MLB
OTD in 2010: Armando Galarraga Was Robbed of MLB’s 21st Perfect Game
June 2, 2010: Armando Galarraga lost his chance at a perfect game in the 9th inning after umpire Jim Joyce made a bad call at first base
Detroit Tigers/YouTube
Bad calls happen, even with the best technology available. High-definition footage and instant replay could not make much of a difference until rulebooks were updated. All cameras did then was allowed fans and players to confirm what they already knew: the ref was wrong. More often than not, bad calls do not have much impact on the overall outcome of a game.
They serve mostly as annoyances or something of an excuse. On occasion wrong calls can have an impact, historical impact, as is the case of Armando Galarraga. The Tigers’ pitcher was one out away from the 21st perfect game in MLB history until umpire Jim Joyce made a call that changed the record books.
ARMANDO GALARRAGA LOST THE DETROIT’S ONLY PERFECT GAME DUE TO A BAD CALL
It happened in an altogether inconsequential June game between the Tigers and Indians. Neither team would be in the playoff picture by October. Detroit held a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 9th and Jason Donald was at-bat for the Indians with two outs and a 1-1 count. The game appeared all but over. What made this game significant was the performance of pitcher Armando Galarraga. This was about to be a perfect game, the 21st in MLB history and the first for the Detroit franchise. Jason Donald hit a ground ball that first basemen Miguel Cabrera cut off and tossed back to Galarraga who had raced to the base.
The TV view was unclear, neither announcer had a clue what to call it but first base umpire Jim Joyce made his judgment. Donald was safe and the perfect game lost. A quick look at the replay revealed the call to be incorrect, the runner had been beaten by the throw. Jim Joyce readily admitted after, “No I did not get the call correct…I had a great angle on it, I had great positioning on it. I just missed the damn call.” Galarraga and Joyce both petitioned for the MLB to award the perfect game despite the call to no avail. The mistake pushed the MLB to expand instant replay rules to prevent similar errors, but the damage was already done.
June 2, 2010: Detroit #Tigers SP Armando Galarraga came 1 out away from the MLB’s 21st Perfect Game but umpire Jim Joyce called the runner safe even though the replay showed he was out at 1st base. Galarraga would get the next batter out
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 2, 2021
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