Being an umpire or referee is a tough job.

Just ask Major League Baseball umpire Jim Joyce. He blew a perfect game last night for Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Joyce called a runner safe on a play at first base:

In case you don’t know what a perfect game is, it’s only been done 20 times in baseball’s long history.

It’s when a pitcher retires all 27 opposing batters without giving up a hit, walk or an error. Again, it’s only been done 20 times.

Joyce, one of the game’s most respected umpires (before last night) said after the game:

“Biggest call of my career, and I kicked the s**t out of it…I don’t know what to do. I just cost that kid a perfect game. I thought he was safe. I was convinced he was safe, until I saw the replay. “

Talk about an occupational hazard. His long career will be defined by this blunder. And he better hope there’s no crazy fans out there out for blood. It is Detroit, so you can never be too safe. Burn.

Galarraga after the game said “Nobody is perfect.”

Well, he could have been had it not been for Joyce.

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