padded wall in the Orioles bullpen and caromed back onto the field. It was ruled in play, but crew chief Gerry Davis watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
04/17 PHI @ CIN
In the bottom of the first, Zack Cozart’s fly ball hit the yellow stripe at the top of the padding just a few feet fair in left field. It was ruled in play. Cozart was obstructed by Phillies 1B Ryan Howard as Cozart rounded 1B but that did not change the play as Cozart reached 2B safely. Reds manager Dusty Baker talked with crew chief Jim Joyce, who watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/21 CLE @ HOU
In the top of the seventh inning, Mark Reynolds' fly ball hit the wall in left center a few feet above the yellow stripe and was ruled a home run. Crew chief Ted Barrett watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/24 LAN @ NYN
In the top of the sixth, Matt Kemp's fly cleared the RF wall about 5 feet fair. A security guard was sitting there who tried to catch the ball but it caromed off his hands back onto the field. The ball was ruled in play but the umpires huddled and crew chief Mike Winters watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
04/26 TBA @ CHA
In the top of the ninth inning, Jose Molina's fly hit the yellow stripe at
the top of the padding in CF. The ball caromed back onto the field and was
ruled in play. After Rays manager Joe Maddon talked to crew chief Tom
Hallion, Hallion watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/28 CLE @ KCA
In the top of the second, Carlos Santana's fly ball caromed off the top of the padded wall onto the field and was ruled in play. Acting crew chief Paul Emmel watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/28 PIT @ SLN
In the top of the seventh inning, Garrett Jones' fly ball struck the advertising sign above and behind the RF wall and caromed back onto the field. The ball was ruled in play and Jones reached 3B. Crew chief Mike Winters watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
04/29 ANA @ OAK
In the bottom of the tenth, Chris Young's fly ball might have struck a sign above the fence in LF and caromed down onto the field. The ball was ruled in play but Athletics manager Bob Melvin asked about the call. Crew chief Gary Cederstrom watched the replay and upheld the call.
04/30 PIT @ MIL
In the top of the sixth, Starling Marte's fly ball went over the fence and caromed back onto the field. The view of the ball was blocked by the glove of CF Carlos Gomez and was ruled in play. Two runs scored and Marte reached 2B. The umpires huddled, crew chief Tim Welke watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
04/30 SDN @ CHN
In the bottom of the seventh inning, David DeJesus' fly ball struck the video board on the RF wall above the catch screen. The ball was ruled in play but crew chief Gerry Davis watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
05/01 ANA @ OAK
In the top of the sixth, Mark Trumbo's fly ball struck just above the yellow stripe on the top of the out-of-town scoreboard. It was ruled in play but the umpires huddled briefly. Crew chief Gary Cederstrom watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
05/03 DET @ HOU
In the top of the fourth inning, Victor Martinez' fly ball struck the yellow line at the top of the padded wall in RF and caromed back onto the field. It was ruled in play but the Tigers asked about the call. Crew chief Tim Welke watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/03 BAL @ ANA
In the bottom of the third, Erick Aybar's fly ball struck near the top of the short wall in RF and was ruled in play. Acting crew chief Wally Bell watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/03 OAK @ NYA
In the top of the sixth, Josh Donaldson's fly ball hit near the top of the wall in RF and was ruled in play. It appeared that a fan might have touched the ball so acting crew chief Jerry Meals watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/05 MIA @ PHI
In the top of the first, Marcell Ozuna's fly ball struck the top of the padded wall, caromed off the fence immediately behind and back onto the field. It was ruled in play. Crew chief Jeff Kellogg watched the replay and upheld the call. There are two metal fences at that spot in the park. The inner one is in play.
05/05 MIA @ PHI
In the top of the third, Adeiny Hechavarria's fly ball struck the metal fence above the RF wall. One umpire ruled in play and another ruled a home run. The ball caromed back onto the field and was thrown into the infield. Hechavarria stopped at 2B. Crew chief Jeff Kellogg watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run. This was a grand slam.
05/06 CHA @ KCA
In the top of the seventh, Alexei Ramirez hit a fly ball down the LF line on the fourth pitch that was ruled foul. White Sox manager Robin Ventura asked about the call so crew chief Gary Cederstom watched the replay and upheld the call. He said they did not have the proper angle to see whether the ball was fair or foul.
05/06 TOR @ TBA
In the bottom of the third inning, Kelly Johnson hit a high fly to CF that fell behind Colby Rasmus. Desmond Jennings held near 1B to see if the ball would be caught. The ball was ruled in play but Rays manager Joe Maddon asked about the call. Crew chief Tim Welke watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/08 OAK @ CLE
In the top of the ninth inning, Adam Rosales hit a fly that seemed to strike
the metal fence above and behind the yellow stripe at the top of the padded
wall in left center. The ball was ruled in play but Athletics manager Bob
Melvin asked about the call. Acting crew chief Angel Hernandez watched the
replay and upheld the call. Melvin argued after the ruling and was ejected
by Hernandez. The next day, a statement was released by the commissioner's
office that the ruling was "improper" but that it would stand because the
decision to reverse a call by use of instant replay is at the sole
discretion of the crew chief.
