On October 20, 2009, in an American League Championship Series game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels, McClelland made two highly publicized controversial calls. McClelland called Nick Swisher out for leaving the base too early when Swisher was tagging up on a fly ball.
On October 20, 2009, during an American League Championship Series game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels, McClelland issued two widely debated rulings. McClelland ruled Nick Swisher out when he tagged up too soon after hitting a fly ball.