Hello, replay!

Frank Pulli checking out the replay 26 years ago today in Florida

One of the earliest uses – if not the earliest use – of television replay to overturn a call comes 26 years ago today as umpire Frank Pulli overturns a home run hit by Cliff Floyd in the fifth inning of the Florida Marlins’ 5-2 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Instead of a home run to left field off of Cardinals starter Kent Bottenfield, Floyd gets credit for a double that scores Alex Gonzalez from second to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 4-2 before a Memorial Day Monday afternoon crowd of 21,943.

Cliff Floyd disagrees with the ruling

Floyd originally is credited a double by second base umpire Greg Gibson, but Pulli – the crew chief – overrules Gibson and gives Floyd a homer.

Pulli then retreats to a TV camera and monitor next to the Marlins’ dugout and reviews the play.

Over and over.

Pulli then overturns his own decision, leaving Gibson’s initial call to stand and leaves the Marlins, well, both perplexed and agitated.

Major League Baseball tells Pulli to never do that again.

The 64-year-old Pulli eventually retires after the 1999 season after bitter contract negotiations between the umpires’ union and MLB.

Nine years later, in 2008, MLB officially begins using replay reviews.