Following a lengthy appeals process, Major League Baseball on Monday upheld its firing of umpire Pat Hoberg for “sharing” sports betting accounts with a professional poker player and friend who bet on baseball, though there is no direct evidence Hoberg bet on baseball games himself or manipulated them while working.
Hoburg, in a statement via the Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA), said he made mistakes but denies betting on baseball games.
“I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement [by MLB]” Hoberg said. “Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me.
“Major League Baseball umpires are held to a high standard of personal conduct, and my own conduct fell short of that standard. That said, to be clear, I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form. I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me.”