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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > June > 10 > Entry
Editorial: Worst injustice was to Griffey, not Galarraga
More than any other sport, baseball is about history.
The sport has lots of it. Records of the professional game date back more than 130 years to the 1870s. So baseball fans have something of an obsession with history — and perfection.
Last week, there was a tremendous injustice in the game. A player who flirted with perfection was denied a deeply deserved fete.
It had nothing to do with Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga, who was stymied on the last out of what would have been just the 20th perfect game in baseball history by perhaps the worst umpiring call ever made.
Don’t cry for Mr. Galarraga. If anything, his place in the lore of the game is more secure. Whenever there is a terribly botched umpiring call, the first name off the tongue of baseball fans everywhere will be Mr. Galarraga’s. Every time a perfect game is thrown, fans won’t recall similar feats by legends like Cy Young, Sandy Koufax, and Randy Johnson. Chances are Mr. Galarraga’s name will come up first in that conversation.
One of the beauties of baseball is that it allows the Armando Galarragas their shining moments. Even a nine-year minor leaguer with a 21-18 lifetime record in the big leagues can be perfect for a night.
But there is a special place reserved in the game for those who are near perfect night in and night out — the Hall of Fame. Just 231 players are enshrined in the Hall, or .01 percent of the 16,000 players in baseball history.
That’s why ex-Cincinnati Red and future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.’s overlooked retirement last week in the hoopla of the umpire malfunction was the real injustice.
As a young player, Mr. Griffey brought an exciting brand of baseball to the Seattle Mariners and lifted a moribund franchise that was for sale and likely to leave town to the American League championship series. How many Hall of Famers are personally responsible for the success of a franchise and for making a city fall in love with baseball?
Then there are Mr. Griffey’s extraordinary numbers. He is fifth all-time in home runs with 630, behind a short list of names you may know — Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. He also was a Gold Glove outfielder, a base stealer and a clutch hitter like few have ever seen.
Sadly, Mr. Griffey was not always recognized for his greatness in his prime because he played in the steroid era. Players now known to have been using performance-enhancing drugs (Mr. Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa) performed even greater feats in Mr. Griffey’s best years, obscuring the best — and cleanest — player of his generation.
There is no suspicion of cheating with Mr. Griffey because he notoriously disliked weightlifting. Without the weights and the “juice,” Mr. Griffey suffered the natural decline and injuries that come with age. Sadly, the injuries marred the Cincinnati native’s eight-year hometown return with the Reds. (Other stars during that time took steroids for speedier recovery from injury and to reverse the effects of aging.)
In the long run, history will judge Mr. Griffey as an elite Hall of Famer and he will be appreciated as being among the greatest of baseball’s great players.
Last week’s baseball buzz should have been all about the end of his stellar career. It’s one more cruel irony that he was overshadowed by a middling pitcher and an umpire’s gaffe.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorials, Scott Elliott, Sports and Recreation
Comments
By Retired Sgt
June 10, 2010 7:44 AM | Link to this
My god, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!… the 2nd Op-Ed in a row that I agreed with! And a well reasoned, well thought out editorial… Good Job. You are right, there is no doubt Griff will be a 1st Ballot HOFer and perhaps break the record for votes.
By yeddi18
June 10, 2010 7:53 AM | Link to this
I agree with this article to the point that Griffey was a great and clean player…Now, about this so-called perfect game. A perfect game involves perfection by all participants…from the ballboy to the umpires. Any one can screw up a great pitched game…In this case the umpire was not perfect…so no perfect game.
By Max
June 10, 2010 10:17 AM | Link to this
While I understand the passions expressed on both issues, I do not see where ‘justice’ comes into play in either. Baseball has no instant replay or provision for the commissioner to review of any play regardless of the game’s significance. With Griffey Jr. the HOF induction process has many great players who waited 2 years or more for their place in Cooperstown. In Griffey’s case the ‘injustice’ is he has to wait until next year which is not unlike young players waiting to be called up from the minors. It is the human element in sports, not the application of some quasi-interpretation of ‘justice,’ that makes it unique and seperate from other mechanized activities. There is some beauty in the imperfection.
By Max
June 10, 2010 10:28 AM | Link to this
PS: I hope no one thinks overshadowing Jr’s retirement will be reflected in his HOF nomination, but the sports press tends to have a different power than that of other media. I don’t think for one minute Griffey Jr. will be overlooked by the HOF when eligible, but, if he is (like many, the inductee selection process has its own curve balls), I think his injury years with the Reds will be a factor. Neither Galarraga nor Griffey should be judged in ‘importance’ based upon one week of sports headlines. In perspective, Griffey’s retirement was not the same as Gherig’s, Mantle’s, or, locally, Bench’s.
