Why Armando Galarraga Should Still Go into the History Books

By now, everyone knows about the call heard around the world. It's been played countless times on TV and the internet. It's been discussed non-stop by every talking head and fan of the sports world.

Everyone knows what happened on Wednesday evening.

In case you were in a remote South African jungle village that has yet to embrace the wonders of satellite television, let me set the scene for you.

Bottom of the ninth in Detroit. Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga has one out left to become the 21st pitcher in MLB history to complete the perfect game. Indians infielder Jason Donald hits a routine ground ball that was cut off by Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera fielded the ball, and threw it to Galarraga who was covering first. 

Galarraga caught the ball and stepped on first and went down in the hist...not so fast!

First base umpire, and one of the best in the game, Jim Joyce, called Donald safe at first even though he was out by a step. That call blew Galarraga's perfect game and took his name off the record books.

After the game, Joyce retreated back to the locker room and watched replays of the now infamous call. He broke down in tears as he realized Donald was out. Joyce was so distraught that he requested to speak with Galarraga. The pair even shared hugs.

Today, Joyce was behind the plate for a matinee tilt between the Tigers and Indians. Walking out onto the field, Joyce was obviously in tears. He didn't even try to hide it. Fortunately, the Detroit faithful didn't drown the poor guy in a chorus of boos, and instead gave him a warm round of applause as he stood by home plate.

Then, instead of Jim Leyland handing Joyce the lineup card, a forgiving Armando Galarraga walked out from the dugout and handed the card to a crying Jim Joyce and the two greeted each other. Finally, Galarraga retreated back to the Tigers dugout to a loud ovation.

Now, even though Galarraga won't be immortalized in Cooperstown for throwing the 21st perfect game, and the third in just 25 days, Galarraga should still go into the history books along with Jim Joyce.

Why is that?

In a sports world that is seemingly always encased in scandal or controversy; what Joyce, the Tigers fans, and most of all, Galarraga showed today was nothing short of amazing.

It would have been nothing for Galarraga to berate Joyce for the rest of the week. It would have been nothing for Joyce to act in a cold manner about it. It would have been nothing for the Tigers fans to boo Joyce back into the locker room this afternoon. That's the easy and almost common way to deal with things in today's sports world.

We've seen it a lot. A big example is when Serena Williams berated and threatened a female line judge at the tennis U.S. Open. It was hard to watch as the giant Williams barked at the very small line judge for several minutes. But that didn't stop Serena from being nam ed Female Athlete of the Year by the AP.

Why does someone who physically threatened an official deserve to be named Female Athlete of the year? That's easy, because we've become so immune to seeing these spoiled athletes complain to everyone who will listen when they feel they've been wronged.

Instead of going into a Williams' like temper tantrum, Galarraga forgave Joyce. The Tigers forgave Joyce. And the fans forgave Joyce.

To be frank, you don't see that very often anymore.

This is why Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce should go down in the sports history books. Not next to Roy Halladay, Sandy Koufax, Jim Larsen, or Dallas Braden. But rather, these two should be put into a little known chapter entitled "Great people of sports and the world." 

Sure, that chapter is dwarfed by the many chapters dealing with the folllowing: Strip club scandals, drugs, steroids, intentional hits to the head, the bringing of guns into locker rooms, and alleged rape cases. Those chapters will never be surpassed.

But because Joyce was brave enough to stand up and own up to his mistake, and because Galarraga was big enough of a man to forgive Joyce, that small little chapter located in the back of the Sports History book will always continue to grow, no matter how slow.

We need more Armando Galarraga's and Jim Joyce's in the sports world.