The more I think about it, the more I think Galarraga actually got lucky. He will now forever be known as a guy who threw a 28-out perfect game, Joyce’s call be damned. If Joyce got this call right, he’d have been known as the bum who threw the third perfect game in the flukiest month of baseball history.

UPDATE: A reader sends this in:

Mr. Foster,
So, Gallaraga threw a 28-out perfect game. That’s nothing as compared to the feat of Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Harvey Haddix, who on 26 May 1959 tossed a 12+ innning perfect game, only to lose in the 13th inning. After retiring 36 consecutive batters, Felix Mantilla reached first in the bottom of the 13th on a fielding error by Milwaukee Brave Don Hoak. Mantilla went to second on a sacrifice bunt, Haddix gave an intentional pass to Hank Aaron, and Joe Adcock then knocked one out of the park–but, in a perfect conclusion to a very odd game, Aaron left the base path and was declared out when he was passed by Adcock, allowing the Braves to win the game, 2-0.
Many knowledgeable fans still think this is the greatest pitching performance of all time.

Two more reader updates. One from someone who was at the Haddix, or at least part of it:

My little brother and I, then 11 and 10 were at the greatest game ever pitched. Our father had brought us to Milwaukee from Wisconsin Dells (a long drive in 1959) to see our first baseball game. We were bored because there was no scoring. We started whining around the 5th inning. In the 7th, my dad gave up, and took us back to the hotel where we were staying. I understand now why he went straight to the bar afterwards.

And another from a reader who reminds us of the 27-out, 26-batter perfect game:

Another remarkable “perfect” game that was removed from the books was by Ernie Shore in 1916. Babe Ruth was the starting pitcher in that game. He walked the first batter and was then ejected for punching the home plate umpire. Shore came in from the bullpen, the runner on first was caught stealing and Shore retired the next 26 in a row. Shore thus recorded 27 outs while facing only 26 men.
I’d say tossing a perfect game in relief might be even better than Haddix’ 1-hitter.