James Alfred Joyce III (born October 3,1955) is an American former professional baseball umpire who worked in the American League (AL) from 1987 to 1999 and throughout Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2000 to 2016. He wore uniform number 6 while in the AL and number 66 for MLB. His loud and enthusiastic strike calls drew comparisons to that of retired umpire Bruce Froemming. Though his umpiring was generally praised by players and coaches,[1] Joyce is best known for his incorrect call in Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game in June 2010.
On June 2, 2010, Joyce made an incorrect call, as the first base umpire, which cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Joyce tearfully spoke with the media following the game and admitted he made a mistake: "I just cost the kid a perfect game."[11] Joyce and Galarraga received praise throughout the sports world for the manner in which they handled the situation; reflecting an earlier ESPN poll, players such as Mariano Rivera spoke on the record about Joyce's superb career of umpiring.[12]
Joyce had been the second-base umpire for Dallas Braden's perfect game on May 9, 2010, less than a month before the Galarraga game.[13] He was also the first base umpire for the no-hitter pitched by Carlos Zambrano on September 14, 2008.[14]
In 2011, Joyce, Galarraga, and author Daniel Paisner collaborated on a book based on the game, Nobody's Perfect: Two Men, One Call, and a Game for Baseball History. Following the book's release, to avoid any appearance of impropriety due to their business relationship, MLB did not allow Joyce to work any games in which Galarraga would be playing.[15]
Other notable games
In September 1996, Joyce restrained fellow umpire John Hirschbeck when Hirschbeck angrily charged into the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse to confront Roberto Alomar. The day before the confrontation, Alomar had made comments about how Hirschbeck's attitude changed following the death of his son.[16]
Joyce, who lives in Washington County, Oregon, is married and has two children.[19] In 2000, he was inducted into his high school's sports hall of fame,[3] and in 2009 he was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
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