Armando Galarraga and the 20 Biggest Heartbreaks in Sports History

It may go down in history as the first 28-out perfect game in baseball history.

Armando Galarraga knew he had a perfect game. Miguel Cabrera made the throw to first, he watched as Jason Donald's feet weren't on the bag as his pitcher snatched the ball.

The only one who didn't know it was an out was umpire Jim Joyce. He called Donald safe, only to say after the game that he blew the call.

It was an act of contrition that shows Joyce is a great person, but it doesn't rewrite history.

Just add Wednesday night to the long list of sports heartbreaks. Where does it rank all time? Sorry, it only registers as an honorable mention compared to these 20 gut wrenchers.

20. Padres Deny Cubs

I believe the only reason Bartman gets so much hatred is because this memory was just getting too old. Cubs fans needed a new obsession.

Chicago was up 2-0 in the 1984 NLCS. The champagne was broken out. Then, somehow the Padres—the laughing stock, bad-uniformed, blandest team in sports—pulled off three straight wins.

19. Nebraska's Missed Conversion

Huskers legendary head coach Tom Osborne made one of the gutsiest or most boneheaded calls in coaching history—depending on your perspective.

Nebraska pulled to within one of Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl with 48 seconds left. Osborne wasn't about the tie. He went for two.

Ken Calhoun broke up Turner Gill's pass to give the Hurricanes their first title.

Don't feel too bad for Nebraska fans. Osborne went on to win three titles.

18. Webber's Timeout

The Fab Five was supposed to win.

There was not supposed to be a letdown.

I still look at the play and say, "What were you thinking?"

Chris Webber went on to make more than $100 million in the NBA, but he couldn't donate enough of it to the University of Michigan to make Wolverines fans forget that brain fart.

17. Andy Roddick at Wimbledon

I have never wanted a guy to win more than watching Andy Roddick against Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final.

There were so many chances. I just thought the mighty Federer was finally done and Roddick would finally get the ghosts of missed opportunities off his back.

The 16-14 fifth set was some of the most dramatic back-and-forth action in recent sports history.

Roddick handled it like a champion. He deserved to be one in that moment.

16. Ruffian Dies

I cry even thinking of this story—and I was only 2 when it happened.

My dad told this story over and over again when I was kid, about how the saddest thing he ever saw was Ruffian die.

Horse racing was still ultra-popular in 1975, to the point where TV execs put together match races.

This year, everyone wanted to see if a filly named Ruffian could beat Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure.

Quarter of the way through, Ruffian led when 18 million viewers saw the collapse.

Two bones broken. Hours of surgery. It wasn't enough. Ruffian thrashed after waking up and had to be put down.

The vet that worked on her teared up as he talked about the surgery.

"She only knew one way—her way—and that was her undoing," said Dr. Jim Prendergast. "There's the old cliché, 'speed kills.' Speed killed Ruffian."

15. Nick Anderson Free Throws

He was a 70 percent free-throw shooter. He wasn't Greg Kite or Shaq.

Yet Nick Anderson missed four straight free throws that could have sealed Game One of the 1995 NBA Finals. Instead, the Rockets won in overtime and swept the Magic.

It's one of those moments that is blamed for changing the course of a franchise —and possibly NBA history.

Think about it. Shaq stays in Orlando if he wins that title. No Kobe and Shaq. No Lakers titles.

Thanks, Brick.

14. Bruins Blow the Lead

Yeah, it has to be on the list. Whatever.

The Bruins belong in Cleveland.

I'm sorry, that's all I have to say on the subject.

Go Blackhawks!

13. The Wayne Gretzky Trade

The greatest player in the history was traded away in his prime on Aug. 10, 1988.

It's a pain that many of us can't relate to because hockey is simply not at our core.

This ruined a nation. Not just a town, though Edmonton was never the same.

After the trade was announced, Parliament member Nelson Riis implored the Canadian government to reverse the trade.

"Wayne Gretzky is a national symbol, like the beaver," he said.

