While fans are used to seeing managers and players ejected from a game, on May 9, 1984, for the first time in baseball history, two cameramen were ejected from a game, as shown on this Youtube video:
Technically, West had the rule book on his side, as both then and currently, replays may not be shown to the teams in the dugout during a game. As quoted in the Washington Post after the game, Davey Johnson stated, “You never win those arguments, but you go out there to try to get the guy to at least say, ‘I blew the call,’ ” Johnson said. “He gives me that, I go away. But West said to me, ‘Check the replay.’ So I did.”
West, after the game, was quoted as saying “I threw them out. No big deal.” Which is exactly the point why West was wrong. First he blew the call. Secondly, his ejection kept fans from seeing that camera angle for the rest of the game. Finally, he had the attitude that ejecting two cameramen (first time in the history of baseball) was “No big deal.” That attitude is exactly why West is one of the all-time leaders in umpire ejections.
Despite the poor call, the Mets won the game 3 – 1.
Cowboy Joe West is now President of the World Umpires Association. Supporters of Mr. West can note that he has also umpired three All-Star Games (1987, 2005, 2007); the League Championship Series in 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014 and 2018); the World Series in 1992, 1997, 2005, 2009, 2012, and 2016.
LGM
