Frank Victor Pulli (born March 22, 1935 in Easton, Pennsylvania) is a retired baseball umpire, working in the National League from 1972 until 1999. During his career, he officiated in four World Series (1978, 1983, 1990 (crew chief), and 1995), six National League Championship Series (1975, 1979, 1986, 1991, 1993, and 1997), four National League Division Series (1981, 1995, 1996 and 1998), and two All-Star games (1977 and 1988--crew chief). He also officated in the April 8, 1974 game in which Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record.[1]
Pulli wore uniform number 14 during his career.
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Pulli was involved in a controversial play in Game 5 of the 1978 World Series. In the 6th inning, New York Yankees outfielder Lou Pinella hit a low line drive to shortstop. Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Bill Russell dropped the ball momentarily (not ruled a catch by second base umpire Joe Brinkman), then flipped it to second baseman Davey Lopes, but Lopes' throw to first caromed off the leg of Reggie Jackson, standing in the baseline between first and second, and went behind first base. Thurman Munson scored (in part due to Steve Garvey stopping to argue before chasing the ball down) to make it a 3-2 game, but Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda immediately argued that Jackson should have been called out for interference. Pulli (umpiring at first base) maintained that Jackson did not "intentionally" interfere with the throw (despite Jackson ever-so-slightly shifting his leg to cause the ball to hit it) and the play stood. The Yankees went on to win Game 5, 4-3 in 10 innings, then the series in Game 6.
Pulli was the first AL, NL, or MLB umpire to use Instant Replay in a game. In 1999, the Marlins were hosting the Cardinals when Pulli used Instant Replay to review a home run call he had made.[2] The Marlins' Cliff Floyd had hit a ball to the top of the left field scoreboard, near the yellow line that separated in- from out-of-play. Originally ruled a home run, NL Umpire Frank Pulli reversed the call to a double, after consulting a dugout TV monitor. The Cardinals won the game, 5-2. After the game, the NL League Office declared the umpires erred in using Instant Replay. MLB would not use Instant Replay again for almost a decade.[3]