He Almost Pitched a Perfect Game. What Happened?

The date was June 2, 2010, 14 years ago that Detroit Tiger pitcher, Armando Galarraga was on the mound for the Tigers and had retired 26 batters in a row. He was facing number 27 and if he retired him he would have been one of the few pitchers in major league baseball to have thrown a perfect game - no runs, no hits, no walks, no errors.

Do you remember?

It wasn't meant to be.

The website ESPN Press Room reports that batter number 27, Cleveland’s Jason Donald, hit a ground ball to first base. First baseman, Miguel Cabrera, fielded the ball cleanly as Galarraga ran over to cover the base for the final out.

The batter is safe!

What happened?

ESPN Press Room goes on to say that inexplicably, first base umpire Jim Joyce ruled Donald safe, spoiling Galarraga’s bid at perfection and opening himself up to worldwide infamy.

Do you remember?

The air was sucked out of the ballpark.

ESPN has produced a special on this very event and it will air this Sunday, August 18 at 4 p.m. on ESPN, streaming afterward on ESPN+, and re-air this Sunday night, August 18, at 10 p.m. on ESPN2.

There are so many former teammates and major league baseball folks who weigh in on this game ESPN Press Room says. They include Brandon Inge, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Alex Avila, Ramon Santiago, Austin Jackson, former manager and now Hall of Fame member, Jim Leyland, and even Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

"28 Outs, AN IMPERFECT STORY," is well done and well worth your viewing pleasure!