By Mike R
June 10, 2010 12:32 PM | Link to this
Max, Griffey Jr. won’t be in the Hall of Fame in 2 years. One of the requirements is the player must be retired for “at least five seasons.” This year will count as a season, so Jr. won’t be in Cooperstown until 2016. Also, Selig could have reversed the blown call. Selig could’ve overturned the on field ruling by invoking the “best-interest-of-the-game” clause. It’s a slippery slope to go that route and has only been used a few times in the history of the game. All-in-all, I can’t believe the DDN actually wrote an editorial that makes sense! When did Hal McCoy become part of the editorial staff??
By Lee
June 10, 2010 2:23 PM | Link to this
One of the best catches I ever seen was when JR first broke his wrist crashing into the wall to catch a ball in Seattle.
By Mr. Sports
June 10, 2010 2:39 PM | Link to this
Well said, for a change. Even Pitt’s editorial right below it in the paper made sense. I’m still in shock.
By EastEnder
June 10, 2010 3:01 PM | Link to this
It’s important to remember that Mr. Griffey voluntarily retired from his ballclub; he was not uncermoniusly cut or waived for poor performance. The decision to retire, was his and his alone. Additionally, Mr. Griffey, who was known for having an indifferent, if not cold, relationship with the media did not hold any type of well planned press conference or media event for his retirement announcement. It’s hard to fathom that none of the 24 hour cable sports channels would not have held any retirement announcement live and even provide the endless lines of talking heads extolling Mr. Griffey’s feats on the field. Mr. Griffey himself holds some responsibility himself for the fact that his retirement was not as well heralded as it may be deserved; to call it an “injustice” is a bit extreme.
By Bob540
June 10, 2010 4:02 PM | Link to this
The first thing I think of when someone refers to Ken Griffey Jr. is the unfulfilled prospect of setting the all-time HR record. Griffey was the youngest player to reach 400 home runs, but injuries derailed his bid to break the all-time record. And that is unfortunate, even considering his actual and impressive career stats.
By Mick
June 10, 2010 6:02 PM | Link to this
Aside from all the good Griffey did, I’ll also remember Jr. as a terrible teammate. In last game of the 2000 season, at the Florida Marlins, Griffey and Larkin left the game in the 5th inning. They quit and left the game before it was over!!! They showed up their coach (Jack McKeon) and quit on their teammates. He will be a Hall of Famer, but should also be a first ballot Hall of Shamer as well.
By Mick
June 10, 2010 6:02 PM | Link to this
Aside from all the good Griffey did, I’ll also remember Jr. as a terrible teammate. In last game of the 2000 season, at the Florida Marlins, Griffey and Larkin left the game in the 5th inning. They quit and left the game before it was over!!! They showed up their coach (Jack McKeon) and quit on their teammates. He will be a Hall of Famer, but should also be a first ballot Hall of Shamer as well.
By Dave
June 10, 2010 6:48 PM | Link to this
I don’t get it. Mr. Griffey stands on his own feet as a future Hall of Fame member and a class act. But for some reason, you feel a need to demean an incredible performance by Mr. Galarraga to try to hype a player that all true baseball fans already respect.
By null
June 10, 2010 7:24 PM | Link to this
KG Jr went out on his terms and style. He didn’t do a presser or answer questions. Just a statement. Good for Him! I thought the off the field drama with the umpire was nearly the best moment the game has seen(off the field). Out done, by the Lou Gehrig farewell speech-but that’s about it!
By emmet Thornton Beaver
June 11, 2010 12:59 AM | Link to this
You waste editorial space on this clown? Ok. Lets talk about how KG Jr drug the Reds down. How much loot did they pay for him to being on the disabled list? His middle name was “I’m hurt” How much did he play in Cinci? Where did they usually finish with his big shot numbers? Did the Reds ever make it to the series because of his magnificent numbers Smarty Gotleib editorial slacker? Where did Jack McKean go after KGjr helped run him out of Cinci for being too old? To Florida and the World Series!!!! Oh! Lets all worship the Man that was bigger than the Reds. Mr. team sport! The team player! Now that he’s gone? Look where the Reds are now? Better yet Lets all stand and cheer that he’s not in Cinci! Who cares about him retiring! Just don’t let him come back to the Reds- Go away and stay away Ken Griffi Jr! The sad state is that you’ll be in the HOF before Pete! Hissss