The 28-Out Perfect Game

by Mark M. Bello

June 2025 marks the 15^th anniversary of the 28 out perfect game, a painful event etched in the hearts of most Detroit Tigers fans. The exact date was June 2, 2010, and Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga came within inches—literal inches—of baseball immortality. With two outs in the 9th inning, having retired 26 straight Cleveland batters, Galarraga induced a routine ground ball to first base. Future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera fielded it cleanly, tossed to Galarraga covering the bag, and the pitcher beat the runner by half a step.

Game over, yes?

No!

First base umpire, Jim Joyce, called the runner safe.

Replays confirmed what millions saw with their own eyes: the runner was out. The 27th out of a perfect game—one of the rarest accomplishments in sports—taken away by a blown call. Comerica Park erupted in disbelief. The Tigers’ dugout exploded. Fans across the country watched in stunned silence.

But Galarraga? He didn’t argue. He didn’t curse. He didn’t even flinch.

He smiled.

A stunned, disbelieving smile. The kind of smile you wear when fate punches you in the gut and you still choose not to punch back.

In that moment, Galarraga displayed a level of sportsmanship that was nothing short of legendary.

After the game, a devastated Jim Joyce tearfully admitted his mistake:

“I just cost that kid a perfect game.”

He faced the media, owned it fully, and apologized. And what did Galarraga say?

“Nobody’s perfect.”

A perfect sentence spoken by a man who achieved pitching perfection that day.

After the game, Tigers manager Jim Leyland praised Galarraga’s performance, but also refused to vilify Jim Joyce.

“He made a mistake. He feels worse than anyone. I’m not going to pile on.”

The following day, in a moment that brought fans to tears, Leyland chose Galarraga to bring out the lineup card. He handed it to the home plate umpire that day, Jim Joyce.They hugged. Two men — one devastated by his error, the other robbed of history — stood together and modeled something rare and beautiful: mutual respect, humility, and forgiveness.

That moment feels almost impossible today.

In an era where political intolerance, short fuses, performative rage, bullying, and terrordominate public life, it’s hard to imagine anyone — let alone a public figure — responding to injustice with such poise. Every grievance has become a tweetstorm, every loss a conspiracy, every disagreement a declaration of war. We live in a culture that rewards outrage and punishes grace. While the Trump era didn’t create ugly behavior, it has certainly accelerated it — stoking resentment, amplifying division, and framing every opponent as an enemy to be destroyed.

Galarraga showed us another way.

He reminded us that dignity doesn’t require dominance. That civility isn’t weakness. That sportsmanship — in baseball or in life — still matters. His perfect game may have been stolen, but his character will never be in question.

In the end, a quiet act of grace spoke louder than any tantrum ever could.

Mark M. Bello is an attorney and author of 9 Zachary Blake Legal Thrillers and other legal themed novels and children’s books. For more information, please visit https://www.markmbello.com

Bob Gatty Author, Podcaster, Blogger

For many years, Bob Gatty worked as a writer, editor, and communications consultant, based on the Washington, DC area with a focus on government and politics. He began at The Pittsburgh Courier, an African American weekly, covering crime and the courts. His salary was $55 per week before moving on to two local Pennsylvania dailies. At age 24, he began reporting for United Press International covering state politics in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey, where he was UPI’s state capitol bureau in Trenton.

Tempted by the allure of Washington, DC and big-time politics, at age 29 Bob became press secretary and chief of staff for two Congressmen – first Republican Edwin B. Forsythe, and then Democrat James J. Florio, who later became governor of New Jersey and until his recent death was a frequent podcast guest and co-host of Bob’s NFN Radio News podcast (now called Lean to the Left).

After seven years on Capitol Hill, Bob opened a communications business in Washington, first providing political media consulting to candidates and then freelance Washington coverage for business and trade magazines, plus creative communications services for trade and professional associations, including social media. This work involved articles and analyses of key governmental developments affecting businesses, such as the food and Health industries, retailing, and the environment.

His work as a communications consultant to trade and professional associations included launching and editing association publications, providing website content and social media assistance, and covering conferences and conventions.

Bob retired from G-Net Strategic Communications in 2016 and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, where he launched his blog site, first called Not Fake News, now known as Lean to the Left.

Hijacked Nation
In August, 2020, Bob and co-author Chris Waldron, one of Lean to the Left's most loyal and prolific contributor, published "Hijacked Nation-Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness," a two-volume compilation of blogs regarding Trump's presidency and the consequences for our nation. A followup volume was published by Luna Global Media in September 2024. It is available at https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7 .

In all three volumes, blogs from Not Fake News and Lean to the Left create a virtual play-by-play of key actions of the Trump administration and Congress. For more information, please visit https://leantotheleft.net/books/, and visit Bob's Author's Page on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bob-Gatty/author/B08C7HWXZ5?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4e603563-7251-4074-b54d-40800c4ce40a.

The Lean to the Left Podcast
The Lean to the Left podcast provides commentary and interviews with newsmakers and others with interesting stories to tell. Video and audio podcasts stream twice weekly on major channels. More info at https://podcast.leantotheleft.net.

The Lean to the Left YouTube Channel
You'll find all of the audio tracks for the Lean to the Left Podcast here plus original videos, including complete video versions of each podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/@LeantotheLeft.