*AL umpire Don Denkinger announces retirement*

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WATERLOO, Iowa (Ticker) -- Don Denkinger, whose three decades as
an umpire will be remembered most for an incorrect call in the
1985 World Series, has announced his retirement. 

Citing a lingering knee injury that has twice required surgery,
the 62-year-old Denkinger has informed the American League that
he will be unable to continue a major-league career that began
in 1969. 

His retirement takes effect December 31st, but Denkinger says he
will remain with the league as a supervisor and an evaluator of
umpires.  American League officials were not immediately
available to confirm Denkinger's new role. 

Denkinger will be remembered most for a call in Game Six of the
1985 World Series between Kansas City and St. Louis in which he
called the Royals' Jorge Orta safe on a close play at first base
in the ninth inning. 

Replays indicated that Denkinger missed the call and Kansas City
went on to win that game as well as Game Seven.  Denkinger
worked the plate in the seventh game and ejected Cardinals
manager Whitey Herzog and pitcher Joaquin Andujar. 

"It's a fact of life that the call was not correct," Denkinger
said today. "But I like to think it was a little blemish on a
distinguished career." 

Denkinger worked four World Series, three All-Star Games and
seven league championship series.  He did not work a game after
June 2nd this season due to the knee injury.