For a few days earlier in June, the baseball world was abuzz about the near-perfect game thrown by young Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga.
Galarraga was indeed perfect for 8 and 2/3 innings. He had given up no hits, no walks. The Tigers had not made an error. 26 batters up. 26 consecutive outs.
Then, on what should have been the final play of the game, veteran umpire Jim Joyce missed a very close call at first base, costing the young hurler a rare achievement—and a touch of baseball immortality.
This type of “mistake”—an umpire missing a close play at one of the bases, happens relatively often. It usually leads to arguments and on occasion players and/or managers being tossed from the game. While umpires generally get it right, they can’t possibly be right all the time. But in most circumstances, the game doesn’t hinge on the one call, and the game goes on. There is no video replay in baseball for this type of play.
In this instance, baseball fans felt cheated because almost everyone loves these special moments in sports- records being broken or rare performances. But Joyce was so genuine in acknowledging his very human mistake immediately after the game—he called Galarraga to apologize, if I’m not mistaken—and spoke so candidly to reporters afterwards that he was “forgiven” by all concerned.
There were no excuses, no posturing. He saw the replay after the game, realized he got the call wrong, and felt badly that his judgment cost the young pitcher his moment of glory.
Ironically, but tellingly, Joyce was named the best umpire in baseball by a players poll that was released about two weeks after the “incident”. He clearly is a respected professional. And it may just be that he is considered the “best” not only because of his usually unerring judgment but because of the attitude he brings to work every day.
A lesson for everyone in sports, at all ages.
