Armando Galarraga

Lore & Background

Galarraga originally signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos on October 31, 1998. He was acquired by the Texas Rangers from the Washington Nationals as part of the deal that sent Alfonso Soriano to the Nationals in 2005. He made his MLB debut on September 15, 2007, against the Oakland Athletics, pitching a scoreless inning with no hits and one walk. On February 5, 2008, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Michael Hernandez. In 2008, he finished with a 13–7 record, a 3.73 ERA, and 126 strikeouts in 178 innings, and finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. On June 2, 2010, he pitched 8 perfect innings before umpire Jim Joyce incorrectly called Jason Donald safe on the 27th batter, ending the perfect game and no-hitter bids. Galarraga retired the next batter to complete a one-hitter. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks on January 24, 2011, and later played for the Houston Astros, among other teams. He retired from professional baseball in December 2015.

In Their Own Story

The late-August sun hung low over Tiger Stadium, painting the outfield grass in long amber shadows. The count was 3-2, the bases loaded, and the Tigers needed a run. Galarraga stepped into the box, adjusted his glove, and stared down the pitcher with that calm, almost amused expression. The delivery came. The hammer swung—not a chop, not a pull, but a full, looping, skyward arc that made the ball rise like a slow-motion firework. The crowd in the upper deck stood. The ball hung. And then it was gone, swallowed by the dark beyond the left-field fence. Galarraga didn't even break a jog around the bases. He just smiled, touched the plate, and let the roar wash over him. That was the Hammer. That was Detroit.

Reader's Guide

Galarraga's career is best known for his near-perfect game on June 2, 2010, when he was one out away from a perfect game before a controversial call by umpire Jim Joyce. He handled the situation with grace, saying 'Nobody's perfect.' The Baseball Hall of Fame has his cleats and the first base from that game on display. He also pitched the home opener for the Tigers in 2009 and received the 2008 Tigers Rookie of the Year award from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.

Did You Know?

• Galarraga threw sliders 38.9% of the time in 2008, more than any other starting pitcher in the majors.
• If he had completed the perfect game on June 2, 2010, it would have been the lowest number of pitches thrown (83) since Addie Joss's 74 in 1908.
• Galarraga was presented with a 'Medal of Reasonableness' for his response to Joyce's call at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.