Last night, in front of a hometown crowd in the Motor City, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was robbed of a perfect game. With two down in the top of the ninth, the 28-year-old Venezuelan hustled to first base to catch Miguel Cabrera’s throw that should have sealed the first perfect game in Detroit Tigers history. But umpire Jim Joyce called Cleveland’s Jason Donald safe and Comerica Park erupted in boos and shouts that carried on through the next batter and final out.
After the game, Joyce apologized, saying, “I did not get the call correct ... I just cost that kid a perfect game.” Though Galarraga was graceful, telling reporters, “Nobody’s perfect,” apologies won’t give Galarraga his perfect game back. But a reversal of the call by Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig could. With the exception of questionable home runs, there is no instant replay in baseball. So, despite Joyce’s repentance, the game still stands as a one-hit shutout.
It wouldn’t be the first reversal in baseball history. On July, 24, 1983, George Brett came to the plate with his Kansas City Royals trailing the New York Yankees 4-3 in the top of the ninth. Brett knocked a two-run home run out of the park to give the Royals the 5-4 lead. But Yankees manager Billy Martin requested that Brett’s bat be examined. Rookie umpire Tim McClelland ruled that Brett’s bat, slathered with pine tar, exceeded the rule that “a bat may not be covered by such a substance more than 18 inches from the tip of the handle.” Brett was ruled out, the home run nullified, and the Yankees notched another W.
The Royals protested the call and American League President Lee MacPhail overruled McClelland’s decision, restoring Brett’s game-winning home run, and ordered the game be resumed with two out in the top of the ninth and the Royals in the lead 5-4. Joyce doesn’t want to have this asterisk next to his name for the rest of his career and Galarraga certainly doesn’t. Do the right thing, Bud, reverse it! If only for the sake of vindication. Besides, the state of Michigan doesn’t need another soul-crushing defeat.
