Robot Umpires 1950s Style

Umpire Augie Donatelli protests the then space aged concept of an electronically gauged strike zone

The Brooklyn Dodgers' legendary GM Branch Rickey kick-started the idea with technological help from General Electric. The system used mirrors and photoelectric cells. It was tested during spring training in the 1950s but the system didn't quite satisfy the eras baseball brain trust because of ball and strike calls that were deemed inaccurate. Some 75 years later in 2025 baseball debuted an Automated Ball-Strike system (ABS). The system debuted at 13 Spring Training parks and received very positive reviews. Each team had two challenges and lost them if the umpire's original call was correct. The challenge had to be made on the field by either the catcher, pitcher, or batter. ABS will most likely debut in MLB regular season games in 2026.

augiedonatelli.com