Armando Galarraga accepts Jim Joyce's apology, says 'nobody's perfect' after losing perfect game
Friday, June 4th 2010, 12:37 PM
A blown call may have cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game Wednesday night, but the righthander is dealing with the aftermath with a near perfect display of grace.
Two days after veteran umpire Jim Joyce called Cleveland's Jason Donald safe at first base on what should have been the final out of Galarraga's greatest moment on the major-league stage, the Venezuelan hurler tells the CBS Early Show he's accepted Joyce's apology.
Galarraga said although he was initially upset with the horrendous call during the Tigers' 3-0 win over the Indians, the umpire's heartfelt apology went a long way toward soothing the wound.
"It was not easy coming and telling the people ... 'I was wrong ... I just screwed (up) the perfect game, this kid worked so hard to do it. And, I mean, it meant a lot to me," Galararraga said during his Early Show interview Friday morning with Harry Smith.
"And when this guy go talk to me, he can't even talk, he was crying. And I understand nobody's perfect. It's part of the game."
MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who will not overturn Joyce's call and award Galarraga his perfect game sources tell the Daily News, praised both Joyce and Galarraga for the way they handled the situation.
"The dignity and class of the entire Detroit Tigers organization under such circumstances were truly admirable and embodied good sportsmanship of the highest order," Selig said. "(Galarraga) and Detroit manager Jim Leyland are to be commended for their handling of a very difficult situation.
"I also applaud the courage of umpire Jim Joyce to address this unfortunate situation honestly and directly."
The two key players in Wednesday's drama shared the spotlight again before Thursday's game in Detroit as Leyland had Galarraga deliver the lineup card to Joyce, who worked behind the plate in the Tigers' 12-6 victory over the Indians.
Although Galarraga didn't walk away with a perfect game Wednesday night, he did leave the ballpark Thursday with a brand new set of wheels. GM presented the pitcher with a 2010 Corvette convertible for his near-perfect effort.
"It was crazy," Galarraga said. "They were like, 'No, no really.' I was so surprised."
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