Pat Hoberg

{{short description|American baseball umpire (born 1986)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | number = 31 | name = Pat Hoberg | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|9|11|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | image = Pat Hoberg (15046618471) (cropped).jpg | width = | caption = Hoberg in 2014 | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = March 31 | debutyear = 2014 | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = September 17 | finalyear = 2023 | highlights = '''''Special Assignments''''' *Wild Card Games (2018, 2020) *Division Series (2019, 2021, 2022) *League Championship Series (2020) *World Series (2022) *World Baseball Classic (2023) *Field of Dreams Game (2021) *MLB Little League Classic (2017) * Called a perfect game on October 29, 2022. | hofdate = | hofvote = | hofmethod = }} '''Patrick Hoberg''' (born September 11, 1986) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. Hoberg was the home plate umpire for Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, during which he did not make a single incorrect ball or strike call. This accomplishment, characterized as a "perfect game" for an umpire, was the first such game since MLB began tracking pitch locations using Statcast in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last= |first= |title=2022 World Series: Umpire Pat Hoberg called perfect game in Astros' Game 2 win |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2022-world-series-umpire-pat-hoberg-called-perfect-game-in-astros-game-2-win |date=November 1, 2022 |accessdate=May 4, 2025 |website=Fox Sports}}</ref> Hoberg was widely regarded as the best ball-strike umpire in MLB.<ref name=firing/>

==Career== A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Hoberg graduated from Urbandale High School and Grand View University.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Birch|first1=Tommy|title=Sunday Stretch: Urbandale umpire Hoberg gets MLB break|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/2014/04/05/urbandale-umpire-pat-hoberg-makes-mlb-debut/7354109/|accessdate=February 23, 2017|work=Des Moines Register|date=April 5, 2014}}</ref>

Hoberg made his Major League debut in 2014, and was one of four umpires promoted to the full-time staff in February 2017, upon the retirements of Bob Davidson, John Hirschbeck, Jim Joyce, and Tim Welke.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 22, 2017 |title=4 new umps as Hirschbeck, Welke, Davidson, Joyce retire |url=https://apnews.com/4-new-umps-as-hirschbeck-welke-davidson-joyce-retire-675aafc93bbd4a78a3888d1374ffad20 |accessdate=2025-03-12 |work=Associated Press}}</ref>

For the 2018 regular season, he was found to be a Top 10 performing home plate umpire in terms of accuracy in calling balls and strikes. His error rate was 7.93 percent. This was based on a study conducted at Boston University where 372,442 pitches were culled and analyzed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Mark T. |date=2019-04-08 |title=MLB Umpires Missed 34,294 Ball-Strike Calls in 2018. Bring on Robo-umps? |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2019/mlb-umpires-strike-zone-accuracy |accessdate=June 29, 2019 |website=BU Today}}</ref>

In August 2021, Hoberg was assigned as the home plate umpire for the inaugural Field of Dreams game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox in Dyersville, Iowa.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

===Perfect game=== On October 29, 2022, during Game 2 of the 2022 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, Hoberg called a "perfect game" with 129 of 129 taken pitches called correctly. Hoberg received widespread praise from both fans and commentators of baseball.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weisman|first=Max|date=October 30, 2022 |title=MLB umpire Pat Hoberg praised for calling 'perfect game' in World Series |url=https://nypost.com/2022/10/30/mlb-umpire-pat-hoberg-calls-perfect-game-in-2022-world-series/ |access-date=October 30, 2022 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Gambling investigation=== On June 14, 2024, MLB announced that Hoberg was disciplined following an investigation into a violation of the league's gambling rules. Hoberg appealed the decision, denying having bet on baseball. He did not umpire any games during the 2024 season.<ref>{{cite web |last=Passan |first=Jeff |date=2024-06-14 |title=MLB Disciplines Umpire Pat Hoberg |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40351784/mlb-disciplines-umpire-pat-hoberg-violating-gambling-rules-sources-say/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=ESPN |language=en-US}}</ref> It was later revealed that the investigation began in February, and he was initially fired on May 31.<ref name="firing" />

On February 3, 2025, MLB fired Hoberg for violation of the league's gambling rules following the appeal. It was found that he shared betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games, and that Hoberg deleted evidence pertaining to the league's investigation. He can apply for reinstatement for the 2026 MLB season.<ref name="firing">{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jesse |date=2025-02-03 |title=MLB upholds firing of ump for gambling violations |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43680990/mlb-upholds-firing-ump-pat-hoberg-gambling-violations |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/H/Phobep901.htm Retrosheet] *[https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/umpire_card/193192/ The Baseball Cube]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoberg, Pat}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Major League Baseball umpires Category:Sportspeople from Des Moines, Iowa Category:Grand View University alumni