Armando Galarraga, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, was one out away from a perfect game, the pinnacle of pitching and one of the most difficult feats in all of pro sports. Only 20 perfect games have ever been pitched in Major League Baseball history.
The Tigers were leading the Cleveland Indians, 3-0, and Galarraga was one out away from entering the history books, when Jason Donald hit a ground ball between first and second base. Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera fielded the grounder, and threw to Galarraga, who was covering first on the play. The announcer excitedly exclaimed that the runner was out, only to backtrack when umpire Jim Joyce showed the safe sign.
Replays showed that Donald was in fact, out. Galarraga retired the next batter and had to settle for an almost-perfect shutout.
The 20th perfect game in baseball history was thrown on May 29, by Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay.
