On June 28, 2010, Armando Galarraga was one out away from making history at Comerica Park in Detroit. The Venezuelan pitcher had thrown nine perfect innings—zero hits, zero runs, zero walks against the Cleveland Indians. One batter stood between him and immortality. But a controversial umpire’s call erased what would have been the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history.
The Call That Changed Everything
With two outs in the ninth inning, batter Jason Donald hit a soft grounder to first base. Galarraga covered the bag, received the throw from first baseman Miguel Cabrera, and stepped on the base before Donald arrived. Umpire Jim Joyce called him «safe.» The Detroit crowd fell silent. Television replays clearly showed Donald was out. After reviewing the footage post-game, Joyce admitted publicly: «I blew the call.»
The Numbers Behind a Near-Historic Night
Galarraga threw 9 innings with 87 pitches (51 strikes), allowed just that single hit in the tenth inning, and finished the 2010 season with a 4-4 record. His ERA at that point stood at 2.65. A perfect game would have been only the third in Tigers history, following Catfish Hunter (1968) and Charlie Robertson (1922).
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Innings pitched | 9.0 (+ 1 in extra) |
| Hits allowed | 1 (in the 10th) |
| Strikeouts | 6 |
| Total pitches | 87 |
| Final result | Win, 3-0 |
Grace Under Pressure
What happened next shocked many. Galarraga, displaying maturity that caught observers off guard, embraced Joyce after the game. «Nobody’s perfect,» the pitcher said, a reference to both the umpire and baseball itself. Joyce, visibly shaken, issued a public apology and called it «the worst call» of his 35-year umpiring career. That moment of humanity transcended sports and became part of baseball lore.
A Catalyst for Change
This incident accelerated the implementation of instant replay review in Major League Baseball. Starting in the 2014 season, umpires gained the ability to review controversial calls in real time. While Galarraga never benefited directly, his case became the watershed moment that modernized baseball’s replay system and protected future pitchers from similar injustice.
FAQ
Did Galarraga ever throw another perfect game?
No. Though he continued his MLB career through 2014, he never came close again. His career totals included a 3.65 ERA with 1,265 strikeouts.
What was the last recognized perfect game before this?
Catfish Hunter’s on May 8, 1968, with the Oakland Athletics against the Minnesota Twins.
Did Jim Joyce continue umpiring after this error?
Yes, Joyce worked until his retirement in 2012, but this moment defined his legacy in baseball history.
