Two days ago, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga made nationwide news for what amounted to an imperfect “perfect” game.
As most probably know by now, a perfect game in baseball is retiring all 27 opposing batters in order (3 per inning, 9 innings), allowing none to reach base. No walks, base hits, errors…nothing. It’s a no-hitter plus.
How rare is the feat? Since 1880, it’s only been done 20 times! In the history of the game! Assuming conservatively that over 200,000 games have been played in Major League Baseball, that means a perfect game has been pitched in about 1/10,000th of 1 percent of the games.
By now pretty much everyone knows what happened. Heck, it’s even been discussed on The View. On the play that would have been the last out of the game, the first baseman’s throw to Galarraga, who was running to cover the base, got there in plenty of time. The umpire, Jim Joyce, ruled that the base runner was safe, that he had beaten the throw. Unfortunately, players on the field, fans in the stands – even the base runner – all knew that the call was wrong, which was later confirmed in video replays. In fact, it wasn’t even close.
Galarraga never complained. He got the next batter out and won the game. On-field arguments erupted after the game, but not by Galarraga.
Joyce viewed the replays a few minutes later, and admitted he’d made a huge mistake. He immediately understood the significance of the call, and displayed great remorse. He asked to meet Galarraga in-person, and apologized profusely. Mr. Galarraga accepted the apology, and later smiled during countless interviews. He expressed sincere sympathy…
…for the umpire!
Stating numerous times that “we’re all human and nobody’s perfect,” Galarraga showed class and poise far beyond anything I’ve seen in a long, long time. I’m sure the disappointment of having every pitcher’s dream – something he legitimately earned — unfairly taken away from him must have been eating him up inside. But he stayed on the high road.
Being in the image business, I was reminded that sometimes all the branding, marketing and advertising in the world doesn’t even come close to the impact that special people, the real deal-types, can have. This kid was, and is, absolutely the real deal.
The irony is that his reaction probably did more for his image, that of his ball club, and the game of baseball than a clean, “perfect game” would have. Go figure.
Perfect game, no. Perfect image, absolutely. Congratulations, Mr. Galarraga.
And thanks.
Paula 06/04/2010
So true. In a world of overpaid petulant sport stars Galarraga showed what some of the greatest players have in the past. Class, humilty and a true love of the game.
Mike Reno 06/04/2010
Galarraga was indeed classy. And Joyce too, who honorably admitted his mistake and showed sincere remorse.
They stand in stark contrast to a mob of rude, obnoxious “fans” who have been verbally attacking and threatening only Joyce, but is family over a mistake made in a game.
When looking at this from a marketing perspective… do marketers too often play to the mob, given it’s popularity, even if it’s wrong.
I watch thousands of people join “Fire Joyce” pages, and I have yet to see a “Galarraga is a Classy Guy” page.
Alan V 06/07/2010
as upset it was I would call it a happy ending considering the behavior of all concerned party’s.