12. The Browns Leave Cleveland

You just don't do this to a town that has endured more heartbreak than a sports-rich city ever deserves to shoulder.

Art Modell wanted his new stadium. He needed more money. When Cleveland refused to go bankrupt to give it to him, Modell moved the team to Baltimore.

It was a weird cosmic reward for former Colts fans full of abandonment issues. Browns fans deserved better. Thankfully, the NFL recognized that and got them a franchise back.

11. Donnie Moore

Boston fans should have seen Mookie Wilson coming.

Things like Dave Henderson hitting the winning homer off of Donnie Moore in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS just didn't happen.

It was an unfair moment for one of the best owners ever. Gene Autry deserved to see a win.

Moore couldn't handle the memories. He committed suicide the next year.

10. Barbaro

This one is still too fresh for many.

Barbaro ran away with the 2006 Kentucky Derby and was a huge favorite to win the Preakness. A bad start and then three broken bones.

We watched for six months through six operations before the horse finally had to be euthanized on Jan. 29, 2007.

9. The Tuck Rule

I wish I could muster more sympathy for Raiders fans, but your franchise deserves bad things with Al Davis at the helm.

It was the right call applied to a really bad rule. But Oakland still could have prevented the Patriots from moving into field goal range to win the 2002 divisional playoff.

8. Jordan Over Ehlo

The Shot.

Of all the shots in NBA history, this play gets nicknamed The Shot. It was that magical for Bulls fans and even more devastating for Cavs fans.

The Bulls had gone winless in six games against Cleveland in the regular season. With one Jordan classic, the Bulls won the playoff series, 3-2.

But it was just the first round ... don't go there, buddy.

It made many Cavs fans never want to return to their own arena after May 7, 1989.

7. The Hand of God Goal

This is why the guy gets a special porta-toilet if he wants one.

Diego Maradona technically scored two goals in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against England.

The first one was an illegal handball that English fans are still psychotic over. The death threats haven't stopped for 24 years.

6. The Giants Win the Pennant

I originally had the Giants and Dodgers leaving New York on my list. It was a heartbreak for two fan bases. I have buddies who still remember where they were when the news was announced.

This was a moment. It defined the rivalry. It defined Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson's lives.

"The Shot Heard 'Round the World" devastated Dodgers fans.

They've had many great moments in franchise history, but for one moment, Dodgers fans knew the pain of an Indians or Cubs fan.

5. Byner's Fumble

Earnest Byner deserved a better fate.

The Browns were three yards away from the Super Bowl in 1988. Byner took the handoff with 1:12 left in the game and ... the status quo remained in Cleveland.

4. Jose Mesa in '97

Just doing this list, I have a newfound empathy for Cleveland sports fans.

They're all over this compilation and Jose Mesa's blown save is right up at the top of it.

It was all set up. The Indians beat the Yankees. They took down the mighty Mariano Rivera.

They had a lead in the seventh game of the World Series. The exorcism of the Mistake By the Lake was about to be complete.

Oh, man. I feel for you, Cleveland.

3. Bartman

Was Moises Alou REALLY going to make the catch? The Cubs still had plenty of chances to win that game.

Steve Bartman will never be able to openly root for the team he adores.

I remember reading an article from a highly respected Chicago writer saying that MLB should put up invisible fences around the field that shocks fans to near death if they reach over the rail.

2. Norwood

My Bills fan friends wince when saying my last name, simply because it's a syllable in the worst word in their memories.

One kick, one miss went on to define the history of a franchise.

Scott Norwood deserved a better fate.

1. Buckner

My boss seemed to take a sick level of pleasure bringing this up this morning.

When I'm having a really great day, I pull the dusty videotape out of the closet and pop it in the one VCR left in my town that I reserve for this moment.

Suddenly, the world is back in balance.

For that moment, it seemed like life would not go on.

I wish I didn't blame Buckner. John McNamara should have put Dave Stapleton into the game for defense.

I still can't get over it. Two titles as an adult doesn't take away the moment that ruined my teenage years.