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Love Overrules Errant Ump’s Blown Call
Detroit Tiger pitcher, Armando Galarraga, had every right to call for Jim Joyce’s head on a platter. Joyce, the first plate umpire, blew the call on what would have been the final out of a perfect game.
After the game, Galarraga expressed his respect for Joyce as a first-rate umpire and let him off the hook with a simple and poignant, “Nobody’s perfect.” Kind words from a man who had just pitched a perfect game ruined by an imperfect call.
And wise words. We depend on each other. Baseball players and umpires need each other. As do husbands and wives, parents and children, co-workers, fellow citizens. But nobody’s perfect. We will let each other down. And when we do it’s the person let down who has the most power—to let the other off the hook, to turn the other cheek, to speak words of release, to let love overrule.
The next night, Tiger manager Jim Leyland sent Galarraga to home plate umpire Jim Joyce with the ceremonial line-up card. Another classy move. Tiger players stopped by before the game to pat Joyce on the arm and speak kind words.
When the game was over, Joyce said, “I don’t want to make it sappy and say it was love, but the support I got was just love.”
Just love. Nothing but love. In a game that is more than just a game, it’s good to know that love can overrule an errant ump’s call.
We humans don’t reveal our beauty in perfection. We reveal our beauty in love.
Thanks, Armando Galarraga, for something more beautiful than a perfect game.
Tags: Armando Galarraga, Beauty, Detroit Tigers, Jim Joyce, love, Perfect Game, Perfection
June 4th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Neat series of events. Encouraging reactions.
I find that the (too) few times I actually decide to apply Jesus’ teachings to my life, even when they are difficult, I real benefits.
The one time I forced myself to humbly ask a friend for forgiveness because of an argument, he was gracious and the event actually brought us closer together.
I was even humbled by this very friend’s reaction one day when I when I clearly was ‘in the mood’ to start an argument. As I started, his response was so kind, if completely disarmed me. Almost instantly reminding me of the ‘gentle answer turning away wrath’ teaching.
The embarassing part was that this friend is an agnostic and I am supposed to be the christian.
DOH!!
June 4th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
I, too, was very moved by Mr. Galarraga’s response. As a former college-level pitcher and lifelong Tigers fan, I was shocked by the magnitude of the error, but even more astounded by the love shown to Joyce. The Tigers organization responded with real class. But Galarraga’s personal grace is nothing short of spiritual. I don’t know if he is acting out of Christian conviction or not, but this kid has a humility that I hope I can emulate in my own life!
June 5th, 2010 at 10:33 am
I couldn’t agree more Ken. By their actions these men have given themselves a legacy that no perfect game would have allowed. It was very refreshing to witness.
June 6th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Provoked a little leakiness around the windowshades when I read about this in the “Wall Street Journal” on Friday. Partakes of the beautiful, I think. Partakes, as you suggest, of God.
June 7th, 2010 at 7:42 am
This event touched me deeply as I saw it as yet another witness to the power of confession (Joyce admits his made call) and the forgiveness shown by Galarraga and the Tiger’s organization. Did love create those events or was love created by those actions? Either way, it was a powerful witness to a world that too often doesn’t witness confession/repentance and forgiveness.