What blown call is the worst in sports history?
Umpire Jim Joyce (right) listens to the Tigers' Gerald Laird as second base umpire Jim Wolf (center) and Tigers coach Rafael Belliard look on. Joyce had just missed a call at first base, costing Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game.
The call that umpire Jim Joyce admits he missed, costing Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night, certainly ranks among the most significant missed calls in sports history.
With two outs in the top of the ninth inning of the Tigers' 3-0 win, the Indians' Jason Donald hit a groundball that Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera ranged to his right to grab. Cabrera tossed to Galarraga covering the bag at first base. Joyce called Donald safe, though replays show that he was out.
There have been countless blown calls of some magnitude in sports history. We mention just a few in our poll, and invite you to comment and suggest other mistaken calls that rank among the most significant.