The year is 1985. A series so sweet, even non-baseball lovers could hardly resist the thrill. A match up so classic, sports lovers will forever relish in the glory of a rivalry perfectly paired.

The 1985 World Series between the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals will never be forgotten.  The iconic I-70 series. Whether it was because of two rival cities meeting on baseball’s biggest stage, or because it was the only time the Kansas City Royals have ever won the World Series, many still argue the series will forever remain in the history books because of Don Denkinger’s “blown” call in game six at first base, declaring Kansas City Royal Jorge Orta safe.

Many loyal royal fans, to their dying days, will maintain that Denkinger made the right call. However, many argue that Orta was out. Had he been out, the Cardinals would have won the World Series in six games. The Royals rallied after the call, won the game, and forced a game seven.

Being raised in a Cardinal-Royals house divided, it cannot be denied that many dinner table conversations have been spent debating this call. But in the end, the same question always arises: What would have happened if baseball allowed instant replay when this call was made?

If the 1985 World Series suddenly time traveled to 2014, we may find out. On Aug. 15, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced that the MLB would now allow instant replay to be used in order to prevent wrong calls from being made. ESPN reported that “a 75 percent vote by the owners is needed for approval, and the players’ association and umpires would have to agree to any changes to the current system.”

Baseball can be seen as a slow moving, relaxing game with some of the the thrill resting in the umpires’ hands.

It is always riveting to see a tie at the plate. It is always compelling. Gripping your seat handles, rising to your feet, seeing what the umpire rules. There is no greater feeling as a baseball fan than when the umpire sweeps his hands out and belts out “safe”, declaring your favorite player beat the baseman. Safe. There is great pride in the fact there is no way to go back and check or change the call. What the umpire says, goes.

But according to ESPN, umpires have come under heightened criticism following several missed calls. So, beginning in the 2014 season, managers will be allowed to challenge one call over the first six innings of a game, and two from the seventh inning to the end of the game. Calls that are challenged will be reviewed by a crew in MLB headquarters, and they will make a final ruling during the game.

Mary Kerns, senior, has played softball at Sion all four years. She feels instant replay will be a good addition to the sport of baseball, and said she would like to have this feature in softball.

“I would love to have instant replay in softball. Just the other day in the St. Teresa vs. Sion softball game, I got called out when I was safe,” Kerns said. “If softball had instant replay, the umpire would have seen I was safe when officials reviewed the call.”

While this new policy will increase the integrity of the game, some of the fun will be gone, eliminating the potential of classic controversies over close, unchangeable, calls.

Robert Lampen, math teacher and Cardinals baseball enthusiast, said although he enjoys the game as it is, he believes instant replay is acceptable for certain plays.

“I tend to be a purist when it comes to sports,” Lampen said, “but I think instant replay is okay in certain situations and the post season.”

Picture the image of Denkinger ruling Orta safe, but Whitey Herzog, Cardinal’s manager at the time, passionately requesting a review. Officials would most likely have changed the call, and ruled Orta out. The outcome of the world series would be much different. The Cardinals would have won the game, and therefore the I-70 series. The Royals would still have no World Series title, and this classic sports disagreement would be non-existent.

With the implementation of  instant replay in the MLB, the question arises, is it better for the umpires to sometimes be wrong, and the game often have a thrilling twist if they made a bad call? Or is it better for all calls to be 100 percent correct, and the players be completely responsible for everything that occurs?

Perhaps all judgements should be reserved until the 2014 MLB season when instant replay will be implemented, and the game forever changed.