Instant replay is used for the first time in a major league game

This Day In Baseball

On September 3, 2008 — Instant replay is used for the first time in a major league game.

Yankee Alex Rodriguez’s towering fly ball off Troy Percival which bounces off the Tropicana Field catwalk behind the foul pole in left field, is immediately ruled a home run by Brian Runge. The third base umpire’s decision, which is disputed by Rays catcher Dioner Navarro, proves to be correct as the men in blue take 2 minutes, 15 seconds to review the video, becoming the first crew to use the new instant-replay system since its implementation last week.