Pat Hoberg earned a significant salary during his decade-long career in Major League Baseball before his recent controversial firing.
Former MLB umpire Pat Hoberg, who made his professional debut in 2014, is popular as one of the best umpires in the Major Leagues.
With his exceptional judgment and communication skills, Pat Hoberg quickly gained popularity as an umpire among MLB fans.
We Need To Appreciate Umpire Pat Hoberg's Perfect Game Behind The Plate In Game 2 Of The World Series https://t.co/l1m2mbriMJ pic.twitter.com/9KASVGpGRP
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 31, 2022
Furthemore, Pat Hoberg was one of four umpires promoted to the full-time staff in February 2017, which significantly increased his salary.
For the 2018 regular season, he was one of the Top 10 performing home plate umpires in terms of accuracy in calling balls and strikes.
Similarly, on October 29, 2022, during Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, Hoberg called the first-ever perfect game by the umpire, correctly calling 129 of 129 pitches, which earned him widespread praise from baseball fans and commentators.
Regarding his income during his over 10-year tenure with MLB, Pat Hoberg likely earned a salary of around $400k annually as a top-tier umpire.
Additionally, umpires earn around $17,500 per playoff series and around $20k for the World Series.
Hoberg’s additional earnings from officiating playoff games, the 2022 World Series, and bonuses also boosted his total income.
Although Pat Hoberg showcased his amazing skills as one of the best umpires in MLB, he did not umpire any games during the 2024 season following his gambling controversy.
On June 14, 2024, MLB suspended Hoberg after an investigation into his violation of the league’s gambling rules, however Hoberg initially appealed the decision, denying having bet on baseball.
MLB fired Pat Hoberg Following His Involvement In Sports Glambling!
MLB fired umpire Pat Hoberg on Monday, February 3, 2025, for sharing his legal sports betting accounts with a professional poker player who bet on baseball games.
Furthermore, Pat Hoberg was also fired for intentionally deleting electronic messages important to the league’s investigation.
Umpire Pat Hoberg has been fired by MLB after an investigation showed he shared a sports betting account with a friend who bet on baseball pic.twitter.com/Jb5QhsRtTO
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 3, 2025
MLB stated that the initial investigation in May 2024 did not uncover evidence that Hoberg personally bet on baseball or manipulated games from his electronic devices.
However, the league found that Pat Hoberg shared an account with the Poker Player, who bet on baseball via their shared account, including eight games that Hoberg was part of as an on-field umpire or replay official.
According to reports, the MLB stated that the poker player, who is also Pat’s friend, made 141 baseball bets between April 2, 2021, and November 1, 2023, totaling almost $214,000. The player won nearly $35,000 overall.
One of those contests was Game 4 of the 2021 World Series.
Never forget when Pat Hoberg called a PERFECT GAME in the World Series 🤯 pic.twitter.com/k5OwWMOzMT
— Baseball Lifestyle™ (@BsbLifestyle__) November 26, 2024
Moreover, Hoberg’s devices placed 417 direct bets with Sportsbook A between December 30, 2020, and Jan 15, 2024, on the friend’s accounts, totaling $487,475.83, which lost $53,189.65 on average.
The devices placed at least 112 bets with Sportsbook B, totaling $222,130, resulting in an aggregate loss of $21,686.96. The most direct bets were on football, basketball, hockey, and golf.
Pat Hoberg stated:
“I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement; 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.I apologize to Major League Baseball and the entire baseball community for my mistakes, I vow to learn from them and to be a better version of myself moving forward.”
Furthermore, Pat Hoberg and the gambler met at a poker tournament in 2014 and became friends.
Pat Hoberg began placing sports bets indirectly through the player in 2016, and when sports betting became legal in Iowa in 2019, the player shared his account with Hoberg, allowing him to place bets from the shared account.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Pat Hoberg was born Patrick Hoberg on September 11, 1986, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States.
- He graduated from Urbandale High School and Grand View University in Iowa.
- Pat Hoberg can apply for reinstatement no earlier than 2026 spring training.
