Armando Galarraga, Jim Joyce: One Bad Call, the Class Act of 2010

Winning is fleeting, here one minute, gone the next. The path to legend is filled with even more pratfalls, some easily evident, some happenstance.

Armando Galarraga learned all this pitching one June game for the Detroit Tigers this season. Galarraga saw a split-second call change what would have been an historic moment into a win that the record books said was a one-hitter.

In losing legend status, though, Galarraga and the Tigers became legendary. They lived Kipling's words that "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same ... you'll be a man, my son."

Galaragga stared at a moment that could have been crushing or maddening -- and smiled. More than that, he treated the man who cost him what would have been his ultimate triumph as he would a friend.

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The Tigers played the Cleveland Indians June 2, and Galarraga mowed down 26 in a row. The last hitter was Jason Donald, who understood history and a perfect game were at stake, but also understood the integrity of the game demanded he give his best.

He hit a grounder to the right side. First baseman Miguel Cabrera drifted to his right, caught the ball and threw to Galarraga covering first. The throw beat Donald -- except umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe. Joyce did what everyone does every day of their lives. He made a mistake – except his had historic consequences.

"I cost that kid a perfect game," Joyce said after the game, fully aware he cost Galarraga a piece of baseball immortality.

It happens every day, every game. Hits fall in. Ground balls go through legs. Calls are missed. Everyone makes mistakes -- yet the way the Tigers and Joyce handled this mistake ensures true immortality -- because their tale will live forever.
" Galarraga and Joyce are two true gentlemen, period, in the way that they handled themselves. People will always remember that. I'll never forget it."
-- Brandon Inge
Galarraga did not argue. He put his hands on his head, smiled, went back to the mound and got the last out. Joyce went in the clubhouse and immediately looked at the play. He realized he missed the call, and admitted it publicly, saying: "That was the most important call of my life, and I kicked it." He did not hide.

He asked Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski if he could see Galarraga, and Dombrowski had the pitcher brought to the umpires room. Joyce apologized -- profusely. Galaragga hugged him.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland learned from reporters that Joyce was distraught. He said he had to get over there, immediately went to Joyce, and told him the two should have a beer together. Leyland commiserated, told him mistakes happen, that he'd made plenty.

The statements from the Tigers following the game were filled with disappointment and graciousness. They did not torch Joyce, as they could have, but praised him for his years of stellar work as an umpire.

Joyce did not sleep that night, but declined baseball's offer to skip the next game. Instead he was behind the plate. When he went to home plate before the game, his face was twisted in emotion, tears filling his eyes. Fans gave him an ovation.

Leyland sent Galarraga to the plate to present the lineup card. There, Galarraga and Joyce shook hands -- and Joyce wiped away more tears. The two patted each other on the back, Galarraga smiled and headed back to the dugout.

Fans applauded – the pitcher and the gesture.

Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge called the moment "one of the coolest things I've ever seen," adding: "Galarraga and Joyce are two true gentlemen, period, in the way that they handled themselves. People will always remember that. I'll never forget it."

Nor should anyone.

Cleveland was involved merely because it was the other team, but it was the other team another time a famous meeting at home plate took place. The day after Cal Ripken set the all-time record for consecutive games played he visited Cleveland.

The Indians had Eddie Murray join his former teammate at home plate before the game as Murray and Ripken brought out lineup cards. Fans responded with a standing ovation.

Fans gave another standing ovation when Ripken took his position, but in the first inning when Ripken dove to steal a base hit from Kenny Lofton, fans booed.

That's baseball.

Just as missed calls are baseball.

Galarraga went on to go 4-9 in an unmemorable season. The Tigers finished in third place, 81-81. Joyce went on to umpire more games commendably and fairly.

That's baseball.

But the way they handled their moment ... that's character.

One famous decision dominated the news in sports this year. That decision was carried out with plenty of forethought.

In this game, for this play, players, a manager and an umpire had to make instant decisions, in the heat of the moment.

The way they handled it taught us more than we could have asked.