In case you have missed this, Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers had a perfect game into the 9th inning last night. For those who are not baseball fans, a perfect game is when a pitcher faces 27 batters in 9 innings, and none of them reach first base. This feat has only been done 20 times in baseball history. Well, the 27th batter, of which would have been the final batter, got to first base on a bad umpire call. Click the image below for the replay. What I found remarkable is after umpire Jim Joyce saw the replays, admitted he was wrong and apologized to pitcher Armando Galarraga. Not only did Galarraga accept Joyce's apology, but did so graciously and with a smile on his face. It is unfortunate Armando Galarraga missed his perfect game, but the responses by both Jim Joyce and Armando Galarraga are priceless, true examples of class and sportsmanship.
Update:
Umpire Jim Joyce meets Armando Galarraga at home plate today, shakes hands.
I heard the end of a discussion about this as I was getting ready this morning and was wondering what the story was. Thanks for including the video and story!
It won't go in the record books as a perfect game, but I'm sure it will be remembered by millions of baseball fans as perfect.
Here's hoping Bud Selig gives Armando the perfect game anyway. Both side showed a lot of class in this one. :)
Armando showed great sportsmanship as did the whole Tiger orginization at this afternoons game.
I don't believe the commissioner is going to do anything.
You are correct on both points Mike. Sadly, the commissioner came out yesterday and said he would not do anything.
Whether of not the commissioner called it perfect, thousands of fans know perfect when they see it.
That kid couldn't have handled the situation any better. Both men are stand up guys for the way they acted after the fact.