Don Denkinger is probably best known for being an umpire in baseball’s major leagues for more than 30 years. But before being an umpire, he was a Wartburg Knight.
Denkinger was born and raised in Cedar Falls and entered Wartburg in the fall of 1954. The wrestling program attracted Denkinger to Wartburg after he wrestled at Cedar Falls High School.
“I thought that I could compete at that level in wrestling,” Denkinger said.
His parents agreed to pay his tuition and his sisters, who were attending Wartburg, contributed to his choice.
He wrestled at Wartburg for three years, starting each year at different weight classes; 137, 147 and 157. Denkinger majored in sports management while at Wartburg, living in Vollmer his first two years.
Denkinger attended Wartburg until 1957 when he transferred to the University of Northern Iowa. His stay at UNI didn’t last long. He was soon drafted into the Army.
After leaving the Army in 1959, Denkinger headed to Daytona Beach, Fla., where he attended Al Summer’s School of Umpiring. He graduated in 1960.
After stints in such leagues as the Alabama-Florida League, the Northwest League and the Texas League, Denkinger made it to the American League in 1969.
During his tenure as an AL umpire, Denkinger was behind home plate for many big games, including seven AL championships, three All-Star Games, and four World Series.
Denkinger is best known for the 1985 World Series. During the ninth inning of game six of the series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals, Denkinger made a controversial call at first base.
He called Royals runner Jorge Orta safe, not realizing that Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell had the ball in his glove and was at first base before Orta touched.
The Royals won that game 2-1. They would blow out the Cardinals the next night and win the World Series. The call upset many Cardinal fans, prompting some to threaten Denkinger.
That wasn’t Denkinger’s last World Series as umpire, however. He would umpire the 1991 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves.
He was behind the plate for game seven, when Twins ace, Jack Morris, threw 10 shutout innings. The game ended in the 10th inning when Gene Larkin hit a series-winning single.
Denkinger also had the honor of being behind home plate for the one game playoff in 1978, between the Yankees and the Red Sox.
Physically unable to perform as an umpire, Denkinger retired during the 1998 season. He plays golf and spends his winters in Arizona, occasionally coming back to see an event at Wartburg.
His nephew’s son, Scott Bergman, played for the Knights basketball team and graduated last year.
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