05/08 ATL @ CIN
In the top of the fourth, Evan Gattis hit a fly down the LF line that was ruled a foul ball. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez asked about the ruling so crew chief Gary Cederstrom watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/10 MIA @ LAN
In the top of the seventh, Chris Coghlan's fly ball hit the top of the padded wall and caromed back onto the field. It was ruled in play. Crew chief Tom Hallion watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/10 PIT @ NYN
In the top of the fifth, Garrett Jones hit a fly ball down the RF line. The ball struck the black concrete inches above the orange stripe at the top of the padded wall. It was ruled in play and Jones reached 3B on the play. Crew chief Joe West watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.
05/12 ATL @ SFN
In the bottom of the sixth, Marco Scutaro's fly ball to LF was touched by a fan. It was ruled fan interference and a double but the Braves said Justin Upton would have caught the ball. Acting crew chief Wally Bell watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/12 TEX @ HOU
In the top of the fifth inning, Adrian Beltre's fly ball struck the concrete arch above the yellow stripe in LF. It was ruled in play but crew chief Jeff Kellogg watched the replay and overturned the call to a homer.
05/18 TBA @ BAL
In the top of the third inning, Jose Molina's fly ball struck the top of the padded wall behind Adam Jones' outstretched arm. The ball caromed back onto the field and was ruled in play. Rays manager Joe Maddon asked about the ruling so crew chief Gerry Davis watched the replay and upheld the call.
05/19 TBA @ BAL
In the top of the sixth inning, Matt Joyce hit a fly ball down the RF line which was ruled fair and in play with Joyce reaching 2B. Orioles manager Buck Showalter talked to the umpires claiming it was a foul ball. The umpires huddled and Rays manager Joe Maddon came onto the field. Crew chief Gerry Davis watched the replay and overturned the call to a home run.The ball had actually struck the RF pole on the lowest part, which is painted black.
Reason Summary
Reason for Review Total Reversed Upheld
Fair/Foul 61 22 39
Fan Interference 51 8 43 (including one in wrong situation)
Over the Fence 212 78 134
Umpire Summary
Crew Chief Total Reversed Upheld
Ted Barrett 3 0 3
Wally Bell 10 2 8
Mark Carlson 1 0 1
Gary Cederstrom 20 8 12 (including one in wrong situation)
Derryl Cousins 14 4 10
Jerry Crawford 2 0 2
Fieldin Culbreth 1 0 1
Kerwin Danley 1 1 0
Gary Darling 11 2 9
Bob Davidson 3 0 3
Gerry Davis 19 8 11
Dana DeMuth 16 6 10
Paul Emmel 1 0 1
Mike Everitt 3 1 2
Brian Gorman 18 8 10
Tom Hallion 15 5 10
Angel Hernandez 3 1 2
John Hirschbeck 10 1 9
Sam Holbrook 1 0 1
Jim Joyce 4 1 3
Jeff Kellogg 17 5 12
Jerry Layne 16 3 13
Randy Marsh 2 2 0
Tim McClelland 13 3 10
Jerry Meals 2 1 1
Jeff Nelson 3 2 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 23 11 12
Tim Tschida 20 6 14
Larry Vanover 2 1 1
Tim Welke 25 7 18
Joe West 19 8 11
Mike Winters 14 23 11
Ballpark Summary
Park Total Reversed Upheld
Anaheim: Angel Stadium 12 1 11
Arlington: Rangers Ballpark 11 5 6
Atlanta: Turner Field 5 2 3
Baltimore: Camden Yards 14 4 10
Boston: Fenway Park 21 8 13
Chicago: U.S. Cellular Field 5 2 3
Chicago: Wrigley Field 5 4 1
Cincinnati: Great American Ballpark 14 1 13
Cleveland: Progressive Field 11 2 9
Denver: Coors Field 5 0 5
Detroit: Comerica Park 15 8 7
Houston: Minute Maid Park 19 5 14
Kansas City: Kauffman Stadium 13 2 11
Los Angeles: Dodger Stadium 2 0 2
Miami: Sun Life Stadium 6 3 3
Miami: Marlins Park 2 2 0
Milwaukee: Miller Park 9 6 3
Minneapolis: Metrodome 1 0 1
Minneapolis: Target Field 15 5 10
New York: Citi Field 18 9 9
New York: Yankee Stadium II 14 3 11
Oakland: Oakland-Alameda Co Stadium 5 2 3
Philadelphia: Citizens Bank Park 15 6 9
Phoenix: Chase Field 14 3 11
Pittsburgh: PNC Park 13 4 9
St. Louis: Busch Stadium III 10 4 6
St. Petersburg: Tropicana Field 12 5 7 (including one in wrong situation)
San Diego: PETCO Park 6 2 4
San Francisco: AT&T Park 8 3 5
Seattle: Safeco Field 9 2 7
Toronto: Rogers Centre 4 2 2
Washington: Nationals Park 11 1 10