goyestoeverything.com: Bad Call, Good Lesson

Something happened this week on a baseball field that shocked me. Actually it was what happened after that shocked me.

A young man was on the verge of accomplishing something that had only been done 20 times in the history of baseball, over the course of hundreds of thousands of games dating back to the nineteenth century.

The pitcher was on the verge of throwing a perfect game, 27 up, 27 out.

You may view chapter the first here.

But the umpire blew the call. I was initially struck by the dignity of the pitcher, Mr Galarraga. In that second of heartbreak, as he smiled, his true character came through. For a moment, I thought about his parents, and what a good job they did in raising such a young man, who could conduct himself with such grace in the face of injustice.

Mr. Leyland, the wily veteran manager of Detroit came out from the dugout to argue the call, but he knew it was spilt milk, and there was little to be gained by publicly belittling a man who had made a catastrophic mistake.

The umpire, Mr. Joyce, himself a highly respected professional, then reviews the tape after the game, and realises his mistake. He has cost this kid his historic moment.

With tears streaming down his eyes he knocks on the door to the Detroit clubhouse to apologize to the kid, and admit his mistake.

Umpires never do this. Both Mr. Leyland and Mr. Galarraga publicly forgive Mr. Joyce with a shrug of the shoulders, the latter adding "nobody's perfect".

While people have been imploring the head of baseball, Bud Selig, to overturn the call and award a perfect game, I don't agree. Bad calls are an aspect in all the games that we play, and sometimes they must be stoically accepted. While his perfect game was wrongfully taken, Mr Galarraga can rightfully claim to be the only pitcher to retire 28 consecutive batters in a nine inning game. No one else can.

The following day the same two teams played. The umpire, Mr. Joyce was given the option to take the day off, but he refused. He later said " I dreaded walking on to that field, but it was my job".

As he walked on to the field he was greeted with a smattering of boo's. But word of his tearful apology had gotten round. I know that "to err is human, but to forgive, divine". I just never thought I'd see it played out in a modern day baseball park.

Prior to a game, each team must submit a lineup card. This is usually done by a manager or a coach depending on the team. It is never done by a player.

But on this night, Mr. Leyland sent Mr. Galarraga to submit the lineup card to Mr. Joyce.

As they met behind home plate, the crowd who had been robbed of an historic moment only an evening ago, rose to their feet in salute to the integrity of both men.

Maybe there is a shred of hope that this world can do the right thing after all. If only we could admit to our own imperfections, and accept the imperfections of others, then things would be perfect.

Like a diamond.