In case you missed it, he's the ump that cost Detroit Tiger Armando Galarraga a perfect game with a blown call on the very last out. And it wasn't a close call. But he's also the ump that upon seeing the replay recognized the gravity of what he had done and apologized to Galarraga and his manager for something that could not be undone (my thoughts here).
Imagine being that guy, but it gets worse. A team of umpires stays with two baseball teams for as many games as they play. The umpires rotate positions from game to game. Jim Joyce had first base, the location of the blown call, on Wednesday night. Thursday he had homeplate. What must it have been like for him to stand in the tunnel and steel himself for what he would received from the Detroit fans when he took the field. Only the little old lady from Kalamazoo who would be attending her first baseball game ever would have no clue. Surely, the bitterness in the bellies of the tens of thousands would have soured to a boil.
Au contraire! When Joyce took the field, the Detroit faithful stood and applauded him. Yes, you read that right, they clapped for the man. No, they weren't tickled over the missed call. They stood to honor the man for his humility in admitting a horrifying call AND for apologizing to those he'd wronged.
Can you imagine such a thing in Boston? Howzabout the Bronx? Not me. Frankly, I would not have imagined it in Detroit.
The fairy tale continued. Tiger manager Jim Leyland would typically deliver his team's lineup to the homeplate umpire at homeplate before the start of the game along with the opposing team's manager. Rather than go himself, Leyland sent the lineup in the hand of Galarraga. Joyce wept at the dignity shown him by so many. Who wouldn't?
Who'd-a-thunk that from the worst call in major league baseball history would come three of the most striking examples of character in sport. The grace and forgiveness of Armando Galarraga. The contrition and humility of Jim Joyce. And the grace and mercy of the Detroit Tigers, fans in attendance last night, team, and manager.
Makes you want to head out to the ball park.
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