June 2, 2010 is now a memorable date for Major League Baseball fans. On this night, “safe” was a word that was not spoken in reference to a Cleveland Indian batter through eight and two-thirds innings. For the better part of two hours, Armando Galarraga who was pitching for the Detroit Tigers, had kept the opposition off balance and in check. 26 batters had stepped to the plate and 26 had been retired. No walks. No hits. No errors. No batters hits. Galarraga was one batter, one out, one pitch from a perfect game. It would have been only the 19th perfect game since 1904 and only the 21st of all time.
Jason Donald, the 27th batter of the evening for Cleveland, hit the ball between second and first. Ranging to his right, the Detroit first baseman scooped the ball into his glove and quickly tossed it to Galarraga who was covering the first base bag. Galarraga and the ball beat Donald to the bag by almost two full steps. Yet when Donald crossed the bag, umpire Jim Joyce inexplicably yelled “safe” instead of “out.” Nearly 18,000 fans knew that Joyce missed the call. Even Donald stated in a post-game interview that he had fully expected to be called out on the play. Replay confirmed what almost everyone else though, Jason Donald was out and Armando Galarraga had indeed thrown a perfect game. The only problem – the record books would not reflect the facts.
An unbelieving smile came across the face of the pitcher who had just been robbed of history. Galarraga made his way back to the mound and got the final out. He did get the win. He did throw a complete game shutout. He did not, however, get his name listed with the 20 other pitchers who had thrown a flawless game. He did not get to taste the victory of perfection.
There are many lessons to be learned from these events. Lessons about life, family, and religion. It might help to know that Joyce was profoundly sorry for his mistake. Having seen the replay, Jim Joyce went to the Tigers’ locker room and personally apologized for missing the call. In a radio interview the next day, he further expressed deep regret in costing Galarraga his place in baseball history. Yes, we could learn many valuable lessons about mistakes, remorse, missed opportunities, and the misery of others’ mistakes.
Yet, the greatest lesson that may be found in this entire episode was witnessed the next night just prior to game time. The next night Jim Joyce was the umpire behind the plate and, thus, was the one to receive the lineup cards from each manager just before the game began. In a show of great sportsmanship and good-heartedness, it was Galaragga not Jim Leyland (the Tigers’ manager) who represented the Tigers and delivered the lineup card to Joyce. The two exchanged handshakes and pats on the back in a moment that illustrated the reality of forgiveness and the understanding that sometimes we all make mistakes.
What, do you suppose, would have been your reaction? How would you have handled a situation of such disappointment and disbelief? Would you have been able to reign in your emotions and genuinely understand that people are not perfect? Even when we realize that the hurt we are suffering was not inflicted intentionally or when we realize the ones who have wronged us are genuinely sorry for their actions, we often have a difficult time controlling our emotions. Often grudges are still held and feelings of anger are left to fester.
Living in a world driven by selfishness and getting even when we are done wrong, God calls for His children to be different. Christ explained it by telling us to turn the other cheek when we are hit on the face, to go the extra mile when we are not forced, and to give more than one might ask of us (Matt. 5:38-42). Christ emphasized this principle by revealing our roles as light and salt in a dark, bland world (Matt. 5:13–16).
Does your light shine even in the face of disappointment in others? Can you pour salt on the wound instead of feeling the sting of passion and emotion? Let us season and shine and bring glory to God in the process!
Sunday will mark a real and nearly impossible change. For the past 25 years (since I was 8 years old) I have been a part of SLCC (Sardis Lake Christian Camp). Camper, Counselor, Burger Flipper, Store Manager, Teacher, Teammate, Director, and Instigator are just some of the roles that I have played. I remember the days before the basketball court was covered, when we used to walk to the point, and when skits were cool. I have made my greatest friendships in the pea gravel, up the hill, under the “pravilion”, on the volleyball courts, and even hiking to the softball field. Some of my more vivid memories are of spoons, late night hamburgers, and hanging Ryan McAlister from a light pole with duct tape. Yet, this Sunday, that all comes to an end.
